Do you feel like some days you are top of it all? Then there are other where you are not firing on all cylinders. I always find the off days tend to coincide with super busy days. As a result, it is critical to have an arsenal of gluten free dairy free kids snacks ready to go for those busy days.
The Gluten Free Dairy Free Kids Snacks We Keep Stocked in Our Cupboard:
Made Good Products
Made Good products fit the bill! They are gluten free dairy free and come as nut free for sending to school. I love that they also hide servings of vegetables inside them. Lydia can’t tell the veggies are in there and it wasn’t until she could read that she even realized. We always have a variety of the granola bars on hand. The mini granola bites are a fun treat, and the cookies are fantastic to throw in a baggie for a quick on the road snack. You can get them here.
Enjoy Life
The first encounter we had with Enjoy Life products was at a gluten free convention we attended. Lydia was given a sample of their fudge brownie bar and she was hooked. All of their products are gluten free dairy free and are considered school safe for nuts. We love trying the different products they have, but our go to is the Fudgy Brownie Bars. You can get them here.
Dried fruit – Either Buy or Do It Yourself
Dried fruit is an easy on the go snack for anytime of year. These are naturally dairy free and gluten free. You can pick up dried fruit at any grocery store in both the bulk section and the main aisles. We ended up getting a dehydrator and buying bulk packs of fruit from farmers markets in the summer. A flat of peaches will slice up nicely and end up lasting us a number of months. Dried cherries are another family favorite. We have the Excalibur 4 tray dehydrator and we find this works well for our family of 3. If you want to try making your own dried fruit, you can get the dehydrator here.
Popcorn – Add Seasoning
Yep, it’s that simple. Just popcorn. Corn is gluten free and a lot of gluten free products are made from corn. We use a popcorn bowl with a half cup of kernels to get the perfect serving. If we are rushed or honestly feeling lazy, the microwave bags are a hit in our house. I try to use the microwave bags sparingly as they cost more. We love to use popcorn seasonings to create different flavors. Lydia loves dill pickle and salt and vinegar. I love cheesy dill. If you would like to get a popcorn bowl, you can get it here.
Rice Cakes
Most people cringe at this dairy free gluten free snack option. Don’t do that! Plain rice cakes can be dressed up with peanut butter or hazelnut spread. Or, for a quick on the go option in our house we tend to pickup the flavored mini rice cakes that feel like chips. Yum! The Quaker ones are our favorite. I love the lime and pepper and Lydia loves the salt and vinegar.
Fresh Fruit and Veggies
Fresh fruit and veggies really should be at the top of the list. They are all naturally dairy free and gluten free snacks. Cut them up and create a try and kids will eat them up! If we ask Lydia if she wants fruits or veggies for a snack, she will say no. But if we just cut them up and place them in front of her, they magically disappear!
Glutino Pretzels
Pretzels are the perfect food to kill a carb salty craving! When our household first went gluten free I missed them so much. At the gluten free convention we got a sample of the Glutino Pretzels. They were so good and resembled the real thing! These pretzels are dairy free and gluten free, but at Christmas time I like to drizzle chocolate on them for the sweet and salty effect. You can grab them here.
Kind Bars
We first discovered the Kind brand on a trip to visit family in San Francisco. We went to the grocery store to find gluten free foods to eat on the trip. We found the Kind bars and cereal. Most of the products are gluten free and dairy free. A few of the bars are not dairy free, so if you are wanting both, just double check the labels. My favorite bars are the Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew bars. They are soooo good! You can grab them here.
There are so many gluten free dairy snacks available for those busy days. I hope these ideas help you come up with some great options for your family. What gluten free dairy free snacks do you reach for on your busy days?
[…] The options are endless, for starters, you can grab fruits or veggies. There are also many gluten free products available at major grocery stores. Read the labels and many manufacturers label the products as gluten free clearly on the box. For tips on finding gluten free snacks, check out this article. […]