9 Healthy Snacks You Should Always Buy in Bulk
These healthy snacks are shelf-stable, so you can buy in bulk without creating too much waste!
There’s nothing worse than having a hoard of hungry kids show up at your door after school only to be welcomed by an empty snack cabinet. Luckily, there are plenty of healthy snack options that can last in the cabinet for months at a time, so you can stock up now and never have to worry about being caught empty-handed again.
But how do you know the snacks you're picking are actually healthy? Kelly Johnston, RD and health coach at Parsley Health says, “When it comes to making sure you're getting the healthiest snacks for kids, the most important thing is ensuring the product is as whole-foods based and minimally processed as possible. A great rule of thumb is opting for products that contain no more than about five to 10 ingredients on the ingredient panel, all of which you should be able to recognize and pronounce.” Kelly also recommends choosing snacks that are organic and non-GMO because it can help guarantee higher quality ingredients and fewer pesticides.
The next time your kids host an unexpected playdate, be ready with healthy, wholesome and shelf-stable snacks. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites below.
On-the-go snacks usually consist of granola bars or a small bag of chips, which can get boring fast! Split nutrition amps up the snack game by offering a heartier, more fulfilling option. These nutritious packs are like a peanut butter and jelly iin your pocket and come in flavors like raspberry and almond butter or sour cherry and cashew butter. Whether you spread them on some crusty bread or tear off the top and eat it alone is up to you. Don't worry about shelf life, they’re good in the cabinet for about 10 to 12 months.
Lorissa’s Kitchen meat snacks are made with sustainable, responsibly raised meats like 100% grass-fed beef and antibiotic-free poultry. They’re keto-friendly, gluten- and preservative-free and have no added nitrates, nitrites or MSG. They come in a variety of irresistible flavors like Korean barbecue beef strips, herb roasted turkey and ginger teriyaki chicken strips. These shelf-stable goodies can stay in your cabinet for up to one year and are a fortifying boost of protein.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could have fresh baked cookies on demand whenever you want them? Wouldn’t it be even nicer if these cookies were somehow magically nutritious? Yeah, we think so too. Luckily we have Partake Foods' cookies. These vegan cookies are gluten-free, non-gmo-certified and free of the top eight allergens. With a shelf life of one year, you can keep them on hand for whenever you (or your kiddos) are craving a sweet treat.
This snack is the perfect healthy option to turn to when someone in your family comes home with the sniffles. So much more than just a snack – BareBones instant packs are filled with protein, collagen and fiber and can aid in hydration. Just add boiling water, stir and enjoy. They’re the perfect snack for a chilly, fall night and are an even better as an on-the-go breakfast. Nothing helps a midweek slump, a sore throat or a bad day at school like a cup of chicken soup, so keep these on hand at all times!
Do you crave a little slice of pie after dinner time but don’t have the time to whip one up? We’ve got the solution. Bobo’s pumpkin spice oat bars combine all the ingredients of your favorite pumpkin pie recipe like nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin in one convenient bar. These bars are certified gluten-free and made with 100% organic whole grain oats, so you can feel good about enjoying them. The best part? They’re good in the cabinet for up to six months.
Thrive Market, $15.99 for 16 bars
There’s no way to talk about shelf stable snacks without talking about protein bars, and no snack roundup would be complete without one. Our favorite? Larabar Lemon Blueberry muffin bars. Kelly says, “these whole foods based bars contain real ingredients such as berries, apples, dates, nuts, and seeds that can provide real and tasty nutrition without a bunch of additives and artificially derived ingredients.” They’re perfect for a quick breakfast or pre gym pick-me-up, and they’re sweet, soft and chewy too, so your kids will think they’re chowing down on a real blueberry muffin every time.
Seaweed snacks are flavorful, crispy and crunchy alternative to a bag of potato chips. They’re gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan and great for low-carb lifestyles. These snacks are a perfect way to feed a hungry troop of kids and can stay fresh in the cabinet for months.
Who said carrots have to be refrigerated? These marinated carrot snacks are shelf stable for up to one year without any preservatives. A treat to satisfy your mid-day veggie craving, Gaea Carrot Snacks are marinated in extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and sea salt and are vacuumed packed to ensure freshness. They’re a great source of dietary fiber and are perfect for a last-minute nutritious snack.
Catalina Crunch Cheddar Cheese Bites are a sugar- and GMO-free snack that also packs a mean punch of flavor and protein. Reach for these snacks when you need an energy boost, they'll stay fresh for up to six months!
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