I wrote about how to prepare your child for taking their lunch to school when they are in Kindergarten. For most Kindergarten children, this is their first exposure to lunch bags and containers and I’ve shared some tricks to help them in their first few weeks.
Now, we need to talk about WHAT to pack in their lunch bag! Many children (including mine) do not love sandwiches (other than peanut butter and grilled cheese), which makes it challenging to pack their lunches. The first few weeks are usually relatively easy, but come week 3 or 4, I often find myself struggling for ideas to switch things up so that they don’t get bored.
This year, my daughter will be making her own lunch, but my son would pack himself crackers and granola bars each and every day if he were in charge. So, in order to combat this, I am going to try my best to have as many homemade peanut free school snacks available to him in order to help him make some healthier choices.
I try really hard to ensure that the children have healthy choices for their lunches, including homemade snacks, when I can.
I have two tips for how to accomplish this:
- Wake up extra early – If I can get my act in gear and be baking by 6:30am, the muffins or baking can be out of the oven or almost out of the oven by 7:00am when the kids comes downstairs for breakfast. This means that they can also enjoy a homemade muffin for breakfast as well as pack one in their lunch.
- Bake on the weekends and freeze for later – Wrap your baking and store in a freezer-safe container.
I am always on the hunt for new Homemade Peanut Free School Snacks
to send with the kids.
Here is a collection of them from some of my favourite sites…
Some of these options are much healthier than others, but I am a true believer of the saying “everything in moderation”. Kids deserve treats in their lunches occasionally and I would much rather give them homemade cookies or dessert bread than the store bought options. Of course, I do like to keep it real here, so I will also admit that we have more than our fair share of pre-packaged snacks too. My goal, however, is to limit their intake of those as much as possible. To start this process, I am collecting some recipe ideas…
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My son has a peanut allergy, so these are wonderful!
I am sorry that your son has a peanut allergy. Do you find his school to be accommodating and helpful? Do you have any tips to share with other parents who have children with a food allergy?
I can’t wait to try the Apple Chips! I remember loving these when I was a kid!!!
SO many great ideas! Never tried making fruit leather.
One of my little guys has a peanut allergy so I definitely appreciate these recipes!
it can be really tough sometimes dealing with a severe alergy
It definitely can!
These are all great suggestions, it’s hard to pack lunches now a days for the kids, my girls are no longer in school, but when they did go they couldn’t take anything at all with peanut or tuna fish and absolutely no junk food treats, that was many years ago, I hate to see what it’s like now!!
lots of good nut free recipes
Some great ideas thanks!! Love the mini muffins!
Some great ideas here for parents, personally The
Homemade
Cheese Crackers and
the Homemade
Fruit Rolls look
very interesting to me.
The chocolate chip zucchini banana bread is almost a staple here now. lol
Definitely hooked 🙂
Wonderful!
These are great snack ideas!!
The pudding oatmeal cookies sound yummy 🙂
What a wonderful list of peanut free snacks! I’m going to pass this on to my daughter as she isn’t allowed to pack anything with peanuts in one of her kids lunch!
Thanks for sharing all these recipes
My favorite so far is the Cherry Lemonade Muffins
The pudding oatmeal cookies are totally delicious,the kids loved them!