Are you on the search for the best gluten-free snacks for kids?
Today, over 3 million Americans choose to subscribe to a gluten-free diet. Generally speaking, this includes foods such as wheat and rye as well as bulgar and barley. However, gluten is also found in less obvious foods such as ketchup and mayonnaise as well as ice-cream and some nuts.
With these restrictions, it can be incredibly challenging to maintain a strict gluten-free diet. This is especially true for children that subscribe to a gluten-free diet. After all, kids can be especially picky when it comes to their eating habits.
Fortunately, it’s possible to make snacks that are both healthy and kid-approved. If you’re struggling to find gluten-free snacks that you kids will actually eat, you’re going to want to read this.
We’re sharing our five most kid-approved gluten-free snacks. These snacks are school-friendly, can be prepared ahead of time and are sure to be enjoyed by all!
1. Kale Chips
While most children are quick to turn their nose the minute kale is mentioned, this recipe just might prove otherwise.
Kale chips provide the crunch of regular chips but without all of the unhealthy ingredients that come with traditional chips. You can even look to season the kale to take on the flavor of traditional chips. Be it salt and vinegar, olive oil and herbs and even cheddar and sour cream.
Fortunately, it’s nearly impossible to screw up making kale chips. Start by washing the kale, removing the ribs and cutting the kale into 1.5-inch pieces. From here, you can lay them on a baking sheet while you preheat your oven to 275 degrees F.
Once dried, you can begin to season your kale chips. If you’re going traditional, you can season with olive oil and sea salt. From here, you can put them in the oven for approximately 30 minutes in total. Rotate halfway through and then cool to dry.
2. Homemade Popcorn
Is there anything more simple yet still comforting than homemade popcorn?
Far too often, people mistakingly assume that popcorn isn’t gluten-free because it’s made from corn. In reality, corn is entirely gluten-free and therefore safe for a gluten-free diet.
Let’s be honest, making homemade popcorn is simple. It involves heating up olive oil in a pot, adding the kernels and waiting for the pops. From here, you can season with whatever gluten-free seasonings you’d like. This could be anything from salt and pepper to cayenne pepper and nutritional yeast.
This can be packed up in separate lunch bags or boxes and easily brought to school for snack.
3. Turkey Wrapped Cheese Sticks
When you’re slowly transitioning into a gluten-free diet, it’s only natural to experience bread cravings from time to time.
While gluten-free bread alternatives do exist, rest assured that you also have other options when it comes to sandwiches. Turkey wrapped cheese provides for the same comfort and taste of a traditional turkey sandwich.
This version omits the bread and allows for turkey to take its place. If anything, this is more of a finger-friendly alternative to a traditional sandwich. It’s also a lighter option and better served as a snack.
Note: some turkey being served at the deli counter can contain gluten. While this is rare, it is important to be aware of. However, turkey in its natural state doesn’t contain gluten.
4. Peanut Butter Cups
These homemade peanut butter cups are sure to make your kid forget gluten even existed in the first place! It’s also a healthy snack that tricks the mind into believing it’s a real treat.
These cups are made using protein powder, peanut butter, chocolate, coconut oil. You can begin by mixing one cup of dairy-free chocolate with one tablespoon of coconut oil also Gluten-Free Chocolate is available online at Mid-Day Squares.
Microwave this mixture for about thirty seconds or until it’s almost entirely melted. Next, pour a thin layer of melted chocolate into a muffin tray and freeze for ten minutes.
While freezing, mix together three tablespoons of peanut butter with three tablespoons of vanilla protein powder. Once mixed, roll together to form small, tight balls with your hands.
To finish, place the ball into the now hardened chocolate tray and flatten. Once flattened, pour the remaining chocolate to entirely cover the now flattened ball. Now, simply place in the fridge for one hour to harden and then you’re all set!
5. Sweet Potato Crunchies
In recent years, the sweet potato has been gaining incredible traction in the world of healthy foods.
Part of the allure of the sweet potato is that it has the same comforting traits as a regular potato, but with additional health benefits. Sweet potatoes are known to have fewer carbs and calories while also being rich in Vitamin C, B and potassium. Of course, sweet potatoes also happen to be gluten-free and make for the perfect snack.
To make sweet potato crunchies, you simply need a sweet potato, olive oil and whatever you’d like to season your crunchies. This could be anything from cinnamon and cayenne pepper to curry powder or simply salt and pepper.
You can begin by using a julienne peeler to grate the sweet potato into thin strings. From here, add the sweet potato strings into a bowl and mix with one tablespoon olive oil and your preferred seasonings.
Once seasoned, spread onto a cookie tray and bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees F. Once crispy, the strings can be removed from the oven and cooled before adding a final sprinkling of seasoning.
Do you love making vegetables into healthy snacks? If so, find more information here on even more recipes for healthy snacks.
Gluten-Free Snacks for Kids
Although only 1 percent of the population suffers from Celiac disease, more people are turning to a gluten-free diet for health reasons. Even as eating gluten-free continues to grain more traction, there are still various misconceptions pertaining to the diet.
One of the most significant misconceptions about the gluten-free diet is that everything gluten-free is automatically deemed to be healthy. While eating gluten-free is generally considered to be a nutritious lifestyle, it’s important to note that note all gluten-free options are nutritious. Unfortunately for kids, these differences can be all too confusing.
If you’re having difficulty finding healthy, gluten-free snacks for kids, allow this guide to be your saving grace. Not only are these snacks all gluten-free, but they’re also healthy and homemade snacks.
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