I cannot believe school is starting already! My husband, a professor, begins his fall semester tomorrow, and school buses were doing a dry run this morning at the elementary school next door. It's time for the lunchbox to emerge from the dark cupboard you stashed it in all summer, and it's time to stock it with some good snacks for fall. Here are 15 favorites — all homemade and yummy. Some are better for kids, some for adults. But everything will add a homemade note to the lunchbox.
Before we plunge into this list, though, a reminder: Don't forget fruit! I love cut-up watermelon or little balls of cantaloupe as snacks at the end of the summer.
TOP ROW
• 1 4-Ingredient Banana Oat Bars - Gluten-free. Made with dates instead of white sugar.
• 2 Homemade Cheddar Crackers - Super cheesy!
• 3 Crunchy Granola Bars - Crisp and nutty.
• 4 How To Make Great Granola Every Time - A little cup of granola makes an energizing afternoon snack.
• 5 How to Make Cinnamon-Raisin Swirl Bread - Not just for breakfast!
MIDDLE ROW
• 6 Oven-Dried Apple Chips - Dehydrated apple slices, dried in the oven.
• 7 Spicy Baked Plantain Chips - Baked plantains are really satisfying.
• 8 Roasted Curried Chickpeas with Rosemary and Thyme - Another hearty and satisfying snack.
• 9 Cheesy Spicy Popcorn - A big baggie of cheesy popcorn is always a welcome treat!
• 10 Maple-Butter Spiced Popcorn - A sweeter popcorn snack.
BOTTOM ROW
• 11 Savory Oatmeal Cookies - A savory twist on an oatmeal cookie.
• 12 Veggies Stored In Dip - A good way to pack veggies (make homemade creamy dip with this recipe).
• 13 Milk and Honey Peanut Butter Balls - Peanut butter fudge, for kids.
• 14 Wasabi-Toasted Nori Crisps - Light and crisp Japanese snacks.
• 15 Raw Avocado Lime Mousse - Pack a little tub of this good stuff with some rice cakes to stave off afternoon hunger.
What's your favorite lunchbox snack? Little treats and nibbles to round out the day?
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great post! I've been needing some lunchtime inspiration.
I heart you. I really really heart you. Thanks so much for this!!! And we LOVE homemade popcorn....i can't ever go back to the crappy stuff ever.
Don't mean to toot my own horn but I love my homemade "coconut carob puffed rice bars." I even came up with a version "carob krispies" for my son too munch on too as a healthy snack. Check them both out at www.bitesforbabies.com
I have been receiving The Kitchen and Apartment Therapy via email for over a year. I am continuously impressed with the quality of the information and the photos. I can only imagine how much work it takes to put together an ezine of this caliber. Thank you for your work -- it is thanks, in part, to you that my family has such yummy, innovative, nutritious meals.
You had me at "milk and honey peanut butter balls".
These are my favorite take-to-work snack/granola bars. They're dense enough that a little piece or two is satisfying, and the leftover crumbly bits are great on yogurt.
The banana and oat bars look simple and tasty; I forwarded the link to two coworkers, one whose 12 year old is gluten-free, and the other whose 9 year old is allergic to wheat, soy, nuts, and dairy (both are newly-diagnosed). Since the kids started back to school today, everyone's looking for ways to keep lunches and snacks exciting while staying within diet restrictions; thanks for helping us out!
Fantastic article - cheers! :)
Thank you for this great post...I will try to forget about my chicken sandwich and be more adventurous. I will probably start by replacing my white bread with some tasty cinnamon raisin swirl bread because I love cinnamon, and if you need some to bake your bread you can get true cinnamon from this website http://www.regenerativenutrition.com/cinnamon-cinnamomum-verum--p-176.asp
Great post. I will definitely have to try to roasted plantain chips, since plantains are a fav family food. And, you've made me hungry for cinnamon swirl bread - I'lll have to wait for the weather to get a little cooler for that one!