It's always hard to keep things exciting and nutritious when packing lunch boxes. Luckily, Trader Joe's has a plethora of snack ideas that are parent- and kid-approved.
As a mom of two little girls, I am finding myself right at the beginning of the packing school lunches era. My oldest will start school in the fall, so I am suddenly on the lookout for snack ideas with a whole new lens. What kind of packaged snacks can I add to homemade school lunches that will excite my kiddo and also keep her energized throughout the day? Trader Joe’s is a weekly destination in our household, making it a great source of snacks for both home and school. As my daughter and I get ready for the start of the school year, I’ve assembled a list of some of her favorite back-to-school TJ’s finds.
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KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME
Dark Chocolate Covered Powerberries
I first bought a bag of these antioxidant-filled chocolates for myself, but soon my daughter kept asking for some as well. I never would have guessed she would have liked the intense flavors of açai, blueberry, cranberry, pomegranate and dark chocolate, but we were both instantly hooked. They are $4.99 for an 8-ounce package, and it’s easy to toss three or four of the chocolate balls into a lunch bag. These super snacks have an irresistible sweet-tart flavor that can curb a chocolate craving without over-indulging.
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KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME
Pink Lady Apple Chips
The cinnamon-sugar coated pink lady apple chips arrive at this list straight from my daughter. She devours the thinly sliced and delightfully crunchy chips that are made by vacuum crisping using minimal oil. The rosy-blush color and crisp bite of the pink lady apples are maintained, and they taste almost as juicy as a fresh apple. Each 2.5-ounce bag sells for $2.29, and you could probably get about three lunch-sized portions out of it. Even beyond the lunch box, these are excellent sprinkled on top of Greek yogurt for breakfast or on ice cream for dessert.
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KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME
Mediterranean Hummus Snack Pack with Pita Chips
The best part about these snack packs is that they can be tossed directly into a lunch bag, and you are an instant hero. All the heavy lifting is done for you. Inside is Trader Joe’s bestselling hummus along with the perfect amount of pita chips, all in a snack tray that makes it portable and easy to enjoy. It’s $2.99 for an 8-ounce package that includes two snack packs.
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KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME
Tiniest Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cookies are always fun, but they are even more exciting when they are teeny tiny! These itty bitty chocolate chip cookies are made for small fingers. When you want to give your kids a little treat (literally) these are the way to go. My daughter loves having just a few at the end of a meal, and I like that they are made with butter and not oils. An 8-ounce bag is $3.99, and there is enough to sprinkle into to lunch boxes day after day.
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KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME
Just a Handful of Rainbow’s End Trail Mix
Also in the effortless, toss-and-go category are the pre-made pouches of Trader Joe’s iconic Rainbow’s End Trail Mix. Of course, you could divide it up yourself into individual baggies, but this is just so much easier, and I am all about it. For $5.49, you can buy a bag with 10 convenient pouches filled with a colorful combination of raisins, peanuts, almonds and multi-hued, candy-coated chocolate. With two grams of fiber and five grams of protein per bag, this snack provides the boost kids need to take on the day.
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KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME
Cinnamon Schoolbook Cookies
I’m not sure who loves these alphabet cookies more, my daughter or me! She loves to spell out words before taking a bite or hunt down the elusive “Z” to write her name in edible format. I am all about a phonics lesson along with snack time. Plus, I can’t help grabbing a few of these small cinnamon cookies when I want a little treat. Each large 15-ounce tub sells for $5.99, and you’ll be able to spell a lot of words before hitting the bottom.
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KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME
Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Snackers
One of the newest snacks that caught my eye in the refrigerated case are these pre-portioned snack size pouches filled with bite-sized balls of fresh mozzarella cheese. I’m a huge fan of creamy fresh mozzarella, and I never would have guessed they would find a way to make them portable! Each pouch is 70 calories and 5 grams of protein. An 8-ounce package is $3.99 and contains eight snack pouches. I had to make this suggestion a twofer because I’m also totally obsessed with the Trader Joe’s “Sprinkles” teeny tiny tomatoes. A few of those pair perfectly with these mozzarella balls and become a Caprese-inspired lunch box treat that feels as elegant as it is easy.
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