The new school year is upon us! The excitement of fresh notebooks, new teachers, and reuniting with friends is in the air. While preparing for this transition, one crucial aspect often overlooked is planning healthy snacks for kids.

Ensuring that both you and your children are fueled with nutritious foods throughout the day is essential for their academic performance, energy levels, and overall well-being. As a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist, I’ve got some lunch box meal ideas and snacks that will help get you off to an A+ school year!

Nature's Garden Probiotic Yoggies are a Healthy Snack for Kids!

Do you remember Yogos? If you were a fan and were bummed that they’ve been discontinued, rest assured! I’ve got something you’ll love even more. I recently discovered Yoggies!

On a work trip to Chicago, I found myself super hungry without any food on hand. A friend of mine pulled a bag of Yoggies from her purse and said “Try these fruit yogurt bites! They’re amazing and will hold you over!” Boy, was she right! They were delicious and hit the spot! 

Probiotic Yoggies gave me the immediate fun memory of Yogos candy, but with a bonus of healthy nutrition benefits. They’re a yogurt covered fruit snack with the perfect amount of sweetness! They pack a powerful punch of probiotics and fiber, are gluten-free, non-GMO, and contain no artificial flavors or ingredients. Bonus, they're conveniently portioned in small packs for an easy grab-and-go option.

You might ask, “what are probiotics and why are they important?” Probiotics are live bacteria that are essential in maintaining a healthy gut biome, working to improve digestion and maintain your immune system. Through a patented system, these fiber snacks contain billions of probiotics from natural resources that microencapsulate Yoggies, ensuring the power of each probiotic is maintained as is passes through the digestive system.

While the answer to “Can I get Yogos?” is a no, probiotic Yoggies will instantly turn that frown upside down! They’re a healthy snack for kids and adults made with real ingredients and a billion benefits! They're an indulgent treat you can feel good about! Be sure to toss a pack in your lunch box, purse, or backpack!

Nature’s Garden Trail Mix Snack Packs

When it comes to snacking, finding the perfect balance between taste and nutrition can be challenging. Enter Nature’s Garden trail mix individual packs!

With 3 bundle variety packs to choose from, they’re versatile, delicious, and an excellent healthy snack option. Whether you need an energy boost between meals, pre- or post-workout snack, pick-me-up before a sports practice, or an anytime, convenient, on-the-go snack, individually wrapped snacks like these are a fantastic solution. 

Nature’s Garden Organic Trail Mix Snack Packs

I could go on for days why I don’t leave my house without one of these packets in hand. This snacks variety pack includes a Heart Healthy Mix, Omega-3 Deluxe Mix, and Cranberry Health Mix. They're made with the highest quality organic ingredients to keep your energy high and belly fully throughout the busy day.

Each are vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free as well. Antioxidant boosting, disease fighting cranberries are in each variety along with a perfect harmony of nuts and seeds. It’s just the kickstart you’ll need when that afternoon slump enters.

Sending a pack of these delicious and nutritious snacks in your kids’ lunchbox or backpack to have before practice or simply on their ride home from school will fuel them with the energy they need! 

Nature’s Garden Healthy Trail Mix Snack Packs

This triple variety pack has the same great flavors and blends as its organic variety pack alternative. It’s also free from preservatives, trans fat, GMOs, artificial flavors, cholesterol, and sodium.

Waving that red Heart Healthy banner high, each variety is made with top shelf ingredients and can find a place in everyone’s nutrition plan at an affordable price.

Nature’s Garden Immune Snack Packs

With the start of school is also the start of exposure to the elements. Immune health and gut health are two important factors for fighting off disease. These individual snacks loaded with high quality, nutrient-rich ingredients like zinc, vitamins C and D, and 5 billion probiotics via Nature’s Garden’s patented microencapsulation process will help keep your immune system and digestive health optimized and you and your family healthy and strong!

Filled with natural ingredients and high in fiber, these certified organic snacks not only support your body, but they’re also made from sustainable farming practices. They’re vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and certified Kosher, making them perfect for every diet, everywhere. By incorporating these packs into your snacking routine, you can support your gut health and stay energized!

As the school year kicks off, making nutritious lunches and delicious and healthy snacks for kids can set both you and your child up for success.

With a little planning and creativity, you can ensure that you have the fuel you need to thrive physically and to help your child excel academically. By fostering healthy eating habits now, you're not only supporting a healthy well-being but also laying the groundwork for a healthy future. 

This post was created in partnership with Nature's Garden. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

The post Healthy Snacks for Kids: Back to School Lunch Ideas appeared first on Dinner in 321.

I hope you have a wonderful Cinco de Mayo celebration and weekend!

Perfect Guacamole

This guacamole is creamy, fresh and irresistibly delicious! It's perfect added on top of your favorite Mexican-inspired dishes, on a tortilla chip or just eaten from a spoon!

Check out this recipe

Fresh Pico de Gallo

Pico de Gallo, also known as salsa Fresca, is a low-calorie flavor boost accent to many dishes!

Check out this recipe

The Best Loaded Nachos

Loaded nachos are serious business in this house…SERIOUSLY DELICIOUS!! Each chips is loaded with flavor and cheesy goodness!

Check out this recipe

BEEF TAMALE PIE

Jiffy Tamale Pie

Craving something hearty and satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen? This Jiffy Tamale Pie is the answer, where savory ground beef meets a golden cornbread crust in perfect harmony! Dinner will be easily ready on the table in just an hour.

Check out this recipe

Green Enchilada Chicken Soup (Crockpot)

Green Enchilada Soup is an easy Crockpot soup that takes less than 10 minutes to prep and has all the yummy cozy, zesty, savory notes you’re looking for on a cold night! Turn classic green chicken enchiladas into a creamy soup using canned green enchilada sauce and salsa verde.

Check out this recipe

Pork Carnitas Quesadillas

This quesadilla is a show-stopper! It's loaded with flavorful, caramelized white and red onions, tender pork carnitas, and cheese!

Check out this recipe

Taco Cups (4 Ingredients!)

With only 4 simple ingredients, everyone in the family will be raving about these easy, make-ahead, hand-held Taco Cups! They have a biscuit base and are topped with your favorite taco ingredients.

Check out this recipe

QUESO CHICKEN AND RICE

Queso Chicken and Rice

Smothered with queso, this easy Queso Chicken and Rice uses just seven ingredients and is made with one dish. Chicken con queso is a flavorful Mexican-inspired casserole that is spicy, creamy, and cheesy, a weeknight dinner favorite.

Check out this recipe

SWEET AND SPICY CROCKPOT CHICKEN

Sweet and Spicy Crockpot Chicken

It’s hard to resist this delicious chicken recipe. It’s so easy and quick to make, with simple ingredients. Bonus, it can be used in a number of ways!

Check out this recipe

Taco Lasagna

This taco lasagna is an easy to assemble dinner win!

Check out this recipe

Chocolate Mocha Tres Leches Cake

This cake is the epitome of chocolate heaven! It’s ultra-moist, decadent, and a great make-ahead dessert for celebrations!

Check out this recipe

Strawberries and Cream Tres Leches Cake

This sweet and luscious Strawberries and Cream Tres Leches Cake is a great make-ahead dessert for celebrations!

Check out this recipe

This giveaway is not sponsored or affiliated with The Spice Hunter brand. Dinner in 321 is not an affiliate of The Spice Hunter. Giveaway begins on 5/5/23 at 9:30am CST and ends 5/14/23 at 11:00am CST. The randomly chosen winner will be contacted via email.

The post Celebrate Cinco de Mayo appeared first on Dinner in 321.

Snack Ideas

1. 1 oz Turkey Jerky & 1 Pear
2. 1 hard-boiled egg + 1 teaspoon everything but the bagel seasoning & ¾ cup raspberries 
3. ½ cup light cottage cheese + ½ cup peaches in their own syrup 
4. ¼ cup salted mixed nuts
5. 1 rice cake & 2 tablespoon peanut butter
6. 1 light string cheese stick & 10 grapes
7. 8 mini cucumbers & 3 tablespoon hummus
8. 1 small apple & 2 tablespoon almond butter
9. 25 roasted salted pistachios & 1 halo/cutie
10. 1 cup sliced strawberries and 2 tablespoon almonds
11. 12 peanut butter-filled pretzels
12. ½ cup light yogurt, 1 tablespoon granola & ¼ cup berries
13. 4 walnut halves & 1 oz cheddar cheese
14. 3 cups popcorn
15. 1 ½ cups raw veggies and 2 tablespoon light ranch

Drumroll please...after entering all visitors' comments into a random pick auto generator, the winner of this week's $100 Giveaway is Allison R. Her entry/comment:

“Your Be My Darlin’ Berries are ABSOLUTELY to die for!!! And they were PERFECT for the upcoming Valentine’s Day… Or ANY DAY for that matter!!! Always such a special treat!! I’m so glad I’ve subscribed to dinnerin321! I LOVE your recipes. Thank you so much!!”

Thanks to everyone that entered! There will be more giveaways soon, so stay tuned to your weekly Bits & Bites!

The post 15 Snack Ideas that Satisfy appeared first on Dinner in 321.