Lunchbox Surprise or Afterschool Treat
With the kiddos back in school it's time to get your parent-brain thinking about easy, tasty snacks to send along for a yummy midday pick-me-up, or to set out after school for happy homework-time munching.
Here are a few of our favorite gluten-free snacks:
- Pepper Poppers – Cut the stem top off a mini sweet bell pepper and fill it with hummus. Then replace the top, for a fun-to-eat snack without gluten. Thin slices of carrots or green pepper also make awesome, colorful transporters of hummus or pesto to hungry mouths.
- Cinnamon-dusted fruit slices -- The cinnamon is a natural preservative and adds an extra punch of flavor.
- Sweet or Savory Popcorn -- To protect it from backpack crushing, send Klassic Kettle, Sinfully Cinnamon, Apple Crisp, or Sweet Butter popcorn in a small lidded container for a crunchy, sweet GF treat. Savory flavors like Simple Pop, Cheesy Cheddar, Better Butter, or Triple White Cheddar also earn a big thumbs-up at the lunch table and make great snack-buddies when paired with apple slices.
Tips for easy snack prep:
-- Stock your kitchen with several small, lidded containers for sending dips or popcorn.
-- Waxed-paper wrappers keep cut fruit and veggie slices from drying out as they patiently await snack time in the lunchbox.
-- Fresh popcorn will stay delicious and crispy for at least three weeks if you keep it stored in a tightly lidded Big Tin, ready to scoop out into smaller containers to send to school, or into bowls for nibbling during homework.
