5 Snack Recipes for Kids with Food Allergies

It's hard to believe that summer is almost over and school has already begun for many children. If your child has food allergies, preparing healthy and safe snacks can be challenging.

Our school asks parents to pack their children daily snacks and since my son cannot have dairy, I'm here to share my top 5 snack recipes for kids with food allergies. All recipes are dairy, gluten, and nut-free. If your child is at school all day, here are some lunch ideas.

Yogurt & Fruit

My son is a huge fan of So Delicious coconut milk yogurt. They come in several yummy flavors -- vanilla, blueberry, and strawberry to name a few. To add some color, I pack a small container of fresh mango to add. This snack does require an ice pack, but it's one of his favorites. This snack also packs protein and lasting power which is important for kids in school all day.

Photo Source: Pixaby

2. Snickerdoodle Cookies

While cookies may not be the healthiest snack, they're quick and delicious. You can modify most any recipe with dairy/gluten/nut free ingredients and go the homemade route, but I also love the snickerdoodle cookies from Trader Joes and Simply Enjoy. If you make a homemade batch at the beginning of the week, cookies are a great last minute snack when time is short.

Here are our favorite recipe substitutes:

• Earth Balance Butter - this tastes exactly like real butter
• Bobs 1-1 Gluten Free Flour - this is wonderful to bake with and you can't taste a difference
• At home we use almond milk, but for school I'll use soy or rice milk to avoid nuts

Photo Source: Pixaby

3. Banana Bread

Banana bread can serve as a hearty snack, or even a breakfast on the go. Here is my recipe that never lasts!

Ingredients:

• 2-3 ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup earth balance butter (melted)
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups of Bobs 1-1 flour

Instructions:

1. Mash your bananas in a large bowl

2. Add the butter, beaten egg and vanilla

3. Add your baking soda, salt, sugar and flour and mix well

4. Pour the batter into a greased 8X8x2 baking pan and bake for 50-55 minutes at 350F

Photo Source: Pixaby

4. Egg & Chips

While I realize this may sound funky, my son can't get enough hardboiled eggs. He prefers the yellow to be taken out and for snacktime it's less messy. So I cut up the white section into bite size pieces. It provides a great source of protein and it's something you can easily prepare the night before school. I'll also add in a small bag of his favorite chips -- potato or pita usually. If your child isn't a fan of eggs, hummus, carrot sticks, or tomatoes are also great ideas.

5. Cereal Bar & Fruit

Cereal bars are another go-to staple in our house. If you need to avoid nuts, be sure to read all ingredients carefully. The health section of your grocery store should have several options that are safe to send to school. Our favorites are called Don't Go Nuts Gorilla Bars. I've been caught stealing them because they are so good! Add in some seasonal fruit and your child will be satisfied. Frozen fruit is also a good option when peak seasons pass.

Photo Source: Pixaby

I wish you good luck during your back to school journey and I hope that these 5 snack recipes for kids with food allergies has given you some great ideas!