10 Smart Snacks
Fresh fruit and veggies are best, but when you need a pre-packaged snack for your kids, the nutritionists at Nationwide Children's Hospital Snackwise Program say these are the top choices:
1. NutriPals Fruit Bars (Strawberry)
2. CLIF Kid Organic Z Bar (Peanut Butter)
3. Quaker Oatmeal To Go for Kids (Apple Cinnamon)
4. NutriPals Snack Bars (Peanut Butter Chocolate)
5. Herbalife Protein Bar (Chocolate Fudge)
6. Power Bar Pria Complete Nutrition Bar (Chocolate Peanut Butter Crisp)
7. VitaMuffin VitaTops (all flavors)
8. Solo Nutrition Bar (Chocolate Charger and Mint Mania)
9. South Beach Living Cereal Bars (Peanut Butter, Cinnamon Raisin, Cranberry Almond, Maple Nut, Chocolate)
10. South Beach Living Snack Bar Delights (Chocolate Raspberry)
They rank highest because of their nutrient density—meaning that high amounts of protein, calcium, iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and fiber offset the snack’s calories, sugar, fat and sodium. Snackwise is a non-profit, independent rating system affiliated with Nationwide Children's Hospital's Center for Healthy Weight and Nutrition.
photo via
I think part of the problem is that I spied the Jelly Bellies on the bottom row of that vending machine, and it's all I'm thinking about now.
Posted by: Sarah at themommylogues | October 06, 2008 at 02:19 PM
The CLIF Kid Organic Z Bars are AMAZING. So, so yummy. My almost 6 year old little guy really likes them, and he has Autism (and very shall we say "selective" in what he will eat, to say the least!!) so I like these snacks a lot..pretty healthy and very tasty.
Posted by: Myra | October 06, 2008 at 09:59 PM
Great, except for all the ones that contain peanuts! :(
Posted by: cgogis | October 07, 2008 at 09:26 AM
My only complaint is that I have never seen any of those snacks available in a vending machine, at a convenience store, etc. The info is good if I'm going to be somewhere I have access to a grocery store, but in a true snack emergency I'd be out of luck.
Posted by: Ellen | October 07, 2008 at 03:23 PM
I just got turned on to vita muffin tops! they are SO DELISH!
Posted by: Stephanie | October 10, 2008 at 08:31 AM
I really wish that there were more healthy snacks really available in vending machines. Everything is always pure sugar. Even though these healthy snacks exist, they are rarely found in machines.
Posted by: Chantel | October 16, 2008 at 02:14 PM