Adults and children alike love snack foods or snacks as we more commonly refer to them. They are eaten to reduce hunger pangs between meals or for pure enjoyment (which is usually the case). They provide some mystical feel good factor through spiking blood sugar levels and providing instant lifts when energy levels dip. Snacks foods receive far more advertising and media coverage than their nutrient dense counter parts and it is hardly if ever that a child or grown up will opt for an apple instead of a chip. So as part of your
healthy lunchbox overhaul start reading the labels, don’t be conned by the bright colourful headlines that claim to be “sugar or preservative free”, as these usually contain other ingredients far more harmful to your health. Search for the actual ingredients and avoid any items that contain hydrogenated, or partially hydrogenated oils, sugar, preservatives, colourants, flavourants , MSG or any other numbers or letters that have no meaning. There is no half-healthy junk food, clean out the cupboard completely and replace it with some of the following healthier snack alternatives.
• Preservative free dried fruits
• Preservative free dried veggies
• Snack bars (Ideally make your own or include some natural way bars which are healthier alternatives).
• Raw unsalted nuts
• Raw unsalted seeds such as sunflower, pumpkin, sesame etc
• Homemade or preservative free trail mixes
• Replace regular chips which are high in salt and fat with corn chips or veggie chips.
• Rice cakes
• Sesame chips or bars (Opt for the sugar free variety)
• Oat cakes
• Vegetable crudités spiced up with some hummus dip
• Hard boiled organic eggs (You can draw on the shells or mould them into different shapes)
• Natural yoghurt flavoured with fresh fruit purees (Not for the lactose intolerant)
• Whole fruit
• Popcorn (use an air-popper if possible as stove popped contains saturated fat and microwave versions are filled with additives, flavourings and fat.)
Return from 15 Snack ideas for your healthy lunchbox to filled cucumbers.
I only promote products that meet certain criteria. Ecobrands asked me to review their new Organix Goodies Range for kids and my first response was naturally sceptical as I am quite often approached with products that don't make the grade. My curiosity was soon aroused with words like "no preservatives", "no colourants", "no sugar", "organic" and "pre-packed for quick and easy lunch box inclusion".
The last statement intrigued me most as healthy lunch box alternatives do not come pre-packed in colourful packets and boxes. My sample box arrived a few days later. Eager to review the taste and ingredients for myself, I tucked in and started tasting the various snack alternatives.
The packaging is unique with raisins and dried apples packed in tiny boxes and squeeze
pack juice alternatives. They offer a wide range of organic snacks with foods consisting of
biscuits, compotes, maize snacks, cereals, puree and fruit bars, catering for children from six months to 10 years, but even had my teen eagerly tucking into the box of gingerbread biscuits.
Organix gives parents the choice of including safe, convenient, organic snacks in their childrens lunch boxes. Look out for this new range in Baby City Stores, selected Pick 'n Pay's and Dischem stores nationwide.
I have a sample box of Organix goodies up for grabs, simply leave your comments below, share your thoughts or tell us where you have found them. All comments must be submitted before the end of October 2010 to participate.
(This competition is only open to residents in South Africa.)
