Healthy, fun & kid-approved: How to build the ultimate snackle box

My sister is one of those cool moms who always knows the latest parenting trends.

For my birthday, she surprised me with a “snackle box.” It looks like a fishing tackle box, but it’s made for food. Fill each square with a different treat, and you’ve got a kid-friendly snack box that’s easy to pack for game day or road trips.

Of course, you could add gummy worms and fish-shaped crackers – like a real tackle box.

But kids burn a lot of energy, and they need nutritious, high-protein snacks to power them on the field or at the playground.

 How to pack a healthy snackle box: Easy protein snacks for kids 

 Just for fun, I asked Erin Good, a registered dietitian with the Iowa Beef Council, for ideas on how to pack a healthy snackle box.

She shared a simple, high-protein recipe for beef jerky trail mix:  

• Buy beef jerky that’s already cut into small pieces, or chop the jerky yourself.
• Add the beef jerky to your favorite trail mix. (I like the classic mix with chocolate M&Ms, raisins and peanuts.)

 It may sound unusual, but it’s delicious – the perfect blend of sweet, salty and savory!

Beef jerky is also a smart snack choice. It’s full of protein, iron and zinc – important nutrients that help power kids through busy days and support immune and brain health, Good says.

She also suggested other healthy, kid-approved snacks for your snackle box:

• Dried fruits – like dried apricots, mango, blueberries and dried apples. Kids like them because they are chewy, Good says.
• Mini dark chocolate chips, for just a touch of sweetness.
• Pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds. Look for fun flavors like chocolate, ranch or chili-spiced in the snack aisle.
• Dried snack beans and peas, like Harvest Snaps green pea crisps.
• Flavored Cheerios – an easy, familiar option for younger kids.
• String cheese, if you can keep your snackle box cold. Or try dried cheese crisps for a crunchy, high-protein option.

 Iowa farmers raise safe, nutritious meat for your family 

 Whether you fill your snack box with gummi bears or beef jerky – or both! – you can feel confident knowing that Iowa farmers work hard to provide safe, healthy food for your family. “Farmers feed their own families the same beef they’re feeding you, the customer,” Good says. “They truly care about the animals, and they want to grow a high-quality product that also benefits the environment.”

To learn more about how Iowa farmers ensure meat quality, food safety and animal care, visit https://realfarmersrealfoodrealmeat.com/.

Learn more about author Teresa Bjork here.