Recipes
Snacks for children to take to school
What to eat at school to banish the pit in your stomach? The best snacks for children, healthy and quick, to always carry in your backpack.
The time has come to think about healthy and quick snacks for back to school. Because we know that there is never enough time and it is increasingly difficult for parents to prepare balanced snacks for children. But don't worry, we have come to your aid! With a little planning and a touch of creativity, you can make delicious, healthy snacks that will give kids and adults the energy they need to get through the school day . In addition to contributing to their well-being, you will help them develop healthy eating habits that will accompany them throughout their lives.
So, what to put in your backpack? Sometimes a packaged snack or a packet of taralli are practical solutions, however, the ideal would be to vary the snack every day, alternating sweet and savory. Here are some ideas for quick snacks, which combine taste and health, perfect for back to school.
Sweet snacks
Are you for sweet or savory? As children, our mother always gave us fruit or some biscuits, so at Primo Chef we vote for sweet snacks! There are so many snacks to choose from, you'll be spoiled for choice , but let's look at some practical examples that may be useful to you.
Fruit
Fruit is a source of good sugars , it can give energy to your children and helps maintain concentration for following lessons. Among the best (and most practical) to choose from are certainly bananas and apples, however you can also equip yourself with a practical lunch box and put small seasonal fruits inside, already portioned if they are too large.
During the busy months you won't have to worry, they will keep very well even for a few hours. Otherwise we recommend that you either equip yourself with airtight containers , or use the classic technique of a bottle of water frozen in the fridge (and inserted in a special sachet so that it doesn't get wet as it thaws in your backpack).
Dried fruit
Rich in healthy fats, fiber and protein, dried fruit is a perfect breaktime snack. Make a mix of what your child likes best: for example almonds, walnuts and pistachios or hazelnuts. Maybe add some seeds and finish with some dehydrated fruit. Here's the perfect snack to munch on during class too (without getting caught by the teacher of course)!
Dark chocolate
Better if combined with some other component , such as yogurt, dried fruit or fresh fruit, dark chocolate gives a considerable energy boost. Then let's face it, it's also delicious! Don't overdo it with the chocolate, a few cubes will be enough to make your child happy (and remember a napkin to clean every trace from the mouth, face and clothes).
Yogurt
If you decide to make your child some yoghurt for school break, we strongly recommend that you equip yourself with airtight containers to prevent its quality from deteriorating during the hours outside the refrigerator. Choose a low-fat yogurt without adding sugar, you can indulge yourself by also adding granola , chocolate or fruit. Also include the little ones in the choice of ingredients to enrich the snack , always opting for foods without added or packaged sugars.
Homemade bars
If you have a little more time and want to try making some energy bars , now is the right time! They are not great for your little ones, but for the whole family . We prepare them in a very short time and the result is always delicious.
Ingredients for 8 people
- 50 g of shelled almonds
- 50 g of shelled hazelnuts
- 200 g of oat flakes
- 30 g of dark chocolate chips
- 200 g agave syrup (or honey or maple syrup)
Coarsely chop the almonds, hazelnuts and oat flakes with a knife and place everything in a bowl. Add the chocolate chips. Add the agave syrup and mix well, then take a baking tray covered with baking paper and make a layer of the mixture, about 1 cm high. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 15-20 minutes , then remove from the oven and leave to cool before cutting into bars.
Sandwich with jam and spreadable cream
Source of carbohydrates, proteins and good sugars, the jam sandwich is perfect to take to school. We recommend using a homemade jam (perhaps without sugar ) and adding a thin layer of almond spread. Two coats and you're done.
Apple chips
Very easy to make at home, apple chips are the perfect choice to put in your backpack. The recipe requires very few ingredients and just as few steps, the only flaw is the very long cooking time to dry them to perfection .
Ingredients for 8 people
- 3-4 apples (preferably Red Delicious)
- icing sugar to taste
- juice of 1 lemon
- ground cinnamon to taste
Wash and dry the apples, then remove the central core and cut them into rings about 2 mm thick with the help of a mandolin. Sprinkle them with lemon juice so they don't blacken, in the meantime bring the oven to 80/90° C. Place the slices on one or two baking trays covered with baking paper, then pour over a mix of icing sugar and ground cinnamon (amount of your choice depending on your tastes). Cook in the oven for about 2-3 hours , then turn the apples and continue cooking for another 2 hours or until they are completely dried.
Homemade dry biscuits
And here we are almost at the end of this list of a thousand and more sweet snacks to take to school for the little ones. Now let's see the recipe for dry biscuits that can be prepared in a flash and is perfect when you don't know what snack to prepare for school. Pair them with a fresh fruit and it will be a unique combo.
Ingredients for 4 people
- 300 g of flour (we use wholemeal flour but 00 is fine too)
- 60 g of brown sugar
- 1 sachet of vanilla baking powder
- 50 ml of seed oil
- 120 ml of milk
- 1 pinch of salt
Sift the powders into a bowl, then add the milk and oil. Mix in the bowl and then pass onto a floured work surface and knead until you obtain a nice homogeneous dough. Roll out the dough until it is about 3 mm thick , cut out the biscuits and place them to bake on a baking tray covered with baking paper. The oven must be set at 180°C and preheated , cooking times are between 13 and 15 minutes per batch .
Orange juice
The usual juices bought at the supermarket are almost always full of sugar, with little pulp inside. For this reason we recommend preparing a nice orange juice at home and then putting it in a water bottle (preferably thermal) or a special glass with a lid that can easily be taken to school. Preparing it is very simple: just roll the oranges on a work surface (this way more juice will come out), cut them in half and squeeze them with a citrus juicer. If you prefer, you can filter it through a sieve and, if desired, also add a few teaspoons of brown sugar (however, we recommend enjoying it without).
Don't leave it alone , perhaps combine it with a bar or some dry biscuits.
Savory snacks
Let's leave behind the sweet snacks to take to school, and move on to a careful (but always customizable) selection of mouth-watering savory snacks. We want to remind you that these are just some ideas that we share with you to help your children eat something healthy and nutritious during the break at school, but of course if they have special needs it is important to consult a professional .
Stuffed sandwich
Let's remember that a snack does not have to be a complete meal, for this a small sandwich or a stuffed roll, or a sandwich cut in half, will be enough. We recommend avoiding cold cuts , even if they are faster for assembling the snack, it is now known that they are absolutely a healthy food both for the quantity of salt used and preservatives (especially regarding cold cuts bought in pre-packaged plastic sachets). ).
For this reason, opt for something else: it could be an omelette, mozzarella and tomato, cheese and lettuce. In short, let yourself be guided by your taste and your imagination.
Homemade pizzas
One (or two) homemade pizzas , with genuine ingredients and without extra filling are perfect as a savory snack. We have a recipe for preparing them quite quickly (always considering that a minimum amount of leavening is essential for them to be digestible). Alternatively, you can always prepare puff pastry pizzas .
Ingredients for 12 people
- 500 g of 0 flour
- 15 g of salt + to taste for seasoning
- 230 ml of water
- 1 cube of brewer's yeast
- 40 g of butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil + to taste for dressing
- 200 g of mozzarella
- tomato sauce to taste
Dissolve the yeast in warm water and, in the meantime, place the flour and salt in a bowl. Gradually add the water and oil, continuing to knead (with your hands or with the mixer). When the dough starts to be nice and elastic, add the softened butter and continue kneading. Take the dough, place it in a bowl, cover it with a cloth and leave it in the switched off oven until it doubles in size ( about 2 hours should be enough ). Roll out the dough with a rolling pin and make the pizzas using pastry cutters. Place the dough discs on a baking tray covered with baking paper, season them with tomato, oil and salt and bake at 200°C for about 5-10 minutes . Finally add the mozzarella and cook for another 5 minutes.
Homemade scones
If you are afraid that children will come home with tomato-stained t-shirts, trousers or aprons, we want to tempt you instead with the idea of sending them to school with a small scone . A snack that children will surely love. Even in this case the recipe is not at all demanding, however it is undeniable that it takes a little more time than a classic stuffed sandwich.
Ingredients for 4 people
- 200 g of 00 flour
- 200 g of Manitoba flour
- 125 ml of water
- 125 ml of milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 50 g of extra virgin olive oil (+ more for the surface)
- 10 g of fresh yeast
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
Melt the yeast in a bowl with milk, water and sugar, then add the oil. Add the flours and salt little by little and start kneading vigorously (by hand or with the help of a planetary mixer). Make a very elastic loaf, then place it in a bowl covered with a cloth and let it rise in the turned off oven until it doubles in size. At the end of the leavening, roll out the dough with a rolling pin and cut out many disks using a pastry cutter. Proceed with a second leavening, then place the focaccias well spaced on a baking tray covered with baking paper, make the classic dimples and add a few grains of salt. Bake at 180°C for 20-25 minutes and, at the end, brush the surface of the scones with an emulsion of water and oil.
Crackers
What if we told you that crackers are also a healthy and delicious snack for children? Of course, the key factor is always to prepare them at home , to be sure of what you put in the little ones' backpacks. It may seem impossible but crackers can be prepared in a flash (especially if you prepare them without yeast), here is our recipe .
Ingredients for 4-6 people
- 250 g of 0 flour
- 90 ml of water + to taste for brushing
- 6 g of fine salt
- 65 ml of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dry brewer's yeast
Let's start by saying that, using yeast, you will have to let it rise for about 2 hours , otherwise you will only need half an hour of rest before rolling out the dough. Place the dry ingredients on a work surface and make a well (dissolve the yeast in the water at room temperature). Add the liquids and knead until you obtain a nice smooth dough. After resting or leavening, roll out the dough with a special machine or with a rolling pin until you obtain a thickness of about 1-2 mm . Cut the crackers into the shape you prefer, then put them in the oven at 200°C for about 12 minutes .
Breadsticks
The last savory snack for children that we offer are classic homemade breadsticks. Very easy and crunchy, after trying our recipe you will no longer have anything to complain about. Prepare some to keep at home, then combine it with a fruit or cheese for your children's recess snack.
Ingredients for 6 people
- 250 g of 00 flour
- 150ml of water
- 7 g of fresh brewer's yeast or 4 g of dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon honey or sugar
- 5 g of salt
- 25 ml of extra virgin olive oil + to taste
Dissolve the yeast in the water with the honey or sugar and in the meantime put the powders in a bowl. Add the water, then the oil and knead until you obtain a nice firm and smooth dough . Leave it to rise, covered with a cloth, until it doubles in size, then form the breadsticks, brush them with oil and bake them at 200°C for about 20 minutes .
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