Healthy eating parents...Thoughts on snack bars?

[madteaparty]

I hate convenience foods and also hate feeding my kids out of boxes and bags BUT. Not all snack bars are created equal, right? I know Lara bars have like 3 ingredients and DH eats those. I was looking at the kid version of cliff bars, and they seem ok too. I'm going to embark on some serious research but I decided to ask before reinventing wheel. What do you feel ok giving your kids, if any? Thank you.

[MercyA]

Larabars and KIND bars.

[MEmama]

In addition to Lara and Kind bars, I like Luna bars.

 

I've never found kid versions to be as substantial.

[DawnM]

What about making your own?

 

http://dailyburn.com/life/recipes/homemade-energy-bar-recipes/

[regentrude]

We use the bars (Cliff, Lara, Luna) when we hike and backpack. They are OK, but nobody in our family would want to eat them for a fun snack.

They may have "good" ingredients, but the texture and taste are not like actual food. They're good for emergencies.

 

ETA: The ones I make myself, OTOH, get gobbled up like cake:

2 cups oats, 1/2 c nuts, 1/2 c dried fruit, 1/4 c seeds, 1tsp cinnamon, 1tsp salt, 1.25 c milk, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla. Bake 30-45 min.

Edited August 22, 2016 by regentrude

[mathnerd]

I use KIND bars because among all of them, this one has the texture that I can tolerate - it is ind of like chewing on a block of trail mix - my favorite is the Almond-coconut version though I have tried and liked many others.

My son will eat the Zee Bars (organic, kids version of Cliff), but I cannot stand them. We use them like regentrude does - for emergencies, car trips, pick up from a class and drop off at another class situations. I bought the Pure Organic Ancient Grains bar from Costco - it was hard to finish the box - it was chewy and the texture was not what I was used to.

[Kassia]

I really like Quest bars and Kirkland (Costco) bars.  

[wintermom]

What about trail mix you make yourself with ingredients your dc like? Or take the trailmix and make them into bars yourself with some flour and egg, then you know what's holding the stuff together. ;)

[Guest]

I have a homemade recipe for breakfast bars that is like regentrude's and those go over well. Any commercial ones we consider a junky treat to be gobbled in a hurry and nothing more. They're fine as an occasional item but I wouldn't feed one to a kid every day, just like we don't have dessert every day.

[redsquirrel]

We have them, but I call them what they are 'cookies with a vitamin pill sprinkled on top'.  I mostly buy my kids Luna bars, because cliff bars tend to be too large. Cliff bars are more of a meal substitute (caloriewise) than a snack. I don't want bars pushing out calories that can be coming from actual food.

 

And also be aware that some Cliff bars have caffeine added...it will say so on the front of the package IIRC.

 

That said, my boys are ballet dancers and they eat an awful lot of Luna bars etc. They often only have a few mins between class and rehearsal and a bar is a good way to refuel quickly, without feeling too full. It gets them through rehearsal and then they can eat a real meal later on. 

 

When my kids aren't dancing then we don't eat bars etc as snacks. First of all, they are too expensive. And I would rather see them eat apple slices with PB and a glass of milk than isolated soy protein etc. And I know that Lara bars have 3 ingredients, but again, much too expensive for us to have as a casual snack around the house. I don't buy 'granola bars' and other pre-packaged snack food for the same reason.  I just don't feel like they are a good buy for the $$. And I think Lara bars usually have recognizable nuts (?), and with braces we've been whole/part nut free for a long time.

[ktgrok]

My littles ADORES cliff bars. So does the oldest. They are a bit healthier, from sugar wise, than the kids version. He eats them for breakfast sometimes, or if he is being super picky and doesn't want to eat a particular meal (not often). 

[Liz CA]

When in a pinch Larabars. However, I would make things at home or choose other snack options for the majority of time.

[Ali in OR]

We do various bars when youngest is doing 2 sports. Getting enough calories in her is actually the biggest challenge, so I go with what she will eat. She likes the Clif Zbars for kids but has trouble finishing the adult bars. She likes the Sunbelt granola bars. These aren't going to pass everyone's healthy foods criteria but I need to go with something this picky eater likes to get sufficient fuel in her.

[Guest]

I mix dates, prunes and (soaked then dehydrated) walnuts almonds in a food processor and roll them into balls.

 

Edited:oh! And coconut oil, duh.

Edited August 22, 2016 by OKBud

[Guest]

I mix dates, prunes and (soaked then dehydrated) walnuts almonds in a food processor and roll them into balls.

Tons of sugar but super tasty!

[Guest]

For my kids, in a real pinch, I'll get squeeze pack baby food that's just fruit, veg, and oats or quinoa. These are great for hiking or long road trips

Edited August 22, 2016 by OKBud

[prairiewindmomma]

I keep them in the car for when we need emergency snacks (ie--highway is shut down and we're stuck in traffic for two hours), and I think they are an ok occasional food, but they aren't something I feel ok with for regular snacking.

[madteaparty]

Great thoughts, thanks everyone. We don't have a weight issue (DS is actually underweight) but I worry about the slippery slope (if it becomes convenient to use, it will be used).

Anyway, do the homemade ones keep a while? Do you cut after baking and wrap in plastic wrap?

[Guest]

Tons of sugar but super tasty!

Not really because each ball is two bites, but it is very filling. Def yum, though. I started these when I was pregnant because dates are good particularly when you're knocked up, but I don't like dates at all.

[prairiewindmomma]

I cut and wrap.  They can also be frozen. :) 

 

We had to cut off granola bars (I had stocked them for my SN kid who was having a hard time with food textures in a stressful situation) because they became a preferred food over healthier options.

[Guest]

I roll and fridge them. They last a couple da ys in a backpack.

[kitten18]

I make these, but I always keep a few Lara or Kind bars for emergencies.

 

http://www.ditchthecarbs.com/2015/03/03/grain-free-granola-bars/

[regentrude]

Anyway, do the homemade ones keep a while? Do you cut after baking and wrap in plastic wrap?

They freeze well, and you can microwave and eat them warm, too.

But I rarely get a chance to; when I make a 9x9 pan, they are gone the next day. Between just DH and me, that is.

Dangerous yummy stuff.

Edited August 22, 2016 by regentrude

[katilac]

We use the bars (Cliff, Lara, Luna) when we hike and backpack. They are OK, but nobody in our family would want to eat them for a fun snack.

They may have "good" ingredients, but the texture and taste are not like actual food. They're good for emergencies.

 

ETA: The ones I make myself, OTOH, get gobbled up like cake:

2 cups oats, 1/2 c nuts, 1/2 c dried fruit, 1/4 c seeds, 1tsp cinnamon, 1tsp salt, 1.25 c milk, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla. Bake 30-45 min.

 

Are these more of a granola bar or cake type texture?