Plastic Free Snack Ideas for Kids

Bulk Dried Foods

If you have a refill shop nearby then loose nuts, dried fruit and crackers make great snacks. If refill shops are not accessible or out of budget then buying big packs and portioning out into small containers is a good option.

Sharing bags of crisps, dry cereal, biscuits, crackers and popcorn kernels can all be bought in big packs and portioned up as needed.

Buy the biggest pack you can to reduce packaging. This doesn't take much prep and  saves a lot of packaging compared with individual packets. Stocking up means less trips to the shops too. 

Our favourite snacks are nuts, dried apricots, raisins, bran flakes (dry), crackers, popcorn and granola.

If your kids are old enough you can get them involved in the prep so they take responsibility for planning snacks before a day out. This also avoids them moaning about what has been packed as it was their choice!

Use wax wraps and snack bags to wrap them up for easy snacks on the go. 

Fruit + Veg

Fruit and veg are ready wrapped and need very little prep. Apples, bananas and oranges are usually always available plastic free in the supermarket but opting for seasonal fruits and veggies when possible lowers your carbon footprint. 

Getting a local veg box makes it easier to shop plastic free and has the added convenience of being delivered to your door. 

Veg takes a little more prep if you're cutting it into crudités but introducing kids to the joy of a whole carrot or tomato means less preparation. Plus it keeps them busy and chomping for a few minutes!

Easy Bakes 

Most parents don't have time to bake every day, our family included, but we do have a few easy bakes and hacks that we make a couple of times a week. If you're really organised you could bake double and freeze them. 

These chewy oat cookies are a quick and easy bake. They're great for using up fruit when you've bought too much or have half eaten bananas in the fridge.

Ingredients:

50g butter or dairy free spread
2tbsp maple syrup or honey
1 apple coarsely grated 

1 banana (overripe is fine)
1tsp cinnamon
50g dried fruit - raisins, apricots, anything you have
50g oats
50g spelt flour self raising also works
40g nuts or ground almonds (or use extra oats)
1 egg or chia egg

Method: Melt together the butter, syrup/honey in a pan and add the apple to cook for 5 mins.

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl, add the syrup mixture, mashed banana and the egg and beat really well to combine. 

Spoon the mixture onto a greased baking tray into ten little dollops and press down to the desired thickness.

Bake for 18-20mins at 160c fan oven and enjoy!

Potato Peel Crisps

Make your own crisps at home to reduce plastic wrapped snacks and food waste.

Wash and scrub the potatoes before you peel them.

Drizzle the peelings with a little oil and toss in your favourite herbs and spices, or sprinkle with sea salt.

Roast in a hot oven (200C/180 fan/gas 6) for 20-30 mins until crispy. It's that simple!

Fruity Yoghurt Pots

Combine frozen berries bought in a bulk bag with yoghurt (buy the biggest tub you can find) in little tubs and keep in the fridge. You can top with nuts, seeds and honey or leave them plain. Both are delicious and are great for snacks at home or putting in picnics and lunch boxes. This creates far less plastic than individual yoghurts and is much cheaper. 

Freezer Heroes

Keeping a few packs of bake at home bread rolls, croissants and pastries in the freezer is a good idea and as they're sold frozen and unbaked they come in smaller packaging than fresh bread. 

So theres a few snack ideas here to help reduce plastic packaging. I hope you find these useful and if so come over and join our FREE facebook group where you'll find lots more ideas and eco living resources. 

Natalie 💛