A lovely blog reader recently suggested I post about what packaged products and snacks I am buying these days. I’ve talked about this in years past, but, as we all know, new items are hitting the shelves every week. This post is NOT SPONSORED but just some of our favorite items we like to have on hand. I already make enough foods from scratch…so, trust me, I’m happy to have all the help I can get (when there is a decent packaged version available)!
Packaged Snacks I Buy
Whole-Grain Pretzels
These are one of the only 100% whole-grain pretzels I’ve found. I have only seen these at Fresh Market or Amazon. They used to carry them at Earth Fare, but no more (boo). They do also now offer a “shells” pretzel stick version, but my kids don’t like them as much (with no explanation as to why, of course).
Whole Wheat Crackers
These Back to Nature crackers are a slightly better version of Triscuits—a 100% whole-grain cracker option with one of the shortest lists of ingredients.
Popcorn Bags
When I first ordered these popcorn bags off Amazon I thought to myself…we really don’t need EIGHTEEN bags (but you know how it is ordering in bulk online). Little did I know, they were all gone within less than two weeks. I had no idea how much my kids (and their friends) would enjoy them and how convenient they’d be for on the go.
Bars
My kids tastes are changing CONSTANTLY when it comes to bars, but the current reigning favorite for my 13-year-old (with braces, mind you!) is the HealthWarrior Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Bar and for my 11-year-old it’s any LARABAR that has chocolate in it (which has a little-refined sugar in the chocolate chips…but, what can I say).
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
These toasted pumpkin seeds are another snack that’s individually wrapped and therefore good for travel or on the go. They’re also great as a salad topper if you want to switch things up. :)
Applesauce Pouches
I can’t say how filling these applesauce pouches really are, but my kids sure do love them. They’re usually a better deal online, and I can also stock up that way because they do go quickly at my house.
Yogurts with Honey
There’s no question that the individual cups of yogurt are handy, but every single flavored one contains added, refined sugar (UGH)! So we’ve been digging these little plain ones by Fage that have honey on the side (because I think we can all agree plain yogurt is a little on the TART side by itself). These are not whole-milk and not organic (i.e. not perfect), but my oldest is a yogurt fanatic, and she finds these to be convenient/easy to grab for snacks. I do tell her to not use all the honey in the little pouch…if she can! We do also still buy the big containers of yogurt (organic and whole milk) too.
Other Packaged Items I Buy
Breadcrumbs
My favorite whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs were discontinued (by Ian’s – boohoo). Of course, I make breadcrumbs whenever I can, but it’s also nice to have some ready to go when you’re in a pinch. So, now that we have a Whole Foods close-by, I was happy to discover that the 365 brand is a very clean option.
Puff Cereal
I don’t buy this often, but this puffed rice cereal is a good whole-grain, CLEAN (i.e. no additives or sugar) option. Honestly if I let my girls pick any cereal from under the sun they’d go for Raisin Bran, so I do buy an organic version of that on occasion.
Mayo
The mayos that are available have changed SO much since we got started cutting out processed food. And thank goodness because I’ve long said I’m not really in the business of whipping up my own mayo from scratch whenever I need it. So I love the options now that are made with cleaner oils. And I mean REALLY made with cleaner oils (they don’t just say something like “with olive oil” on the front and still have the refined oil as the first ingredient). We like both the Chosen Foods brand as well as Primal Kitchen.
I also do still buy almost the same exact Trader Joe’s list I shared a few years back…not much has changed there (except the pretzels, which I can no longer find)!
Since this post was a reader suggestion, I’d like to hear what you want me to write about next. Thanks in advance! :)
What Produce to Buy Organic (updated 2018)
I would like to know if you purchase any packaged pastas and if so which kinds? I notice often I can find whole wheat or organic but I rarely find them combined, which is better if you had to choose one or the other?
Try Bionaturae. They have some varieties that are both organic and whole wheat, and Cook’s Illustrated rated theirs the best-tasting whole wheat spaghetti, too (if I remember correctly). I buy it at Whole Foods, and if you do Amazon Prime Pantry, I’m pretty sure it’s available there, too. https://www.bionaturae.com/whole-wheat-pasta.html
We had the same, I also purchase that Whole wheat crackers. I’m curious about that pumpkin seeds, so i may look some :)
Great blog though.
Thank you so much for the bar suggestion and mentioning your daughter has braces!! Good to know! Any other suggestions?? It’s hard sometimes to feed him lol!
Have you tried Lisa’s version of Larabars: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/recipe-homemade-larabars-4-ways-including-nut-free/.
We make our own yogurt, super simple with a yogurt maker and applesauce to fill reusable pouches (from Amazon of course). I always fill 8 or so and store so they are ready to go. The hard part is getting the kids to bring the pouches back home and not leave them in the car, or school desk, or garage, or bus, or top bunk, or Lego bin, or 1 of a zillion other places. I love me some mayo, gotta try one of your suggestions soon. I just haven’t been able to give up the frankenmayo.
You can get Fage whole milk yogurt in the individual cups with honey. I don’t always see it though. Bought some recently at Harris Teeter.
I would love to hear about how you freeze items, what containers you use for freezing, and why! Thanks so much!