It is back to school time which means we’ll all be busy packing lunches, making sure our kids have snacks for during school and after-school. As a mom of two Type 1 Diabetic children, food has been a very stressful issue for me. It’s difficult to find healthy snacks that are low-carb that they will enjoy. Add food allergies to the mix and buying back-to-school snacks can not only be frustrating but leave moms in tears. I’ve been there – literally.
Today, I’d like to give you some kid-approved back-to-school snack ideas that are allergy friendly and can be purchased at your local BJ’s.
This is a sponsored post for BJ’s. I received a gift card and information to facilitate. All opinions are 100% my own.
Stock Up on Allergy Friendly Back-to-School Snacks at BJ’s
Whether you are filling up the lunch box, packing snacks for school, or planning after-school snacks, there are plenty of allergy friendly back-t0-school snacks at BJ’s that you’ll want to stock up on! BJ’s is awesome at ensuring their allergen labeling is easy to spot and trustworthy.
Fresh fruit is always a healthy and delicious snack that is allergy friendly – no matter what your allergy – wheat, fish, peanuts, eggs, gluten, soy, tree nuts, etc. Plus, it is great for diabetics. BJ’s offers a large assortment of fruits year-round to temp your taste buds. 
They also offer fresh cut and individually packaged fruits that are perfect for packing in lunches and sending to school for snacks. I also love that they are labeled with carbohydrate counts so I don’t have to weigh the fruit and calculate on my own!
Snack on Apples and JELL-O
A perfect after-school or at-school allergy friendly snack is Mott’s Sliced Apples and JELL-O. This is a great snack for those with peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish, egg, and soy allergies as well as gluten-free. 
I stocked up on the JELL-O 24 Variety Pack and was so very happy it included sugar free options for my diabetic children! It’s a great mix that keeps my kids happy both at school and at home for snacking.
The mix of crunchy and tart Mott’s Sliced Apples with the sweetness of JELL-) is the perfect, low carb snack (7 grams) for happy, healthy kids!
Ready to Eat Smoothie and Fruit Snack
We love Stonyfield Organic yogurts and smoothies and keep them stocked in our fridge year-round but especially for back-t0-school lunches and snacks. Pairing it with Mott’s Sliced Apples or any other fresh fruit is a delicious, filling snacks to keep your child energized. This snack combination is good for those with allergies to a gluten sensitivity or with a wheat, fish, shellfish, peanut, tree nut, soy, and egg allergies.
It’s a favorite combination for my kids with the smooth, tasty smoothie and crunchy, fresh fruit. The Stonyfield Organic Smoothie is a filling, protein rich snack that keeps kids fueled and blood sugar levels steady too. This snack is very portable too!
Delight in a Bananas and Pudding Snack
What better combination is there than bananas and chocolate pudding?! YUM! This rich and creamy snack is sure to put a smile on your child’s face! Plus, it is safe for those with a gluten sensitivity and wheat, fish, shellfish, peanut, tree nuts, and soy allergies.
Although it is heaving in carbs because of the bananas, my kids love to slice the bananas up and add them to their JELL-O pudding cup. We usually only use 1/2 a banana, making this snack good for even those counting carbs at about 23 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
Kid’s Favorite Pirate’s Booty and Smoothie Snack
Who can resist Pirate’s Booty Aged White Cheddar puffed rice and corn veggie snacks? YUM! I love that it is baked and low-carb too at only 10 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
Pairing Pirate’s Booty crispy puffs with a Stonyfield Organic Smoothie is a delightful snack that moms will even want to enjoy with their kids!
This snack combination is gluten-free and good for those with fish, shellfish, peanut, tree nut, and egg allergies too.
After School Milk and Cookies
Is there any snack more iconic for after-school than milk and cookies?! It is a favorite for my children too. For those with dairy and nut allergies, this can be a difficult snack to provide but not when you shop at BJ’s. They have a variety of cookies that are nut-free including the Fancypants line that all nut-free. If you have a gluten sensitivity, check out the Krusteaz brand double chocolate brownies mix and prepare as cookies.
There are milk options too including traditional, organic, and soy. The Horizon Organic milk is perfect for packing for lunches and snack at school, it is gluten-free and good for those with a soy allergy.
The Silk Almond “milk” is also good for those with a soy allergy as well as dairy allergies and gluten sensitivities. At BJ’s, everyone can enjoy a delicious after-school milk and cookies snack.
Pre-dinner Chicken Tenders and Cheese Snack
For a hearty after-school snack to hold your child over until dinner, prepare Perdue Chicken Tenders with fresh cheese. This snack is a huge hit in my house and we are not even living a gluten-free lifestyle. That says a lot when it comes to gluten-free products. My kids perfer Perdue Simply Smart chicken tenders!
We pair chicken tenders with Babybel natural cheese or Horizon Organic Mozzarella Cheese Sticks. I really like buying Babybel at BJ’s because they are packaged 28 per bag at a great price.
The Horizon Organic cheese sticks come 20 in a bag! We always have a good assortment of cheeses on hand because they are a filling snack and carb-free! That means that my kids can eat a Babybel wheel or Horizon cheese stick anytime, without insulin. I often pack cheese for their morning snacks at school with a little ice pack. It is healthier than things like chips and will keep them fuller longer too.
This chicken strips and cheese snack combination is a winner for most kids, even for those with gluten sensitivities or wheat, fish, shellfish, peanut, tree nuts, egg, and soy allergies.
I hope that these back-to-school snack ideas have been helpful for you. Food allergies can be very overwhelming so it is good to get fresh ideas.
I know I don’t have to tell you this but be sure to double check food ingredient labels before purchasing any snack for your child or giving to a child under your care with a food allergy. 5% of American children have food allergies, food allergies can be dangerous or even fatal.
Enter to win 5,000 eBoxTops
Does your school collect BoxTops for Education? If you are like me, you cut BoxTops all year long and ask grandparents to do the same for your child’s school. My kids’ schools have competitions throughout the year for what class can bring in the most. It’s a lot of fun.
How awesome would it be to give our school 5,000 BoxTops?! BJ’s is giving you the chance to enter to win the 5,000 eBoxTops Sweepstakes. There will be a winner at every club location. All you have to do is purchase 5 participating General Mills products, submit your receipt, and enter to win. I like that BoxTops can be found on products that my family uses and loves already like Nature Valley granola bars, Pillsbury breakfast items, Annie’s snacks, and more.
Fingers crossed for you and for me to win the $5,000 BoxTops – that equals $500 for your child’s school!
