*Edit* thanks so far for your great ideas! The most important thing is, not only do the snacks have to be peanut free they have to NOT be manufactured in a plant that also processes nuts. I had some Ghirardelli dark chocolate squares in my backpack and my director told me I can't have them because they were made in a place that also processes nuts. And the Egg idea is good but I want snacks already in my bag for when I forget to pack a breakfast. The snacks have to have on the label that they are made in a place that does NOT process nuts. Many thanks!
Hi mamas! I'm hoping you may have some ideas for me. I work in daycare and it's peanut free. I usually like to carry snacks with me in my backpack, especially because I don't get to eat breakfast before I arrive but the breakfast is gone when I get there (I have to take my thyroid pill in the morning and can't eat for an hour and that's when I arrive so I arrive hungry) When I remember, I bring a string cheese or a yogurt but often I forget. Can someone please recommend to me some peanut-free (safe for daycare) granola-bar-type snacks that I can just have in my backpack for when I forget to bring something fresh? I'd like it to have some protein since it will be all I get for breakfast. Many thanks! *Peace*!
Arbonne's ready to serve protein shakes are awesome and ready when you are they are sooooooo good. They come 3 different ways ready to serve, in a huge jar ready to mix with water or milk and in packets just put mix with water.
I eat "Zone" bars (14 grams of protein), but I'm guessing they are processed with the peanuts since they have some options with nuts/peanut butter. Not to offend, but I think sometimes the peanut thing has gone too far (and my niece HAS a peanut allergy, so I get it.). Actually, her EGG and MILK allergies are just as bad, but you don't see any "egg free" or dairy free schools/daycares. Just saying. The zone bars I eat in the car on the way too work--is that an option for you (like in the parking lot right before you go in), or is the timing still not quite right with the thyroid meds? I too, NEED protein. If I eat cereal or oatmeal for breakfast, I am nauseous and crabby later that morning. Ham, bacon, eggs, cheese, and I'm good to go!
How about roasted pumpkin seeds? Or raw sunflower seeds (shelled, of course) or you can make your own granola bars at home if you want!
Can you store a few containers of yogurt in the daycare refrigerator? We buy yogurt by the case and it lasts more than a month.
Good luck!
Pumpkins seeds are super yummy, so I will second that. :)
Here are my protein bars: I use almond butter (if it is all nuts than maybe bring a couple sausage jerky links... or a baggy of cereal bars.
Chocolate Almond Butter Protein Bars
Nutrition Info
Calories: 215.3
Fat: 11.2g
Carbohydrates: 19.3g
Protein: 12.5g
Ingredients:
1 cup chocolate whey protein powder (about 3 scoops)
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup almond butter
1/4 cup flax seeds
1 cup original almond milk
2 tsp stevia powder (I use truvia)
- I am sure that any other nut butter would be delicious as well, or soy milk instead of almond milk if you prefer it. (I use jillian micheals whey protein powder in triple chocolate)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, combining into a "batter". Line an 8"X8" baking pan with foil. pour batter into pan and spread to make an even layer. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes. Allow to cool at least 25 minutes. cut into 6 even bars, store in refrigerator. (throw one in your bag, it'll be just fine for a few hours)
215 calories / serving
-M.
Check out an organic store like Whole Foods or Trapper Joe and look in their selection of granola bars and protein bars. They deal with a lot of food for people with allergy issues and "might" carry some companies that make stuff that is processed in a plant that DOES NOT process peanuts or nuts. Maybe your local food Co-op has some companies. Check on-line to see if you can find any.
Is it just peanuts that need to be avoided? Can you have nuts? That would make your life a little easier, if you can have nuts. I'd check out all the grocery stores and see what they carry, check their boxes for what's also on their production lines. If you need to, call and find out. Those of us with food allergies/intolerances have to do the same. It's a pain, but once you identify a company or two that you can use, then you can buy stuff from them.
Nutra-Grain bars do not have peanuts, my daughter has a peanut allergy and loves those! Mostly generic brands will be made in plants that also process peanuts, so you need to go with name brands. You just need to read some packaging, they show allergens very large on them.
For Michelle K, per my daughter's allergist, peanut allergies are "sneaky", you can think you are fine and then they come on really fast. We are talking about throat closing not breathing here! I don't think you would not think it was serious if it was your child. I applaud this daycare for taking care of EVERY child and kuddos to Mamakitty for taking it seriously.
Special K makes protein bars and drinks with about 10g of protein. I like the PB one but they also have chocolate and a strawberry one. The drinks certainly do not have nuts, the bars may. My daughter drinks Carnation Instant Breakfast in milk and they advertise it has 2x the protein of an egg and 2x the calcium of milk plus all kinds of other vitamins. Invest in a nice lunch box and some ice packs and make your breakfast and lunch the night before so in the morning you just have to throw them in the box and go.
the slim fast or Instant breakfast shakes have a fair amount of protein in them. You could also make up your own trail mix with raisins and other types of nuts
I'd go with a protein shake option.
Shakeology and MetaRX both sell a powder that basically makes a meal replacement. It fills me up. Just put the powder in a shaker cup with water and shake and eat (I don't have a shaker cup yet, so I use a Mason jar-- a little "hillbilly" but it works!) I buy Meta RX from Trader Joes.
Cheese and yogurt have some protein, but not as much as you think. Unless you're eating the full-fat versions, cheese and yogurts are almost all sugar (carbs).
I keep packets of chocolate shakeology in my purse along with a shaker cup. This has saved me countless times when my family wants to grab fast food or I am running late and hungry. Plus, it is the healthiest meal of the day, has protein, vitamins, probiotics, antioxidants...can help you lose weight, gain energy, lower cholesterol and more! Check it out @ http://myshakeology.com/LeannaSmith. I know I have been having it daily for over a month and I LOVE IT!
Wait a second--are YOU allergic to peanuts, or are you just trying not to expose the kids to peanuts?
Whatever, a good source of protein that we use is sunflower seeds. They sell a protein bar made of sunflower seed butter in natural food stores (sorry, forget the name of it). You could just keep some in your bag, as well. Sunflower seeds are NOT nuts--they are seeds and are in a different class.
Luna bars are a yummy source of soy protein but they are manufactured in a plant that also processes nuts (I would think that unless you are giving the food to the kids that this should not be an issue but you'd need to consult a doc to be sure). Nutrigrain bars have no protein whatsoever. We've discovered a kind of cookie called "Jovial" that contains an ancient wheat that packs more protein than average (3 low-sugar cookies=3 grams of protein). Again, available in natural food stores (whole foods carries it).
Kashi makes several granola bars that have several grams of protein in them... you'd have to check the boxes to see which ones have no peanuts in them.
A handful of pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds (nuts) are good sources of protein that are not usually nut allergy producers.
Or walnuts/almonds/cashews... are those items prohibited also?
Check your grocery store's organic section for granola bars that are peanut free, Nutrigrain cereal bars, Pre-made/packaged rice krispie bars (more of a treat:)), apples, bananas, instant oatmeal, fruit leathers (also in the organic section), pita chips. My son is allergic to peanuts - I think we are very lucky that it is only peanuts and also that there has been legislation to label processed foods with specific allergen information. Start reading labels, and look more closely at the organic foods section. It's actually pretty easy to find lots of safe snacks.
How about an egg? Boil it in the morning and throw it in your backpack. Should last a couple of hours without refrigeration. Throw in some multi-grain crackers in your backpack as well for some carbs.
Luna bars.. very yummy protein granola bars (kind of on the expensive side) but I am pretty certain they are peanut free.
