Back To School-Vegan Snack Ideas

It's back-to-school time and the beginning of a new school year. As a vegan parent it also means preparing healthy school meals and snack options as well. A majority of states do not have plant based initiatives in school, but there is hope. California recently became the first state to support plant-based school meals and committed $700 million to vegan school lunches. There is also an initiative in New York City schools called Plant Powered Fridays which gives students access to vegan school food every Friday. Other school districts across the country are giving students vegan lunches as well. Beginning in August 2023, Illinois public schools will serve vegan food to over 2 million students.

This is exciting and encouraging as other school districts across the country fight to offer plant based meals to students. The right food and snack choices have a huge impact on how students perform, grown, and learn. I wanted to do this post because I am often asked about vegan snack ideas, and I wanted to share with you some of my favorites. A few of the links are to my affiliates, and a small percentage comes back to me so I can continue to publish vegan children's books.

MadeGood Star Puffed Crackers

We have been a fan of MadeGood products for a long time. From Granola Minis to Granola bars, everything is made with such high standards and packed with wholesome and nutritious ingredients. We were very excited to see star puffed crackers on the store shelves. They are baked with gluten-free, organic ingredients, and they are free from the most common allergies. My daughter's favorite flavor is cheddar, but I enjoy the sea salt puffed crackers. Before they were widely popular at her school, I would always bring MadeGood snacks to school parties, and the kids loved them.

When they saw ingredients like spinach, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, beets, and mushrooms, they were shocked! Because each product contains vegetable extracts, they are also filled with vitamins and minerals. And you would never know these ingredients are in there because the cookies and granola bars are are rich and decadent, the crispy squares are chewy and delicious, and the crackers are crispy and crunchy. Here are other links to some of our favorites, and we save money by buying in bulk on Amazon instead of the individual boxes in stores.

​MadeGood Granola Minis

​MadeGood Granola Bars

MadeGood Soft Baked Cookies

Mezcla Vegan Plant Protein Bars

Original. Puff-crispy. Innovative. Tasty. These are just a few words to describe Mezcla bars. We discovered these a few years ago and were amazed by the unique flavor combinations and nutritional value. There are four one-of-a-kind flavors, 10 grams of protein per serving, and they are always soy, dairy, and gluten-free. The base is made from green pea crisps. My daughter likes the Canadian Maple Blueberry, and my favorite is the Mexican Hot Chocolate. Check out all the amazing choices below! Several people have asked, so I included a link to the lunch bag as well. 

Lunch Bag

Mezcla Vegan Plant Protein Bars - Variety Pack

Hemp Protein Bars

Did you know that hemp hearts are the most nutritionally complete food source in the world? These nutrient-dense protein bars have a rich and creamy texture and contain ingredients like cashew butter, hemp protein, cocoa butter, and chocolate. Hemp protein is also very digestible, and it may be a great option for those with diet sensitivities. I'm partial to the Cookie Dough Hemp Protein Bars, but check out all the amazing flavors:

Use code: TSV to get 20% off!

Please let me know if you try any of these vegan snack ideas. I would love to hear how you and your family enjoyed them. Also, check out what I had to say about The Loving Hut Sandy Springs, a fabulous restaurant with raw and unique creations and tons of vegan options. If you're ever in the Atlanta area, give them a try!