Finding snacks that are safe for kids with nut allergies can be challenging! Fortunately, there are plenty of delicious nut free options that are perfect for school lunches and snacks.
When it’s back to school season, it’s time to start thinking about packing school lunches and snacks again.
If you have a child with nut allergies, you know that it can be tough to find safe snacks that are safe and convenient.
And if you’re a teacher or a parent who wants to find snacks that are safe for your nut free classroom, you might not know where to begin when shopping for allergy friendly snacks.
This list is for you! Whether you’re a seasoned allergy parent, or a teacher or friend of someone with nut allergies, you’re sure to find some new nut free snack ideas on this list.
Top Tip
The snacks on this list are peanut and tree nut free. Many (but not all) of them are also top 9 allergen free. Products and facilities do change, so be sure to read all labels and/or contact the company to make sure these products are safe for your family.
Disclosure: This post contains paid affiliate links.
Nut Free Granola Bars
Made Good makes many delicious granola bars, granola bites, and chewy rice bars that are delicious and free of the top 9 allergens in addition to being nut free. We love the birthday cake and the chocolate drizzle flavor at our house.
88 Acres also makes granola bars and protein bars that are free of the top 9 allergens. I love the dark chocolate sea salt flavor.
You can also make your own granola bars with simple ingredients. Homemade, nut free lara bars are also easy to make, and you can customize them with the flavors you like. I like to make a big batch of these on the weekend so that we have them for the week ahead.
Salty Snacks
Boulder Canyon Chips are made in a nut free, peanut free, sesame free facility according to the last conversation I had with them. The facility does contain other allergens, so be aware of that.
Good Crisp Chips are made in a facility that is free from peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, shellfish, sesame, and egg. Some of their products do contain dairy. Be sure to read their FAQ section for more information on their facilities.
Cape Cod Chips are also made in a peanut free, tree nut free, and sesame free facility. There are other allergens present, so please call to find out if these are safe for you.
Skinny Pop Popcorn is made by the Hershey Company, who generally labels very well. When I contacted them, this popcorn was made in a facility that is free of peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame.
Made Good has little star puffed crackers that are very tasty and come in a few flavors. They come in individual bags that are great for packing in lunches.
Snyder’s of Hanover makes pretzels that are made in a nut free facility.
Savor by Suzie makes gluten free pretzels that are delicious and made in an allergy friendly facility.
Fruit and Veggies
Fruit and veggies are naturally free of nuts as well as the top 9 allergens, so these are a great choice for snacking! Try any of these options:
- bananas
- berries
- grapes
- cherries
- sliced apples with your favorite seed butter, like SunButter
- peaches
- pears
- oranges or clementines
- baby carrots or carrot sticks
- celery sticks with SunButter
- cucumber slices
- avocado slices or guacamole
Dried Fruit
Dried fruit can be a good option for snacks or lunches, but be careful, because many dried fruit brands can be cross contaminated with nuts.
SunDate dates are processed in a date-only facility.
Gerbs Allergy Friendly Foods has many, many dried fruits on their site that are made in an allergen free facility. They have things like raisins, dates, figs, papaya, banana slices, and more.
Karen’s Naturals makes freeze dried fruit that is made in a fruit and veggie only facility the last time I contacted them.
Candy
I have a whole list of allergy friendly candy for you to browse, but here are a few ideas that are relatively easy to find in stores:
- Free2b Chocolate Sunbutter Cups
- YumEarth Lollipops
- Surf Sweets Gummies
- Smarties
- DumDums
- Ring Pops
- Annie’s Gummies
- Swedish Fish
Cookies
Cybele’s Free to Eat Cookies are made in a facility that is free of the top 9 allergens.
Partake Cookies are also made in an allergy friendly, nut free facility, and they are easy to find online or at stores like Kroger or Target.
Aldi has a line of cookies by Benton’s that are made in a tree nut, peanut, and sesame free facility. They are sold in boxes of 12 individual bags, and are really reasonably priced. These cookies do contain dairy, gluten, egg, and soy.
Other Ideas
If you are able to eat dairy, cheese sticks or cheese and crackers are a good option.
If you need to be dairy free, Daiya does make dairy free cheese sticks that my son enjoys. These are made in a nut free facility.
Sesame free black bean hummus is pretty simple to make and so delicious with crackers or chips. Pack a small container in your student’s lunch for a good alternative to traditional hummus.
Vermont Smoke and Cure makes a wide variety of meat sticks that are produced in a facility that is nut free as well as top 9 allergen free. We like the barbecue flavor.
Chomps meat sticks are produced in a nut free facility, but there are other allergens present in the facility.
I hope this list gives you some new ideas for back to school snacks! Please share your favorite nut free snacks in the comments.
Diane S
I make energy balls by throwing everything in the food processor and zapping it, then put coconut milk powder, or ground banana chips,or ground Cheerios (Joe’s O’s) in a bowl. Roll bite-sized balls by hand, and toss them in the bowl of crumbs. Keeps balls from sticking together.
Use dried apricots, or prunes, or dates as the base ingredient then add dried anything you like. Sweeten and get a bit of moisture from molasses or honey or maple syrup. Or a small splash of water .
My kids like prunes, banana chips, coconut shreds, cocoa (a little), chocolate chips, dried papaya, salt. That’s the current favorite.
“Chocolate Balls”
Invent what you like.
Kelly Roenicke
Yes, we love energy balls, too!