If you take a trip down grocery store shelves, the products marketed to children (sometimes aggressively so) typically have a few things in common: gluten, added sugar, a long list of ingredients, seed oils, artificial additives, and high amounts of refined, highly-processed carbohydrates. All of this to feed our youngest, and most vulnerable, little ones.
At Snap, we believe in doing things differently. Today, we’re sharing a little more about nutrition for kids, and about our newest menu item – Snapables.
Children’s health has been suffering in the past decades, with more children than ever in the obese category with metabolic issues like type 2 diabetes (previously considered adult-onset). Health is complex, with many facets, but one that we must consider is the state of our food system. We have more options than ever, but so few of them are nourishing, health-supportive ones. And don’t get us started on deceptive marketing to kids (and parents!).
What should kids’ nutrition look like?
Many kids struggle with ADD, hyperactivity, and behavior problems. At least in part, this is due to the empty carbs, artificial colors and flavors, refined sugar, and other ingredients that have become omnipresent in kids and adult snacks alike.
Carbs will always find kids, whether it’s at school, at parties, or at after-school events, so it’s most important to provide the things their diets are typically lacking. Kids thrive, and grow properly, with adequate protein, healthy fat, and non-starchy veggies. Kids should have at least 2 oz of protein per meal, which sadly isn’t the norm.
The Snapables lineup
Move over, cereal! Our Snapables AB JamCakes are perfect for little fingers, with mini apple pancakes, a swirl of almond butter and house-made strawberry jam, and fresh apples.
Snapables BYO Pizza harkens back to traditional kid snacks, but in a much more nourishing package. Simple Mills crackers and Applegate turkey pepperoni provide the perfect vehicle for our house-made marinara, with fresh mozzarella cheese for good measure. And don’t forget dessert – our customer-favorite blondie, made mini.
Snapables Chicken Dunkers are a protein-rich alternative to typical kids snacks, thanks to roasted chicken nuggets and jack cheese cubes. Plus, ranch for dipping, of course! And don’t forget dessert – our customer-favorite blondie, made mini.
What makes Snapables different?
Not only have Snapables been developed by our team of chefs and Registered Dietitians, but each offering leads with protein and healthy fat first. The purpose here is to support balanced blood sugar (no hangry meltdowns or sugar-induced hyperactivity here!) and to promote satiety, all while satisfying little taste buds too.
If you do see added sugars in our Snapables, they are from whole food sources, like maple syrup. Contrast this to other popular children’s meals and snacks that contain sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup and dextrose. Our Snapables also contain fiber, healthy fat, and protein to help balance any naturally-occurring or added sugar. Snapables contain at least 2oz of protein per serving, with a range of 15-40 grams. Other options on grocery store shelves typically have 10-12 grams of protein at most (more often less than 10g), and are almost always packed with carbs and added sugar.
Just compare our Chicken Dunkers to a leading chicken meal in the kid’s space. Pay close attention to the differences in protein, healthy fat, and sugar. See that the other chicken meal includes ingredients like seed oils, artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup, and enriched wheat flour. We’ve bolded the problematic ingredients!
Snap’s macros:
Competitors macros:
Snap’s ingredients:
Roasted Chicken Nuggets (Chicken Breast, Olive Oil, Sea Salt, Garlic Powder, Paprika [Paprika, Silicon Dioxide], Ground Black Pepper, Apple Cider Vinegar [Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, Water]), Ranch Dressing (Greek Yogurt [Grade A Pasteurized Skim Milk, Live Active Cultures {L. Bulgaricus, S. Thermoplilus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus, L. Casei}], Olive Oil, Sour Cream [Cultured Cream], Liquid Whole Egg [Egg, Citric Acid], Heavy Cream [Grade A Milk, Gellan Gum], Water, Dijon Mustard [Distilled Vinegar, Water, Mustard Seed, Salt, Chardonnay Wine, Spices, Turmeric], Parsley, Dill, Sea Salt, Red Wine Vinegar, Lemon Juice, Garlic Powder, Minced Garlic [Garlic, Water, Citric Acid], Ground Black Pepper), Colby Jack Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes, Annatto), Mini Blondies (Almond Flour, Coconut Sugar, Liquid Whole Egg [Egg, Citric Acid], Dark Chocolate Chips [Cacao Bean, Coconut Sugar, Inulin, Cocoa Butter, Vanilla Bean], Coconut Oil, Vanilla Extract [Vanilla Bean Extractives, Water, Alcohol], Sea Salt, Baking Powder [Corn Starch, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate])
Competitors’s ingredients:
FULLY COOKED BREADED NUGGET-SHAPED CHICKEN PATTIES (NUGGET SHAPED CHICKEN PATTIES [WHITE CHICKEN, WATER, POTASSIUM LACTATE, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SALT, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, DEXTROSE, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, CARRAGEENAN, SODIUM DIACETATE, LEMON JUICE CONCENTRATE, FLAVOR], BREADING [ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, ENRICHED BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR (BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), DEXTROSE, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, YELLOW CORN FLOUR, ENRICHED BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR (BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WHEAT GLUTEN, EGG WHITES, TAPIOCA DEXTRIN, SPICES, SALT, CARAMEL COLOR, PAPRIKA (COLOR), ONION POWDER, GARLIC POWDER, EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA, SOYBEAN OIL (AS A PROCESSING AID), MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, CELERY SEED EXTRACT, SPICE EXTRACTIVE], BROWNED IN SOYBEAN OIL), CONTAINS: WHEAT, EGG; KETCHUP – STABILIZERS AND PRESERVATIVES ADDED (WATER, TOMATO PASTE, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORN SYRUP, DISTILLED VINEGAR, SUGAR, SALT, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH*, SOYBEAN OIL*, SODIUM BENZOATE* AND POTASSIUM SORBATE* [PRESERVATIVES], DEXTROSE, ONION POWDER, XANTHAN GUM*, GUAR GUM*, SPICE, NATURAL FLAVORS, *INGREDIENTS NOT NORMALLY FOUND IN KETCHUP); CHOCOLATE SANDWICH CREMES (ENRICHED FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID], SUGAR, SOYBEAN OIL, PALM AND SOYBEAN OIL, COCOA [PROCESSED WITH ALKALI] , DEXTROSE, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF CORN STARCH, SODIUM BICARBONATE [LEAVENER], SALT, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SOY LECITHIN, CHOCOLATE), CONTAINS: WHEAT, SOY.
Unfortunately, a meal like this, high in highly processed ingredients and low in healthy fat, protein, and fiber, will not set your child up for success. Let’s try a new approach instead, one where we offer kids the nutrients they need to thrive, all while delighting their taste buds too.
Have we convinced you to give Snapables a try? We’re SO excited about this lineup, and we hope you are too! If you have questions or want to see future Snapables options, let us know in the comments!
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