We know that it’s tough to come up with ideas for healthy snacks and lunches– That’s why Friends Christian School turned to our friends at California’s local gourmet grocer, Bristol Farms, to find out what their staff recommends for you and your family!
Healthy Snacks
It’s easy to grab a bag of chips or a cookie, but sometimes it’s harder to come up with ideas for healthier snacks. A DIY trail mix could be just the solution that you need – a mix of sweet and salty. Combine plain popcorn (Skinny Pop or Bristol Brand) with cashews (the fat helps you stay full!), dark chocolate, and cinnamon.
If you don’t have a lot of time, however, you can go simple with fresh fruit and yogurt for dipping. While flavored yogurt might be too sweet, you can control the sweetness with plain yogurt. Mix in agave or honey, or skip the sugar altogether. Add chocolate chips or coconut shavings as a topping.
Bristol Farms also makes it easy to obtain healthy snacks on the go. They offer in-store, premade bistro, and snack-sized boxes in the deli department. Grab a veggie snack box or the Tuna Nicoise, which includes crackers, tuna salad, and veggies. Or, if you need a little more protein, there’s a premade box that includes hard-boiled eggs, peanut butter, and fruit.
Another great in-store option is a smoothie or fresh juice from the Juice Bar. These are made to order and come in several sizes. For a snack, a small fresh berry smoothie would be a perfect choice. It’s made with coconut water as opposed to milk so it’s lighter and more refreshing. For a juice option, the Kale Refresh is the number one selling juice. Or, try the Acai Pitaya Bowl with some select toppings or granola.
Healthy Lunch
Busy families often don’t have a lot of time to plan out lunches – so, here are a few ideas for quick, easy, and budget-friendly lunches that you can get from Bristol Farms.
All the seafood lovers should head to the sushi department and grab fresh-made rolls like the spicy Fiesta rolls or the family-favorite California rolls. You should also try a sushi burrito – hand rolls made fresh every day that are wrapped in either seaweed, soy, or rice paper. The latter two taste less fishy.
The Sandwich Bar offers many different options – all made fresh right in front of your eyes, even the meat is carved in front of you. Try the chicken avocado ranch, tri-tip wrap or veggie burger for vegetarians or those who are trying to add more veggies into their diet. Choose a side like a potato or egg salad, chips, pickles and veggies.
Quiche Moraine is a great way to feed the entire family. It’s good for breakfast or brunch. One version has meat, and the florentine option is made with veggies. Pair with a salad and fresh fruit.
Another budget-friendly option is to purchase a fresh-made rotisserie chicken and a bagged salad. You can make your own salad or reach for one of the salad kits. Chop up the chicken and add all the items from the kit to create your own chicken salad. You can also add garlic bread by grabbing a French bread and Bristol Farm’s own garlic spread.
To stay connected with Bristol Farms, follow them on Instagram or Facebook, or sign up for their weekly emails, which feature the weekly ads, special offers, promotions, and resources for food and ways to improve your well-being, including blogs on fitness, recipes, and tips on how best to cook with your kids. Bristol Farms also has friendly staff to answer any of your questions and provide recipes and tips.
