5 Easy Grab-and-Go Snacks for Kids With a Peanut Allergy

But when your child has a peanut allergy, it makes choosing snacks more challenging, says Inderpal Randhawa, MD, a pediatrician and the medical director of clinical immunology and allergy at MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women's Hospital in Long Beach, California. Even when you've purchased a product regularly, manufacturing and ingredients can change, so it pays to be diligent.

"The most important rule is to read the label, every time, even for familiar products," he says. "Even baked goods, trail mixes, and snack bars can have cross-contact risk. Convenience matters, but predictability and safety matter more."

With that in mind, here are five options to consider when shopping for easy grab-and-go snacks that will work well for kids with a peanut allergy.

1. Bananas

One of the easiest child-friendly snacks is whole fruit, says Dr. Randhawa. Any type of fruit, including banana, contains vitamins, fiber, and minerals, offering a nutritional boost anytime, he says. Other options include:

• Berries
• Apples
• Kiwis
• Pears
• Peaches
• Oranges

2. Applesauce Pouches

If your child isn't a fan of whole, fresh fruit, you can still offer them the same vitamins and some of the fiber in whole fruit by relying on a snack like applesauce, says David Stukus, MD, a specialist in pediatric allergy and immunology at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

"The pouches specifically designed for being eaten on the go are very handy and child-friendly," he says. "We also tend to eat fewer fruits and vegetables while traveling or going from one activity to the next, so it's good to include an option like this."

3. Baby Carrots

4. String Cheese

5. Roasted Chickpeas

You can add them to a snack bag in the form of hummus, which kids can eat with raw vegetables like carrot or celery sticks, or crackers, but an even handier option that doesn't require refrigeration are crunchy roasted chickpeas, says Dr. Stukus. These are also available in small, snack-size bags and usually contain only the roasted legume, oil, and salt.

Watch for Cross Contamination

When shopping for snacks, pay close attention to precautionary food allergy statements on the label, says Stephanie Mawhirt, DO, an allergist at NYU Langone Ambulatory Care in Garden City, New York. Even if a food doesn't seem to contain peanuts, it may actually have small amounts, or might be manufactured in a facility that processes peanut-based products on the same equipment as a peanut-free snack, she says.

"Look for language like 'manufactured on shared equipment' or 'may contain peanuts,' because these indicate a potential risk of peanut cross-contact," says Dr. Mawhirt. "Extra caution should be used with foods like these, which can include bakery items, snack bars, and even ice cream and frozen desserts."

Also, food labeling regulations vary by country, she says. That means if you're traveling, it's best to rely on whole foods like fruits, as well as safe snacks you've brought with you.