Five of a kind: Lunch-box snacks

Yoghurt

AN OLDIE but a goodie, Petit Miam fromage frais wins brownie points for its appropriate sizing. If you read the fine print on most small yoghurt pots you'll find that at an average weight of 200 grams, they are actually a serving for two. There's nothing worse than finding half-eaten food in your child's lunch box, and these pots (at 60 grams, a little less than one serve) are the perfect snack size for kids on the run. They also meet the recommended daily intake of calcium for young children and are not too bad for sugar and salt. Plus your child has to actually eat it with a spoon rather than squeeze it into their mouth like an injured animal in a wildlife hospital (see table-manners-undermining products such as yoghurt squeezies). And they taste pretty good, too, with a range of flavours from vanilla to berry and stone fruits.
$4.45 for six (60g each)

Organic popcorn

COBS' addictive little packets of crunchy corn are a reasonable alternative to chips and other deep-fried snacks. Comparatively low in fat, salt and sugar, they'll never be as healthy as a home-made version, but on the other hand, they don't come with any burnt bits or hard-as-rock un-popped kernels, so you may save your child a trip to the dentist. Plus the subtle salty-sweet combination works (a case of salted caramel working its way down the food chain, perhaps?). Also consider Thomas Chipman organic (and gluten-free) corn chips ($3.99 for 230 grams) and vegie chips, which are lower in salt than the popcorn, come in smaller, 50-gram or 75-gram packets, and may suit children with allergies.
$4.29 for 125g

Spinach and cheese filo rolls

POP a couple of these Borg's pastries in the oven when your children are eating breakfast and they will be ready before the kids have even started brushing their teeth. While they don't tick all the healthy-food boxes (they're a little too high in salt for that), they are a good way to introduce your children to the pleasures of spinach and feta - not always an easy task - and are a great alternative to sandwiches, which can become monotonous day after day, year after year. Add a small container of home-made Greek salad and you'll have a meal of which even George Calombaris might approve. The small roll shape is easy for little fingers, and if you want to graduate to home-made, small chefs will love to help you roll the filo into a range of shapes.
$2.74 for 400g (10 pieces)

Hummus

THESE mini dips by Coles (also in tzatziki and avocado) are an excellent snack, especially when teamed with a selection of raw vegies such as carrot, celery, cucumber or cherry tomato. Easy to open, even for little hands, the 60-gram size is manageable for children of all sizes. It's part of a range of Coles-produced mini snacks that also includes mini cheddar portions. Although they're convenient, and children do love pre-portioned and packed foods (witness any child receiving a meal on an aeroplane), these mini serves don't represent great value for money, so once you get them hooked on the stuff, make your own and pop it into a small plastic container with a lid, and they'll never know the difference.
$2.30 for three (60g each)

Yoghurt bites

THESE little snacks by Food For Health give your child a sweet treat when lollies are out of the question, and because they are free of gluten, egg and wheat, kids with allergies can enjoy them, too. My children liked the choc banana bites, sweet, chewy balls packed with texture and flavour, more than the super-sweet strawberry yoghurt version. The ingredients list is impressive, too - stacked full of dried fruit, seeds and grains. Any product with dried fruit is bound to be high in sugar, and these are no exception, but each bag comes with about seven balls, so perhaps add only one or two to their lunch-box if you prefer. Also try Be Natural Trail Bars ($3.99 for 6) with five whole grains and nuts and fruits.
$5.95 for a pack of five (32g each)

■ All products available at major supermarkets. Check online for stockists.