In the middle of a busy morning, slathering peanut butter on a piece of bread is a pretty easy lunch. But whether your child’s school has banned peanut butter or not, these three spreads make healthful and delicious alternatives.
Seed Butters: Seeds contain all the building blocks needed to grow life. Plant one tiny little sunflower seed and eventually you’ll get a sunflower. That’s a pretty powerful food right there. Not to mention the fact that making a sunbutter sandwich is just as quick as making a peanut butter one.
Both sunflower seed butter and pumpkin seed butter are anti-inflammatory and packed with antioxidants as well as nerve-calming magnesium. They’re also full of protein and healthy fats, which makes them fabulous for balancing blood sugar (hugely important for regulating little ones’ moods).
Hummus: Like seed butter, hummus is protein-packed. Chickpea hummus is also rich in fibre, and that protein + fibre combo is unstoppable when it comes to blood sugar regulation. Best of all, you can get creative with it—just toss some delicious veggies into the blender along with your traditional hummus ingredients for a flavor and nutrition boost.
Try these tasty hummus recipes:
Veggie Pesto: Pestos are traditionally made with pine nuts, but if you want to go totally nut-free, seeds like hemp and sunflower will work as well. Pestos are delicious and an easy way to add a ton of veggie power to your kid’s lunch—just toss the ingredients in the blender, spread on some bread, and you’re good to go. You can also use the pesto as a dipping sauce with celery and carrot sticks for a double veggie boost.
Try these amazing veggie pesto recipes:
What are your favorite alternatives to the classic peanut butter sandwich?
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