Finding safe and healthy snacks for school can be challenging, especially with the increasing prevalence of food allergies and dietary restrictions. To help you navigate this, we’ve compiled a list of 12 delicious and school-safe snacks (plus 11 candies) that kids will love and parents will appreciate.

What is a Food Allergy?

A food allergy is an immune reaction to specific foods. It happens when the body mistakenly identifies food proteins, like those in strawberries or eggs, as harmful and launches an immune response against them. This reaction, known as an “allergic reaction,” can produce a wide range of symptoms, some of which can be life-threatening.

The Big Nine Allergens

The following 9 foods account for 90 percent of allergic reactions in the US. These ingredients are always listed by their common names in the ingredients or the “contains” statement on food packaging.

• Eggs
• Crustacean Shellfish
• Wheat
• Sesame

What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?

Reactions to allergens can vary from mild, such as itchiness in the mouth or skin, hives, and nausea, to severe, including shortness of breath and throat or mouth swelling. While not all reactions are fatal, some can be, with anaphylaxis requiring immediate medical attention to prevent coma or death.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction typically appear within minutes to a couple of hours after consuming the allergen. These symptoms can include;

• coughing, 
• wheezing, 
• dizziness/lightheadedness, 
• swelling of the throat and vocal cords, 
• difficulty breathing, 
• and loss of consciousness.

Active Defender’s Crisis Clarity

Active Defender’s Crisis Clarity enables staff to send and receive critical alerts on any device, similar to Presidential or Amber Alerts. If a student suffers an allergic reaction, staff can immediately notify key personnel, such as school administrators, nurses, and EMS. The notified personnel can instantly view the emergency location on a live map and communicate directly with the reporting staff member through a single platform.

12 School Safe Snacks

Below are 12 school-safe snacks that exclude the big nine allergens and are easy to grab from a local supermarket!

• Raisins/Craisins
• Popcorn
• Rice Cakes
• Carrots
• Celery
• Homestyle Ranch Dairy-Free Dressing

11 School Safe Candies

Who doesn’t love a bit of sugar? While candy isn’t a healthy snack, it can be a sweet treat! Below is a list of 11 school-safe candies that exclude the big nine allergens.

• Life Saver Gummies
• Dots
• Swedish Fish
• Sour Patch Kids
• Gushers

PLEASE NOTE that variations of candy or seasonal candy sometimes have different ingredients than their classic counterparts, so always double-check your labels!

Who is Active Defender?

Active Defender’s School Safety Platform revolutionizes emergency alerting and communication and provides the most comprehensive situational awareness available during a crisis. With Active Defender, ALL staff can immediately know WHAT the threat is, WHERE it is, understand WHAT TO DO, and REPORT their STATUS on a custom, dynamic campus map on their mobile device.

To learn more, visit Active Defender or take the first step in enhancing your school’s safety today by booking an interactive demo!