Top 5 Snacks from the 2014 Snack Attack Showcase

Over 20 different brands showed off their new snacks at the recent 2014 Snack Attack Editor Showcase. There was a little of everything, from drinks to chips to pre-packed lunches. After sampling a little of each, we rounded up our top five favorites that kids will love for the taste, but parents will love for the nutrition! Check out these healthy and innovative snacks below.

Pasta Chips
Made from semolina flour, Italian herbs, spices, and cheeses, this snack is basically pasta baked into chips! They have about 60 percent less fat than regular potato chips, but plenty of classic Italian taste. Pasta Chips come in Alfredo, Garlic Olive Oil, Sea Salt, Marinara, and Spicy Tomato Herb. Your kids can bring a bag to school, or you can even use them in recipes available online. While not yet widely available, you can place an order on their website. pastachips.com

Applegate HALF TIME
Sometimes it’s hard for busy parents to find the time to pack lunch for the kids. But before you reach for Lunchables, try this new healthy alternative from Applegate. HALF TIME is a pre-packed lunch (or snack) that comes in three varieties: Bologna and Cheese, Ham and Cheese, and Turkey and Cheese. Their antibiotic-free meat and hormone-free cheese are served on crackers, and come with Stonyfield organic yogurt and snacks. applegate.com

Boulder Canyon Arise Cereal
A welcome change from all the sugary cereals kids are eating these days, Boulder Canyon’s Arise Cereal has only 5-7 grams of sugar and 130 calories per serving. They come filled with either real Greek Yogurt or Dark Chocolate, making it not only healthy but a sweet treat too! Gluten-free and a good source of fiber and whole grains, this cereal is a great way for the whole family to start the day off right, or snack guilt-free. bouldercanyonfoods.com

NAPSI-certified Maple Water
This one may not be a snack per se, but if your child doesn’t like drinking plain water, this drink may be the one for them. NAPSI-certified Maple Water is 100% pure maple water, made from fresh sap. Low in sugar but with a faint, sweet taste, Maple Water is a great way to stay hydrated, with all the nutritional benefits of drinking maple sap straight from the tree! The NAPSI certification guarantees that this maple water is Natural, Authentic, Pure, Sterile, and Undiluted. napsi.ca

Ocean’s Halo Seaweed Chips
Seaweed Chips may sound like a strange snack, but you and your kids are sure to love them. Made entirely from seaweed and other natural ingredients, these baked chips are as healthy as they are tasty. Seaweed is a super food, so these chips are packed with vitamins and minerals! They come in four flavors: Chili Lime, Sea Salt, Korean BBQ, and Hot & Spicy. The flavors Sweet Onion and Texas BBQ are coming soon, so be on the look out! oceanshalo.com

Manhattan Mandarin

Manhattan Mandarin runs the Mandarin after-school programs at over 40 schools nationwide, including St. Bernard's, Chapin, Allen-Stevenson, and Buckley. Whether in schools, students' homes, in the office, online, or on our beloved China trips, our teachers and tutors have helped hundreds of students of all ages master the Mandarin language on their own unique paths to fluency. Our philosophy has always been to make private lessons and classes perfectly tailored for each individual student. We look forward to working with you. - Jamie Keyte, Founder

Collina Italiana - Italian Language and Cultural Center

Italian Fun for Kids and Teens! Learning a new language isn&rsquo;t just fun&mdash;it&rsquo;s also great for the brain! Did you know that it can help develop essential skills for life? Studies show that learning a second language at a young age can improve problem-solving, critical thinking, and listening abilities, while boosting memory, focus, and multitasking skills. Children who are fluent in multiple languages also demonstrate increased creativity and mental flexibility. At Collina Italiana, we make learning fun with stories, games, activities, and conversation. Each class blends art, storytelling, singing, and dancing to keep kids engaged. For older children, our classes focus on grammar and vocabulary, providing the tools they need to learn and practice Italian in a small group setting, all while having fun with a variety of resources. Kids love exploring the stories behind our cultural traditions, adding a rich, hands-on experience to their language learning journey. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Basketball City

Beginning June 2024, Basketball City will be running a full weekly schedule of Summer Basketball Camps. We will have our professional staff of coaches teaching your kids weekly. Our camps are designed to teach kids the skills they need to become a better basketball player by using specific drills and fitness work that focus on the fundamentals of the game in a fun, safe and inclusive environment. &nbsp;The camps run weekly varying in time and the number of days for ages 6-17. We have 3-, 4- &amp; 5-day options with times ranging from 9-4pm or 9-3pm. Every camper will receive a jersey once they are registered and arrive. We are limiting the number of camp participants each week to ensure a safe and healthy environment for your children. The limited number of campers will also ensure that your child receives individual attention needed to improve their basketball skills. Our camps in the past typically include current and past NBA players and a collaboration with the Jr. Knicks, the National Basketball Players Association, as well as 5 Star Basketball, and our ever-popular Basketball City FUNdamentals Camp along with our Jr. NBA/NBA Cares NBA Draft/Skills Challenge Camp with future NBA talent.