Karina’s Kids Food Reviews
Sakata Seaweed Crackers ⭐️
My daughter loves these… and yes, they do appear in our pantry sometimes.
But as a Paediatric Dietitian, here’s what I really think of them 👇
❌ Too high in salt – 859mg per 100g
❌ Highly processed
❌ Not made in Australia
❌ Not gluten-free (for those who need it)
❌ Contains refined sugar
❌ Fast-acting carbs (high GI)
❌ Low in fibre – so they won’t keep little tummies full for long
✅ Free from artificial colours and preservatives – so they get one tick from me!
In summary:
This is a processed, salty snack that won’t satisfy growing kids for long….if at all!!
👉 If they do love them, pair the crackers with something higher in protein or healthy fat to slow the energy release and boost nutrition — think hummus, pesto, guacamole, peanut butter… or add fibre with fruit and veg sticks on a platter.
This is a sometimes food rather than daily.
Better options? Look for grainy crackers with less than 350mg sodium per 100g. Whilst they are still processed, they are better for little bodies.
Carman’s Protein Bar – Dark Choc & Cranberry
My kids actually prefer these over many others… but are they healthy?
Let’s break it down:
✅ 26% nuts – a solid source of healthy fats, fibre, and protein.
✅ 10g protein per serve, some from soy (not a concern unless allergic).
✅ Under 10g sugar per bar – a little more than I usually recommend, but still reasonable for a treat.
✅ No artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives – big green tick.
✅ Pretty clean ingredients list – nothing too worrying here.
🔄 Compared to their Original bar (which has under 5g sugar/serve), this one is more of a snack-treat hybrid – okay sometimes, but not ideal for everyday.
⚠️ Not lunchbox-friendly due to nuts – so best saved for after school or weekend snacks.
Sealord Crumbed Whiting – Fish of the Day 🐟
Quick. Easy. Kid-approved. Here’s my take as a Paediatric Dietitian 👇
✅ Certified Sustainable Seafood (MSC)
✅ 55% fish sourced from New Zealand
✅ No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives
✅ Reasonable sodium (not technically low, but much better than many options)
✅ Low in sugar
✅ Low in saturated fat
✅ A rich source of omega-3s
⚠️ Not gluten-free – contains wheat in the breadcrumbs
👩🏻🎓 My Verdict:
Whilst it’s only 55% fish, it’s NZ fish and it’s hard to find a higher % fish in the crumbed fish section.
With no artificial additives, this is a good freezer staple for busy nights. Crumbed means it’s often a win with fussy eaters – just pop it in the oven, air fryer or pan with a little EVOO.
🥒 Serve it with raw veggie sticks, a simple salad for a nourishing meal without the fuss.
Yoplait No Added Sugar Yogurt
Let’s talk about why this one is a NO from me. ❌
At first glance, “no added sugar” might sound like a win—but here’s the truth:
🚫 This yogurt contains two artificial sweeteners that have been linked to:
– Disruption of gut health
– Potential long-term health risks
– Ongoing concerns, especially for growing bodies
These products still taste sweet—but that sweetness comes at a cost…and it trains our kids taste buds to love super sweet tastes.
💡 While they’re technically “allowed” in our food supply, that doesn’t mean they belong in your child’s lunchbox.
And here’s the kicker:
🥄 It’s also basically fat-free, which means it won’t satisfy hungry tummies or support stable energy. Instead, it leaves kids craving the next sweet hit.
👉 My advice? Leave these ones on the shelf.
Your kids deserve real food that actually nourishes.
Tofu — it’s one of my favourite nourishing meat substitutes 🙌
It is a plant-based powerhouse!
🌱 rich in protein
🌱 high in iron
🌱 a great source of calcium
🌱 high in fibre to help support gut health too.
My daughter uses it regularly — and here’s a simple tip:
🧻 Pat it with paper towel to reduce the moisture, then slice and season or marinade well.
Sear it in a pan, pop it on the BBQ, or roast it in the oven for delicious crispy edges!
Pair it with:
🍝 Pasta
🥗 Salads
🥦 Roasted veggies
🥔 Crispy potatoes
🍔 In burgers!
Let’s talk chocolate + popcorn — how does this one stack up?
Here’s the breakdown 👇
✅ High in wholegrain & fibre
✅ A good source of iron
✅ Better than most ultra-processed sweets
But… it’s still a “sometimes food” for a reason:
❌ 22% sugar (having said this, it still waaay less sugar than a chocolate bar!)
❌ 7% saturated fat
So where does that leave us?
👉 On the whole, this is a healthier treat than a packet of Cheezels or a block of chocolate.
👉 Thanks to the wholegrain, fibre, and iron, it gets my approval as an occasional treat — especially for family movie night 🎬
(Unless your crew is happy with the lightly salted version — even better! 😉)
🦘Jumpys Chicken-Flavoured Snacks
Let’s talk about those crunchy addictive kangaroo-shaped snacks that kids seem to love.
Here’s the lowdown👇
❌ Too high in salt – with over 800mg of salt per 100g, these are really salty!
❌ Highly processed – refined ingredients with little nutritional value
❌ Fast sugar (high GI) – spikes blood sugar quickly
❌ Low in fibre – doesn’t keep little tummies full for long
❌ Loaded with preservatives & flavour enhancers.
My son LOVES them. But that intense flavour and salt hit make them incredibly addictive – exactly why they’re not ideal for everyday lunchboxes.
These are a classic “sometimes food” – fun for an occasional treat, but ideally not part of the daily routine.
In short- it’s definitely a sometimes food.
💣 The not-so-sweet truth:
🚫 Made in Indonesia
⚠️ Possibly contains artificial flavours (label doesn’t say free from them)
🛢️ Unclear vegetable oil source – likely refined and inflammatory
😬 38% sugar
💥 10g saturated fat per 100g
🥴 High in salt
❌ Zero dietary fibre
🌱 The only pros?
✔️It’s dairy-free – which can be useful for kids with allergies or intolerances.
✔️ the flour is fortified with iron, zinc and other vitamins so there is just over 1g of iron in 3 cookies.
Having said this, this is a highly processed, likely inflammatory food, and not something we want in our kids’ lunchboxes every day.
These are a great quick and easy option for dinner 👏
✅ Free from nasties, flavoured with onion, garlic, herbs and spices
✅ Low in saturated fat
✅ Low in salt
✅ Low in sugar
✅ Even have a little bit of fibre!
Nothing really bad to say about these 🙌
Great to have in the freezer for those quick, easy dinner options.
Pair them with some veggies and a bit of protein and voilà!
No guilt needed to have these in the freezer — or to feed your family these.
If it makes your life easier, go for it! 💛
Of course, a better option would be fresh potatoes, skin on, roasted in extra virgin olive oil 🥔✨
But these?
They’re not a bad quick easy option at all.
Let’s talk Table of Plenty chocolate rice cakes.
Yes, they’re popular. Yes, I’ve seen other Dietitians recommend them as a healthy snack for kids.
But here’s the truth:
❌ 36% sugar.
❌ 16% Saturated fat (bad fat)
❌ First ingredient is milk chocolate and the last ingredient is brown rice!!!
❌ basically no fibre
That’s more sugar than Milk Arrowroots or Digestives—and those are biscuits!
I’m not saying your child can’t ever have them.
But l parents need to know : these aren’t the “healthy” item on a snack plate. They’re the treat.
So if they are your child’s favourite, serve them alongside fresh fruit, veggie sticks, hommus or a homemade muffin, not as the star of the show.
Marketing is clever—“greenwashing” (making products look healthy when they’re not) is everywhere in the kids’ food aisle. And it’s confusing, even for savvy parents.
You’ve probably seen this one in the fridge aisle… but is it a good choice for kids?
Here’s the breakdown 👇
✅ Pros:
✔️ Dairy-free, vegan, allergy-friendly
✔️ Fortified with vitamins A, D, E
✔️ Lower in saturated fat and salt than butter
✔️ Great for spreading, cooking, and baking
✔️ No cholesterol and minimal trans fats
⚠️ But…
🔸 Only ~14–21% olive oil – the rest is canola/sunflower
🔸 Still a processed product with added emulsifiers
🔸 Contains palm oil in some versions
🔸 1.8g sat fat per serve — less than butter but still notable
🥄 My verdict:
It’s a more allergy-friendly, heart-smart option than butter — great in moderation. But it’s still a processed spread, so keep whole food fats like avo and nut butters in the mix too!
Here’s the truth: my kids LOVE these.
But… they’re not a great option for everyday snacking—and here’s why:
❌ High in salt – not ideal for growing bodies
❌ Very low in fibre – won’t keep little tummies full
❌ Packed with additives – not what we want in regular snacks
❌ Fast sugar – exacerbating sugar crashes and tantrums!
❌ Highly moreish – hard to stop at one (and they know it!)
Summary? These are definitely a “sometimes” food.
Yes, we’ve got a packet in the pantry from time to time. And no, I don’t shame my kids for enjoying them. But I don’t buy them every week either—because they disappear in seconds, and honestly, they don’t offer much in return.
Balance is the goal:
Instead of banning snacks like this completely (which can backfire!), I buy them occasionally. That way, we enjoy them sometimes without letting them become the norm.