Smart Snacking for Smart Kids: A Back-to-School Lunchbox Guide
- Karen Scheepers
- Jul 17
- 3 min read
As the school term kicks off, many parents face a familiar daily challenge: packing school lunchboxes that are both appealing and nutritious. In Potchefstroom, families have access to affordable snacking solutions thanks to local discount retailer - DISMART. Located at Silva Centre, Shop 6, 103 Nelson Mandela Drive, DISMART has launched a "Back to School Hot Deals" campaign to help ease the financial pressure of stocking up on kid-friendly lunch items.
While the eye-catching promotions speak for themselves, this article looks beyond the price tags. We explore why snacks are essential for learners, which types of items are useful to keep in school bags, and how DISMART’s range caters to these practical needs.
Why Snacks Matter in a School Lunchbox
Snacks serve a crucial function in a child's school day. Between early breakfasts and late lunches, energy dips are common, especially for younger children with fast metabolisms. Nutritious snacks provide a mid-morning or mid-afternoon boost, helping children to:
Stay focused during lessons
Sustain energy for sports or physical activities
Maintain mood and behaviour
Avoid overeating during main meals
Balanced lunchboxes should include a combination of food groups, carbohydrates, proteins, and fibre, along with hydration. Convenient, portion-controlled snacks also help children become more independent and responsible eaters, as they learn to manage their food intake throughout the day.
DISMART’s Snack Range: What’s on Offer?
The DISMART “Back to School” promotion focuses on low-cost, shelf-stable snacks that are easy to store and carry in school bags. Here’s a breakdown of some of the highlighted items:
🍫 Sweet Treats with a Crunch
Nut Bari Hazelnut Spread with Breadsticks (R9.90): A European-style snack that combines a chocolate-hazelnut spread with crunchy breadsticks; ideal for a small indulgence.
Snack Break Coconut Wafer Roll 18g (R3.50): A light, tropical-inspired wafer roll offering a sweet alternative with a coconut twist.
🍎 Juice Boxes & Hydration
Liqui Fruit 6x200ml (R34.90) in Apple or Cranberry
Cappy Orange Burst 6x200ml (R34.90)
Ceres Pear & Litchi 6x200ml (R24.90)
Oros Orange Drink 6x200ml (R19.90)
Zoom Juice 12x200ml (R39.90): These small juice boxes are easy to freeze the night before, keeping lunchboxes cool and refreshing by breaktime.
🍪 Biscuits & Crunchy Bites
Milk Short Cake Biscuits 200g (R9.90)
Nutro Sandwich Biscuits 82.5g (R6.50): Flavours include strawberry, lemon, chocolate, and coconut. These are perfect for sharing or rotating across the week.
🧁 Cakes & Bakes
Like Home Sponge Cake 5 Pack (R19.90)
Like Home Chocolate Sponge Cake 2x5 Pack (R29.90): Individually wrapped sponge cakes offer a soft and satisfying dessert option, with cream-filled centres.
🥨 Savoury Nibbles
Truda Pretzels (Honey Mustard or Salted Fish-Shaped) 30–40g (R4.90): A baked, low-fat snack alternative that’s crunchy, savoury, and fun for kids to eat.
🍯 Granola Goodness
Nature Valley Crunchy Bars 4 Pack (R22.90): Made with whole oats and available in Canadian maple syrup flavour, ideal for fibre-rich snacking and slow energy release.
🍭 Sweet Surprises
Royal Eclairs Pops (Chocolate or White Chocolate) 48 pcs per bag (R49.90): These are ideal for birthday treats or lunchbox surprises, with a chewy chocolate centre. Stock is limited.
Image: Dismart Potchefstroom
Tips for Parents: How to Build a Balanced Lunchbox
When assembling lunchboxes, variety is key. Consider combining:
A starch or grain: like wholewheat sandwiches, crackers, or cereal bars
A protein source: such as cheese, peanut butter, or yoghurt
A fruit or vegetable: easy options include apples, bananas, or baby carrots
A fun snack: like one of the sweet or savoury options listed above
A drink: water or 100% fruit juice for hydration
It’s also helpful to rotate snack options weekly to avoid lunchbox fatigue and to involve children in choosing what they’d like to take.
Location & Store Information
DISMART is centrally located for easy access:
📍 Silva Centre, Shop 6
📍 103 Nelson Mandela Drive, Potchefstroom
📍 Near SAPS Potchefstroom and Engen garage
Whether you’re restocking lunchboxes for the term or looking for after-school treats, DISMART’s affordable pricing and wide range of options offer real value for Potchefstroom families. From sweet to savoury, and from juices to biscuits, their Back-to-School snack deals are designed to support parents, and satisfy kids, throughout the school year.
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