Whichever school my daughter has been to – be it daycare, preschool, public school or after-school it has always been a nut free facility. I think nuts are such an easy add-on to lunch boxes. So I created a nut-free “Nut” snack. Nuts elicit a bite or a crunch in my opinion and I got that crunch using toasted Garbanzo beans. It’s a perfect nut-free, gluten-free, nutrient-packed snack for little lunch boxes!

Step 1: Ingredients – Can of garbanzo beans, olive oil, salt. Optional: Spices/herbs like curry powder, cinnamon, oregano, smoked paprika.

Step 2: Drain and dry as much as possible on a dish towel. You can save the canned liquid for many uses.

Step 3: Toss beans with 1-2 tbsp olive oil and lay in a single layer on a foil-lined baking tray.

Step 4: Bake at 350F for 50-60 minutes, shaking the tray when half-way done.

Let Cool! Let cool for 5 minutes and season with salt and desired spices. Let cool for another 10 minutes before consuming, it will allow to become crispy.

You can store in an airtight container after completely cooled for 2-4 days.