With schools set to return for the new academic year, here are six regional snacks to pack in your child’s lunchbox.
Medjool dates
Grown across the Kingdom, from Al-Ahsa to Madinah, dates need no packing beyond a small tub. Pair with a handful of almonds for a mid-morning break.
Za’atar manakish
The flatbread baked with thyme, sumac and sesame is sold at bakeries region-wide and cuts into strips that hold up through a morning in a bag.
Kleicha
The date-filled Iraqi biscuit, spiced with cardamom and cinnamon, is sold in tins across the Kingdom and keeps for weeks.
Ka’ak
Sesame-crusted bread rings, a bakery staple in Egypt and the Levant, keep their crunch for hours and go with labneh or a wedge of soft cheese.
Roasted chickpeas
Sold salted or spiced with sumac, they cover the crisps slot in a lunchbox without the crumbs. Chilli and lemon versions are widely available.
Halawa
Sesame halva, cut into small squares or spread through a sandwich, is a long-standing regional alternative to a chocolate bar. Pistachio versions are common.
