About Snack Smart Kids
We are on a mission to make every snack transparent, every choice informed, and every kid healthier.
Our Mission
We believe every parent deserves to know exactly what is in their kids' snacks. Not through marketing claims or misleading labels — but through an honest, science-backed grading system that puts children's health first.
Our Story
Snack Smart Kids started with a simple, frustrating question: “Why is it so hard to find genuinely healthy snacks for kids?”
As parents ourselves, we were tired of decoding ingredient labels, researching additives on our phones in grocery aisles, and feeling deceived by “natural” and “organic” marketing claims on products loaded with added sugars and artificial ingredients.
We realized the problem was not a lack of healthy options — it was a lack of transparency. So we built SnackScore: a rigorous, kid-calibrated grading system that does the homework for parents.
Founded in Charlotte, NC, Snack Smart Kids has grown from a side project into a platform that scores thousands of snacks, operates smart vending machines in pediatric offices and schools, and ships curated subscription boxes to families across the country.
Clean Snacking.
Transparent Grades.
Everywhere Kids Are.
The SnackScore Difference
Unlike generic nutrition ratings, SnackScore was purpose-built for children's health.
Kid-Calibrated
Our thresholds are 50% stricter than adult nutritional standards. A snack that might be “fine” for adults could still earn a C or D on SnackScore because children's bodies have different needs and tolerances.
Fully Transparent
Every score breakdown is visible. You can see exactly how many points a snack earned (or lost) in each of our six scoring categories. No black boxes, no hidden formulas.
Independent
We do not accept payment from brands to influence scores. Our advisory board of pediatric dietitians reviews the methodology quarterly. If a snack scores poorly, we say so.
Meet the Team
Parents, scientists, and engineers united by one goal: healthier kids.
Sarah Chen
Co-Founder & CEO
Former pediatric nutritionist with 12 years of experience. Mom of two. Obsessed with making ingredient labels understandable.
Marcus Johnson
Co-Founder & CTO
Full-stack engineer and food science enthusiast. Built the SnackScore algorithm from the ground up. Dad of three.
Dr. Emily Torres
Chief Science Officer
PhD in Pediatric Nutrition from Duke. Leads our scoring methodology team and advisory board of pediatric dietitians.
Our Values
Three principles that guide every decision we make.
Transparency
Every score, every ingredient flag, every methodology detail is open to parents. We never hide behind proprietary black boxes.
Kid-First Science
Our scoring thresholds are calibrated specifically for children — 50% stricter than adult nutritional standards because kids deserve higher standards.
Accessibility
Healthy snacking should not be a luxury. We work to make clean-ingredient snacks available in vending machines, online, and through affordable subscriptions.
Ready to Snack Smarter?
Explore our shop, learn about SnackScore, or get a machine at your location.