Build your Healthy Kitchen! Keep these snacks handy for when you need to grab something and go. Whether you’re toting kids around to play-dates or sports, or running from a meeting to after-school pickup, these snacks will satisfy you and you kids.
One topic that comes up time and time again with clients is healthy snacking. I’m a big proponent of snacks because most people need to eat at least every 3-4 hours. Of course that depends on what your meals look like, how active you are, and a lot of other individual factors. But in general, snacks are designed to help you get from breakfast to lunch or lunch to dinner without getting ravenous and hangry!
Because if you get too hungry, you’ll probably end up overeating at your next meal.
Snacking typically gets a bad rap because typical “snack” foods like chips, pretzels, or other packaged items don’t offer a ton nutritionally. While there is nothing wrong with any of these foods (all foods can fit in a healthy diet), if you want a snack to do it’s job of giving you sustained energy until your next meal, it needs to have some protein, fiber and fat. Otherwise, you’ll just find yourself munching all.day.long.
These are some of my favorite snacks that will satisfy you and your kids, and are easy to take with you in the car, to the beach or pool, or to after-school sports and other activities.
Healthy Packaged Snacks
Note: some of these should be refrigerated, so pack a lunch box with some ice packs to keep them cold!
Hippeas chickpea puffs (you can buy individual packs or larger bags)
Roasted chickpeas or roasted edamame (such as Bienna or the Good Bean)
Bars: Picky bars (& Picky kids), Rx bars (& Rx kids), and 88 acres seed bars (top 8 allergen free!)
Mary’s Gone super seed crackers with Babybel cheese wheels or string cheese
Justins almond butter with pretzel packs
Peanut butter or almond butter packs with an apple or banana
Make Your Own Snacks
Oatmeal banana peanut butter breakfast cookies
Chocolate peanut butter cup energy balls
Make your own trailmix with nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate chips (skip the chocolate in warm weather!)
Fresh fruit like apples or oranges (they travel well) with nuts
Want more help building your healthy kitchen?
Grab my Guide to Stocking Your Kitchen for Mealtime Success where I share tips on how to stock your fridge, freezer, and pantry with the ingredients you need to make easy, healthy meals without a complicated meal plan. You’ll also get a shopping list with everything you need to buy!
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