Let’s face it: What with work, gymnastics, shopping, PTA meetings and science fairs, everything is go, go, go. You never really have time to think ahead. If you are health conscious, this is a problem. If you don’t have time when you get up in the morning to make breakfast, it can cause a bad day for your children and for yourself. Even if you are taking a trip to the park or going across town for some shopping, a quick little treat at an ice cream shop might fix that.
The problem is that it all builds up and creates an unhealthy diet for you and your family. So I am here to propose some easy and quick little healthy snacks that are great on the go, in the house, at work or at school. Just add them to your kid’s lunch and they will be energized and happy little tykes. And taking one of these to work can increase your concentration and productivity. Perfect for everyone!
Fruits (Under 120 Calories)
If you take about 10 minutes out of the weekend you can have perfect little snack packs ready to hit the road or go in a lunch pack for the entire week. Not to mention these little snacks are much more affordable than prepackaged goods.
- Grapes
- Apples
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Peaches
- Plums
- Apricots
Veggies (Under 60 Calories)
Vegetables might not be your little monster’s favorite thing, but they are great for the office! Adding dip to them (Lite ranch dressing or hummus) will add flavor and will not take away from the nutrition of the veggie. Do the same thing as the fruits and put them into little baggies for a grab-and-go snack, which is awesome for a busy morning!
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes
- Celery
- Broccoli
- Sugar Snap Peas
- Cauliflower
- Asparagus
Ready-to-go (Under 200 Calories)
These prepackaged snacks are the best of the lot. With not many calories and no prep time, these could easily be a lifesaver if you are constantly on the move. Keeping some of these in your purse or bag just for snacks will prevent you from making a stop at a food joint or causing your children to throw tantrums from being hungry. Great in the car, but these also make nice additions for a family hike or picnic!
- Trail Mix
- Granola
- Unsweetened Applesauce
- Pretzels
- Turkey Jerky
- Dried Fruit Crisp (No sugar added)
- Cheese Sticks
- Greek Yogurt
- Pickles
Just For the Kids
These snacks are little more than your average chop-and-bag, but making them is an awesome activity that you and your kids will find easy and enjoy. With only a few ingredients and simple instructions, these are easily going to turn into a kid-favorite option.
- Homemade Fruit Bars
This one requires a little cooking, but the rest is easy. Just cook honey, PB and cinnamon together. Then pour over O-shaped whole grain cereal, mix and add dried fruit. After than just put into a pan and refrigerate it.
- Fruit Kabobs
Cut up raspberries, blueberries, red grapes, orange, pineapple, kiwi, and just stab and serve!
- Healthy S’mores
This one is great for school or a picnic. Take a large apple and cut it into rings (without the core), spread PB on one and granola on the other, mix in some chocolate chips and you have the perfect snack.
- No-Bake Energy Bites
I personally love energy bites, not only because they are easy to make but they are also filling, great for anytime and they taste awesome! Just mix together chocolate chips, toasted coconut, vanilla extract, nut butter (almond, peanut or sunflower) and dry oatmeal. This is also a chance for the kids to get their hands dirty and have some fun with their snacks. All they have to do is roll them into little balls and place them on a pan to refrigerate overnight.
It can be a struggle to stay healthy while you are always so active, but hopefully these have given you an idea that it doesn’t have to be so bad. Give them a try and I know your kids will be happy to help their mom make their snacks.