If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a parent of a toddler, it’s that I must always be prepared with snacks. At home, in the car, at the store, EVERYWHERE. Sometimes I wonder how “snack” wasn’t my daughter’s first word. And of course, this is a two-fold process, because sometimes it’s nice to provide not only a quick bite to eat but a healthy one at that.
I find myself mixing it up between store-bought and homemade/DIY snacks. Usually, the day, time, and everyone’s moods dictate this decision. It’s all about balance (and sanity), am I right mommas?
Some Toledo Mom Favorites
Pouches
Pouches come highly recommended. If you’re new to the pouch game, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Kids of all ages seem to love pouches. I’ve even been known to throw one back a time or two.
I buy pouches at Aldi for $.79. They have a lot of different combinations of vegetables, fruit, and even yogurt. I also bought these reusable pouches when my daughter was younger and they have held up for over a year. They’re easy to fill up, freeze well, and are easy to clean. The best part is you get to fill them up with whatever you want based on your kids’ ages and preferences.
A few ideas:
- Baby food puree
- Plain yogurt
- Applesauce
- Smoothies
- Chia pudding
Protein Bites
Protein bites are great because they are easy to make and refrigerate and freeze well. It’s also easy to pop them into a travel snack container for the car. You can check out this recipe for making your own. Keep in mind this recipe is very flexible – you can add in chia seeds or flax, or leave out anything you don’t like. If you Google “protein bites,” you will get a TON of results. You can also pick these up at almost any store and Amazon.
Mason Jar Snacks
Is there anything mason jars aren’t good for?? Here are a couple quick and even make-ahead snack ideas for mason jars:
- Pretzel sticks and peanut butter (or almond or cashew butter)
- Veggies and hummus or ranch
- Chia pudding (this works great in both pouches and jars!)
Homemade Muffins
Muffins freeze extremely well, and taste great weeks or even months later. They are also great for sneaking in healthy ingredients. These lentil banana muffins are packed with protein and kids can get their greens with these spinach muffins. Bananas can really help sweeten almost anything!
Trail Mix
Probably one of the easiest homemade snacks is trail mix. You can make it ahead of time and put it in single-portion containers or bags and grab it on your way out the door. One of our writers even has her kids make their own mixes – it’s a great way to let them have a little fun in creating their own flavorful combination.
Snack Bars, Crackers, and Crisps
If you’re looking for some healthy snack options at the store, here are a few of our favorites:
- Green Pea Crisps – I get mine at Aldi, but most other stores carry them, too.
- Cauliflower Crackers – I also get these at Aldi, but these can be found almost anywhere.
- Protein and Granola Bars – These are great to keep kids full and happy, but I’ve found it is really important to watch the sugar content on some of them.
Happy snacking, mommas!