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Blogging Baby Size Six: Healthy and portable snacks for kids
As parents aren't we always on the lookout
for nutritious, on-the-go snacks for our kids? Snacks that don't take a lot of time and that give kids the energy they
need to make it through until their next meal?My kids are active and get a lot of "run around time" during the day, which is why I don't worry too much about the kind of snacks they eat as long as it's quick and easy. I always keep snacks on hand, in the car, in my diaper bag. Here are some of our favorites:
- Frito-Lay Mini Bites: I love that all the guess work of portion control has been done for me. My kids' favorite salty snacks (Baked Cheetos and Doritos) are now available in 100 calorie packs so I can control exactly how much they are snacking on.
- Snickers bars: Of all the candy bars, these are the healthiest. (Granola bars aren't much better for you if you read the labels carefully.) Snickers are full of peanuts which means protein.
- Gogurt: These yogurt tubes are great frozen, which makes them a fantastic substitute for less-healthy ice cream treats. And, my kids love the neon blue and green colors.
- Pork rinds: My girls love the light crispy texture. I like that they are low-carb and portable. I always keep a bag in the trunk for emergencies.
- Sunny Delight: the best thing about this vitamin-packed orange juice is that it needs no refrigeration. (Brilliant!) You can stash single-serving bottles in your car or diaper bag. Perfect anytime.
- Slim Jims: Driving back and forth to Oregon from California got my three-year-old hooked on these meat sticks. I like that they are a protein-packed, non-messy snack. They are "slim" and don't take up too much room in my bag.
(P.S. -- Happy April Fool's Day!)
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
4-01-2006 @ 10:45AM
Amy said...Wow. I'm constantly being reminded how far removed I am from mainstream America out here in the middle of the Maine woods. I have never even considered buying any of these products. I guess most people see those things and see convenience and some nutrition, while I see over-processing, over-packaging, and a lack of natural ingredients. And I know I'm in the minority in our culture; does that make me weird?
Reply
4-01-2006 @ 11:00AM
posthipchick said...I'm with Amy- I certainly think these are convinient and easy snacks, but I wouldn't call them healthy.
Oh wait, it's APRIL FOOLS DAY. Phew. You got me for a minute.
Reply
4-01-2006 @ 11:18AM
Spring said...Oh, you totally got me! I was having a heart attack reading your post, ha ha ha ha. Good one.
Reply
4-01-2006 @ 11:41AM
LB said...ok very funny...but I have to admit that I could never make long car trips without yogurt tubes 2 of my 3 kids just love 'em, they freeze great and keep the cooler cold for out IL to NY road trips.
Reply
4-01-2006 @ 12:39PM
Mir said...Stefania! You forgot cigarettes! I mean, technically not exactly a snack, I guess, but it does keep the kids busy for a while.
Reply
4-01-2006 @ 1:13PM
christy said...Those mini size bottles of liquor are good for long car trips, too. I need to keep those kids quiet, and passed out is about as quiet as it gets!
Reply
4-01-2006 @ 1:58PM
Bonnie said...I'm going to go on the assumption that this blog wasn't an April fools joke because certainly there are those who will be inclined to take it seriously so I'm taking the liberty of offering some alternatives. I'm glad to hear that your children are healthy but its never too early to teach them healthy eating habits by offering them healthy choices. I didn't mention fruit or veggies below because as far as I'm concerned they are a given when it comes to snack options. As a nanny I always had the rule that they had to eat a fruit or veg before they could have something junkier (including yogurt).
Frito-Lay Mini Bites- Instead how about pretzels (healtier option), goldfish, mini ritz bits, or a mix.
Snickers bars- What about just giving them peanuts, or a nut assortment. If you want to make it more of a treat then there's campers mix that has dried fruit and chocolate candies but is relatively healthy. If you want to make it even healthier make it yourself one evening when you have 10 minutes to spare then put it into snack sized zippy bags. You can have your kids help.
Gogurt- I'm all for frozen portable yogurt, but instead of gogurts which have all sorts of chemicals what about the more natural options that the health food store offer. I can't remember the mark, but I remember Whole foods selling something similar in tube form.
Pork rinds- ewe, but what about pirate booty or any of the more natural snacks. I'm not sure calorie content is low, but if you portion it its not so bad.
Sunny Delight- Chilled mini bottles of water, children can never get enough. To mix things up a bit what about mini juicy juice 100% boxes.
Slim Jims- If you want a high protein snack what about beef jerky which unless I'm greatly mistaken has much less grease.
Reply
4-01-2006 @ 2:06PM
Kristen said...Great snack choices. Always good to start them young. We had the same idea over at CMP today... :)
Reply
4-01-2006 @ 3:33PM
mamaloo said...Is that an April Fool's post? Sometimes I never know.
But, here are our (actual) portable healthy (ish?) snacks (which I lug to the park every day):
- water in a reusable bottle
- mini wheat crackers made into sandwiches with peanut butter, nutella and cream cheese (a couple of each, not mixed together)
- chicken nibblers cut into bite sized pieces (lower fat pepperettes made with chicken)
- raisins and chocolate chips
- grapes
- cream cheese and jam wraps (usually in green spinach tortillas)
- orange wedges
(PS, isn't Sunny D an edible oil product? Or maybe it just tastes that way. That stuff seriously gives me the heebies and leaves a film on my mouth.)
Things I've seen other families bring to the park:
- deli slices
- cooked rotini (usually of the rasta pasta variety)
- nuts
- bunches of bananas
- apples
- sandwhiches
- cubes of cheese
- pretzel sandwiches with peanut butter between square mesh style pretzels (these were really yummy)
- animal crackers
Reply
4-01-2006 @ 4:14PM
Nancy Toby said...Why do you need portable snacks? WTF, too lazy to go through McDonald's drive-thru?
Reply
4-01-2006 @ 5:35PM
Meredith said...Nancy wins...hands down.
Reply
4-01-2006 @ 7:08PM
Belinda said...wonderful april fools! My daughter's snack of choice is cherrios and fruit loops mixed and water or milk in her sippy cup
Reply
4-01-2006 @ 7:15PM
Amy said...Crap, now I feel dumb. Assuming that was an April Fool's joke, good job Stephania! The scary thing, though, is that there are plenty of people who do feed their families those kinds of foods.
Reply