Snacks are an important part of children’s daily nutrition. Growing children especially rely on snacks for nutrients needed to keep them going. When you are on the go, choosing the right snacks will continue to help your child get the nutrition they need. In this article, you will learn a few on-the-go snack tips to help make busy days a little easier.

Add fruit and veggies

The easiest way to keep fruits and veggies in the snack rotation is to have them prepared ahead of time. Similar to meal prepping, take 15-20 minutes a week to prep all the fruits and veggies for your children’s snacks. This way, you will always have a healthy grab and go snack on hand when the day gets busy. Try serving them in fun shapes or paired with a dip to add some additional flavor and texture. Here are some snack ideas:

  • Bell pepper sticks with hummus
  • Celery and peanut butter
  • Cucumbers with cream cheese
  • Carrot sticks with ranch 
  • Frozen corn or peas
  • Berries
  • Melon slices 
  • Bananas
  • Tangerines

Protein is essential 

Protein is an essential macronutrient that keeps your little ones full until their next meal. When you are on the go, including protein with your child’s snack is a simple way to fuel their growing bodies anywhere life takes them. Here are a few simple on the go protein additions for snack time:

  • Yogurt
  • Hard-boiled eggs
  • String cheese
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Peanut butter 
  • Hummus
  • Rolled up deli meats

Plan ahead 

Having a plan in place before snack time is essential to making the day go smoothly. Start with your fruits and vegetables, then add protein and even some whole grain crackers. Store these fruits, vegetables, and proteins in ready-to-use containers or Ziploc bags. You can even create a snack drawer or container with snacks to grab when you’re in a hurry. This way, you can give your little ones the option of choosing their snack and have healthy choices when you are on the go.

Store-bought snacks can be helpful 

Sometimes, prepping snacks ahead of time is just not going to happen. In this case, buying snacks is a way to ensure that your children have the energy to keep them going when they need it. A few simple options include dried fruits, Cheerios, rice cakes, whole grain crackers, string cheese, granola bars, and trail mix. These snacks are very useful when snacks cannot be prepared ahead of time and are still delicious and nutritious.

Keep an emergency snack stash in the car 

As a parent, you know that taking your child anywhere can quickly become a chaotic mess. Preparing for the days you may forget to grab those meltdown-preventing snacks will save you a lot of headaches. Prepare by stocking your center console or a separate bag stored in the trunk with a few non-perishable snacks such as trail mix, single-serve packs of crackers, whole grain granola bars, apple chips, applesauce, and roasted chickpeas. Just remember to rotate out any unused snacks every six months or so if they do not get used.