If your kids are anything like mine, then you know that the key to happy days and seamless transitions between tasks is to have your snack game be A++.
I like to keep my snack list full of snacks that are minimally messy, don’t need a lot of prep beforehand, and for the most part, don’t need to keep cold. My other rule of thumb for when I’m packing snacks, is to include something with fibre, protein, or a healthy fat. Bonus if it’s all three! That helps keep bellies full for longer.
Here’s a collection of my favourite on-the-go snacks to fill bags, strollers, and pockets with.
1. Fruit with Skin or in Punnets
Starting the list off with my favourite snack to pack: fruit that does not need to be cleaned or cut. Think bananas and oranges. I like how they travel pretty well and hold up in warmer weather. Obviously, the preference is to less ripe bananas (to avoid them turning into mush) and clementines/mandarins since they peel easier.
I also like to pack blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries in their store punnets. When we’re ready to eat, it’s pretty easy to rinse them with water from a water bottle or to find a potable water tap. Also, kids love berries. My daughter goes bananas (pun intended) for raspberries!
2. Fruit Snacks or Chews
This is my next favourite snack to pack because we can choose more real fruit options. I like the “Fruit to Go” snacks by SunRype. They’re really tasty, almost like a treat, and they’re vegan. Some include added veggies, which is a bonus.
I also like the Bear brand Real Fruit Snack minis. There’s no sugar added, and they come in cute little bear paw prints.
My kids are also fans of the Bob Snail line-up. They have a variety of fun options, like leather strips, roll ups, and gummy disks. We’ve had the most fun with the Bob Snail “Eat&Play Bobnimals” that include a snail toy inside – like a better Kinder Egg. They work fantastic as rewards, and it makes you want to collect all versions of the snail inside.
3. Cheese Puff Snacks
I love popcorn and before kids, I used to make homemade popcorn weekly and buy fun flavoured bags from the grocery store as a treat. With kids, especially young ones, the choking hazard of popcorn is something I don’t want to deal with. I find that buying cheese puffs can scratch the itch of eating popcorn without you hiding in the closet to eat it.
I’m a big fan of Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop White Cheddar puffs. I like buying a big back of puffs and then using snack baggies or cups to portion out some puffs for on the go.
4. Pretzels Plus Spreads
Another fun and easy snack to keep kids occupied are pretzels plus a dip. I like this because you can buy a big bag of pretzels but still keep the snack fresh by cycling through different accompaniments. We pair our pretzels with:
- Homemade cheese sauce, or a soft cheese spread like laughing cow cheese or cream cheese (can be flavoured)
- Nut spread (sunflower seed butter, peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter)
- Chocolate spread like Nutella, or Kraft Chocolate Peanut butter
- Jams
- Hummus (can even sneak in celery or broccoli to go with it)
5. Energy Balls
This is snack that you can make at home and with your kids. The recipe is very forgiving for little hands and it’s fun to customize. I love making energy balls with little chocolate chips and maybe a bit of protein powder.
For a series of energy ball recipes from The Real Food Dieticians that I like: click here!
6. Homemade Muffins, Cookies, or Loafs
Nothing beats homemade items. I love baking with my kids because I feel like they’re more likely to eat what they make.
We just made these strawberry muffins with some fresh Ontario strawberries, and I highly recommend it.
We also just made banana cream cheese swirl muffins and those been a hug hit for everyone.
7. Lunchables or Cheese and Crackers
What kid doesn’t love Lunchables? It’s basically a cute little bento box. If you’re time pressed, there are some really great cheese/cracker options in the store that include healthier options like cranberries or dark chocolate. You can always make your own version with the crackers and cheese of your choice. Then, if you’d like, you can add a sweet treat like a Hershey’s Kiss or fruit gummies.
8. Packaged Baby Snacks
Don’t sleep on baby snacks! They are actually fun snacks to add into your snack rotation, especially if you have children of different ages. I really like yogurt melts as a sweet addition, or arrowroot cookies as something else to munch on. Baby stars are also a fun, eating activity if your kids are being pushed in a stroller. The stars can also be added to a toddler friendly “trail mix”, along with other fun finger foods. The bonus is that a lot of baby snack are very portable and easy to store or dispense.
9. Cheese Snacks
Cheese is a great option because it contains protein and fat which help satiate appetites. I like Babybel cheeses because they are coated with wax, pre-portioned, can come in spiral options, and sometimes have fun Disney characters on them.
Cheese strings are another great pre-portioned cheese option.
These may not last as long on a hot day and they can be a little pricier, but they’re great options.
Also pairing sliced cheese with an apple or pear is another great way to achieve a healthy fat/protein with a fiber-full fruit.
10. Nuts and Dried Fruit
A classic charcuterie board combo which works for kids too! Nuts provide healthy fat and fibre with the dried fruit adding more fibre and nutrients.
Dried apricots are great because they also provide a small source of iron, which for pickier eaters, can be hard to get.
Cashews are a great starter nut option because they are a little softer to chew on. Pistachios are also great because they contain a little bit of protein. Be most cautious with smaller hard nuts, like peanuts, which are choking hazards for younger children.
11. Applesauce
Applesauce squeeze packs aren’t just for babies. They’re a great on-the-go source of fibre and carbohydrates. Essentially, they’re instant energy for when your kids are hitting an afternoon slump. They’re portable and come in a ton of fun flavour combinations.
If you’re feeling ambitious, you can also make your own applesauce and portion it into these reusable dishwasher-safe pouches from amazon.
12. Cereal
Allegedly, my husband was obsessed with plain Cheerios as a kid. And honestly, it’s such a great snack. For younger kids, Cheerios are a great finger food, and they dissolve easily. And for older kids, the benefit is that they contain added iron and vitamins.
Cereal is also another option that can be dispensed into smaller snack bags for travelling. There are also a bunch of cereal options in the store, where you can choose a variety of flavours to keep things fun and exciting.
13. Granola bars
Another classic snack on the go. Granola bars are great for when you’re in a pinch for snacks and they usually travel well. There are a variety of options at the store to choose from. I do like brand Made Good, which usually includes added fruit and veggies to their granola bars.
You can also make fantastic granola bars at home. I really like this recipe by The Real Food Dietitians for making my own: Homemade Peanut Butter Granola Bars
14. Yogurt: Tubes/Cups/Drinks/Parfaits
I LOVE yogurt. I eat it almost every day. If it’s Greek yogurt, it can be a great source of protein as well as full of good gut probiotics. You can add cinnamon, vanilla, and nut butter to make a fruit dip. Or you can add spices or a ranch salad dressing spice pack to make a healthier veggie dip.
On the go, I also love packing frozen yogurt tubes since they help keep other food cold and they’re just really tasty. The tube is also a great way to keep small hands less messy – watch the squeezing from the bottom though!
Yogurt drinks are also another great snack, and some contain a good amount of protein. They’re a great option when you stop at the store for a snack before hitting the library or the beach.
You can also quickly put together a yogurt parfait in a small glass lock container by layering chopped fruit and granola in the yogurt.
Do monitor the nutrition labels as a lot of children’s yogurt products have been overly sweetened to make them more attractive to children.
15. Sandwiches/Wraps
Ok, this may seem boring to some. But sandwiches are such a great option to pack. Not only can you choose your own ingredients, but you can create the perfect snack: a mix of complex carbs, protein, and fibre.
Use either homemade bread (who has time for that?), or healthier bread options like wholegrain and sourdough. Then you can go with the classic ham and cheese (maybe sneak some sliced cucumber or sprouts on there) or some fun flavour combos. If you make your own fruit jam (essentially mashed fruit, honey, chia seeds, and lemon juice) with natural peanut butter, you have a tasty, better for you PB&J. Maybe go crazy, and have a cream cheese, honey, and strawberry sandwich!
The world is your oyster with sandwiches.
Same thing with wraps! I love making little wrap pinwheels using meat and cream cheese. Changing up the format keeps things fun for young kids!
Take-Away:
Having snacks is a must! I hope you found some inspiration from my list.
For snacks that require some cooling: a cooler bag or insulated bag works just fine. My baby bag has a small section for milk bottles that is insulated, and I use that for snacks that need some cooling. Often, my kids are eating these snacks within a half hour so sometimes, if I’m really pressed, I just put them in a regular bag. But you can find some fun backpack coolers on amazon like this one.
Share in the comments if you have any fun snack options that you like to pack! I’d love to hear about them!
Also, please always supervise your children when they are eating. Safe eating practices include having them sitting upright and not talking or laughing while chewing. Knowing what to do in the event of a choking emergency is crucial, so please update your CPR skills regularly.