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Warning. My “Office” nerd is about to show.
There is a scene at Jim and Pam’s wedding when Michael asks the woman in front of him if she has a snack. His reasoning for asking her specifically? “You look like a mom.”
I wear my I’m-a-mom-so-I-always-have-a-snack status with pride. But that pride also comes with the goal to feed both Zoey and myself the healthiest snacks I can find even if we are out on the go. Instead of opting for pouches (apart from apple sauce) since she rejected those pretty early on, I pack snacks that the whole family can enjoy and aim for ones with minimal ingredients that do not need to be refrigerated since we never know how long we might be out (or how long I might forget about them in my bag).
This is a list of our 8 most common, healthy on the go snacks. No fridge needed!
Trail Mix. This is the most creative snack to put together because there are so many variations! Starting with a base of mixed nuts that includes almonds, peanuts, walnuts, and pecans, you can add in dark chocolate pieces, raisins, yogurt bites, or any other mix. I love mixing up a big container of trail mix at the start of the week and portioning it off throughout the week. I do caution you to be mindful of how much sugar you are adding in terms of items like craisins, chocolate, or other candy pieces. PSA for your younger kids: We let Zoey eat the raisins out of trail mix, but not the nuts since we are still nervous about the choking hazard.
Fruit. Non-refrigerated fruit is an easy snack to grab and go. It is also ideal for that mid-afternoon slump as the natural sugars will give you a pick-me-up. I prefer apples and pears, but Rob loves his bananas and Zoey will eat whatever fruit is in front of her.
RX Bars. Now that Costco carries them, RX Bars have made an appearance into our cart about every other week. With an ingredient list to feel good about and a great source of additional protein for the day, these have become a fast favorite in our house. Even Zoey loves them whether she is sneaking bites off of mine, or has her own piece to munch on at the playground.
Skinnypop Popcorn. While I generally reserve popcorn for movies (you know, slathered in butter), it is a great snack option when you are on the go. Skinnypop offers a grain free, nut free, and some dairy free options. Skinnypop is low calorie and easy to pack with you in smaller portions. Both Zoey and I adore the White Cheddar flavor.
Fruit Leather. There has be at least one fruit leather in every bag I own and in each car. I am talking my work bag, the diaper bag, the hiking bag, the hiking backpack. You name it, there is a fruit leather in it. We love these fruit leathers (and Zoey devours them), but if you prefer a different one, be sure you check there are no added ingredients or sugars. Fruit is sweet enough on its own!
Seed Crackers. Another quick snack to pack when you are on the go, seed crackers give you that satisfying crunch. I like these ones as they are great for dipping into guacamole or hummus also when you are at home.
Cherry Tomatoes. Alright, this one might be on the odd side to pack on the go (put it in a container not a plastic bag to prevent smooshing!), but the sweet taste is a favorite with Zoey and allows you to get in some vegetables as well.
Almond Joy Energy Bites. While these little guys take a bit more meal planning and prep to put together and have ready to go, you will be glad you took the time to do it. Similar to trail mix, there is a variety of ways you make these. A quick Pinterest search will yield you a ton of results for protein-filled, tasty energy bites you can take on the go.
I usually have at least one plastic bag packed with a variety of these snacks and a mini tupperware with a mix of things that are crushable. I am definitely that mom, in any given situation, who has a snack (or two) in her purse.
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What are your favorite on the go snacks?
I’m Brooke Selb, a Personal Trainer and Health Coach specializing in helping busy moms and moms to be to easily juggle mom life with family friendly recipes, and easy exercise routines to help you achieve your fitness goals that fit in with your already busy life with sound nutritional advice.
These are great tips! I’m always struggling to get a healthy snack on my way out the door. I do it well for my kiddos, but not myself! Need to work on that!
You have to take care of yourself the same way you do with your kids, especially with nutrition.
I often fail to keep snacks on me anymore as my babies aren’t “babies” anymore. But I do try to feed them right before we leave the house, great list! I love having homemade trailmix on hand.
I am looking forward to that day when I do not have a huge bag with snacks and diapers in it. Trail mix is the best!
Those are some really great ideas! Do the tomatoes travel well in the car?
Love everything about this article, from how you started it with The Office reference to all your snack choices. We are big fans of trail mix, Skinny Pop, energy bites, and protein-type bars. I haven’t had Rx bars so I’m making a mental note to try those!
Aw, thanks. I have an Office reference for everything. My husband does not get it. The RX Bars are super tasty and have ingredients to feel good about.
Thank you for this. I hadn’t heard of RX bars before, I’ll have to see if my local Costco carries them. And the Almond Joy bite things? Those look incredible!
The Almond Joy bites are incredible! A few of my teenage students tried them when I was at work one day and they loved them too.
Thanks for sharing. I’ve never heard of Skiinnypop popcorn and RX Bars before. Definitely going to check them out because they’re so easy to bring with you anywhere.
They are so easy and the RX Bars are ones you do not need to feel guilty about as they have tons of protein and a pretty clean ingredient label. I also love that they are non-perishable, so if I forget them in the car or diaper bag it is not the end of the world. What are some of your favorite on the go snacks?