Ever wondered how you can fuel your family while running out the door, or sitting in a gym or stadium all weekend? With two kids involved in extra curricular activities we often find ourselves and our kids at practice during dinner time. Not wanting to depend on fast food or concession stands we’ve put together a list of our favorite 5 healthy snacks for families on the go. Our main focus was, something the kids will actually choose as a snack, doesn’t have to be refrigerated, isn’t full of sugar and doesn’t have an arm’s length list of preservatives. Simple right? HA! But after some searching and taste testing I’ve put together this list to help you find what you’re looking for.
Mamma Chia
We love these squeeze pouches because they don’t require refrigeration so we can keep a few on hand in our daughter’s dance bag. There are several flavor options to choose from all with under 10 gm of sugar. I especially like that all the ingredients are USDA organic and the product is colored with natural ingredients instead of dyes.
Primal Snack Mates Kids
My kids love Slim Jim’s (who doesn’t) but I wanted to find a slightly healthier alternative. Enter these snack sticks. These are small enough we can throw one in each kids pocket, purse, or belt bag if need be. Yet, they have 7 gm of protein in each stick! Each wrapper also comes with a fun little joke which makes these great for lunchboxes or class parties.
Zest Delights
These were a recent find for me! I’ll admit one of my kids doesn’t care for these tasty little bite sizes of fun. However, this post is about snacks for the family so I’m including them. Let’s face it, the adults that are sitting at practice, games, races, and competitions are also starving! These are vegan, dairy and gluten free, with no added sugar or preservatives. A serving size is a whole bag but I find that mine usually gets me three or four.
The Only Bean
Bean Beans that Magical Fruit 😉 Ok, for real though. My family loves salty, crunchy snacks. These roasted legumes hit all those cravings without the guilt. With 11 gm of protein, 4 gm of fiber, and only 3 ingredients, roasted edamame is something we almost always have on hand.
Chocolate for the Win
Of course no snack list is complete without chocolate. When you spend 16 hours sitting in and auditorium like we did this weekend, it becomes abundantly clear you aren’t going to make it through the day without some kind of sweet treat. I usually get mine in the form of coffee from a local coffeehouse when possible. But the kids prefer candy. These chocolate covered almonds give them the sweets they want while still providing some protein and only 7 gm of sugar.
Healthy Snack Goals
Our journey to healthier eating has been one replacement at a time. My goal isn’t to eliminate the things we all enjoy, rather to find a healthier option. My family has a long way to go but finding these swaps has made such a difference and I’m happier knowing that I can at least read the ingredients on all of these 5 healthy snacks for families on the go.