Is it just my kids that need snacks every hour on the hour? Because I’ve heard multiple moms tell me their kids are the same way, I feel a bit better about my parenting skills, but nevertheless, since I’m way too tired these days, I’ve created a master snack list for the times when we are on the go.
These snacks work great for road trips, trips to the grocery store, or even at the park.
The main criteria I have for on-the-go snacks is that it has to be easy to prep and/or grab. Ideally, I’d love for the snack to be self-contained, like applesauce pouches or raisins, but not everything is like this, so I’ve made do with various ways to control the chaos, so to speak.
I love using those silicone cupcake liners to separate snacks and carrying everything in either the bento lunch boxes or just a simple snack box.
Here’s our ultimate list of on the go snacks for toddlers:
- Dried fruit* (look for organic dried fruit snacks without any added sugar for the healthiest option)
- Raisins
- Applesauce or yogurt pouches* (look for low sugar options for a healthier snack)
- Lara bars*
- Rx bars
- Simple mills almond crackers*
- Orange slices and peanut butter
- Yogurt melts
- Guacamole* and crackers
- Cheese stick and grapes
- Banana with nut butter*
- Hummus* and cucumbers
- Dried apricots and hard boiled eggs* (buy the organic hard boiled eggs for the easiest grab and go!)
- Avocado, cheese and raisins
- Snapea crisps* and hummus*
- Aussie Bites* (mini muffins filled with Rolled oats, dried apricots, raisins, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, honey, and shredded coconut)
- Sun chips* and guacamole*
- Hippeas (chickpea puffs)* and strawberries
- Banana rollups with nut butter (use coconut flower tortilla wrap* to make it super healthy)
*You can find these at Costco! Find even more healthy snacks for kids at Costco here.
Items you can make ahead that work as great on-the-go snacks:
Smoothies
I started making smoothies when my daughter was one to sneak some extra veggies in her, and to this day, she still drinks one per day. Smoothies are great snacks to make before you head out and you can just keep them in stainless steel thermoses. Here are some easy ones to get you started:
Combo #1: greek yogurt, banana, mango, strawberries, carrots, spinach
Combo #2: Banana, greek yogurt, chia seeds, blueberries
Combo #3: Green apple, celery, spinach, banana, 1-2 tsp. honey (even my super picky toddler likes this one!)
Muffins
I love muffins as a good staple item for school lunches, but they also work great as snacks, too! I shy away from muffins with white flour and mostly use recipes that call for oats or mix of oats and whole wheat flour. Here are my go to muffin recipes:
Energy balls
Perfect for a snack to keep your tot full for hours–make these ahead and pack in lunches or for those on the go times. I just use oats, dark chocolate chips (try to get 70% cocoa) a hint of maple syrup and a nut butter. Mix
Criteria I use for choosing healthy snacks:
One of the biggest things to watch out for in kids’ snacks is sugar content! Under two I try to stick to no sugar added in snacks. Once your toddler is over 2, try to stick to 25 grams of added sugar per day or less! Sugar is in everything, even pasta sauce, so you really have to watch it! You’re looking at the added sugar line in the nutritional ingredients, not total sugars. Some super healthy bars like lara bars, are made of mostly dates, which have naturally occurring sugars. These are fine in moderation!
You also want to make sure you’re sticking with healthy/complex carbs, too. This is not only healthier but it also keeps your child fuller, longer. White flour in snacks tends to raise the blood sugar quickly for a quick energy boost, but then gives a terrible crash not long after that. Stick to snacks with whole wheat flour, coconut flower, oats, etc.
Items that make on the go snacks so much easier
Using these reusable muffin cups as food dividers in snack or lunch containers is pure genius! Plus they are fun colors and kids like them.
If you don’t already have something like this snack box, I highly recommend getting one. Super easy to make lunches or snacks and lasts forever.
This kids’ thermos are great for when snacks need to be kept cold or for keeping something warm when sending to preschool.
Need even more toddler meal ideas? Here’s my favorite toddler daycare lunch ideas to give you some ideas.
Have any other snack ideas that I missed? Share them with me in the comments below!
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