summer snack solution

Now that I’m home for the summer, I decided that I could NOT hear the words, “Mom, I’m hungry” or “Mom can we have a snack” one more time!

I needed a plan.

I needed a quick and easy way to get some healthy snacks on the table….. and fast.

(Bonus. If we are out and about or at a park or swimming lessons, I needed something to grab quickly on our way to the car so we don’t have meltdowns from low blood sugar while we are out!)

When kids (and even adults) get tired and grouchy it might just be because they’re hungry.

Their little bodies and tummies have already used all the fuel from the previous meal.

Growing and playing takes energy. In the summer we’re always doing something active.

Swimming, biking, and playing = hard work!

Healthy snacks are so important for kids especially because when they’re active they need to refuel their bodies more than just three times a day at meals.

Kids are growing and need more fuel than I do, so I’m not (always) hungry for snacks when they are. Their little tummies need smaller amounts of food, but more often. So, I don’t think about it until they are whining and being grumpy. Not a good time to throw together a healthy snack. 🙂

I grabbed some baskets from the dollar store.

I don’t usually let my kids get into the fridge or pantry. But, now I make an exception for these baskets. I have two in the fridge and one in the pantry on a low shelf. If it’s snack time and I haven’t already made something for them, I allow them to choose one thing from a basket.
It gives them a choice, which they LOVE.

In the pantry basket I have things like pretzels, goldfish, raisins, nuts or granola already portioned out in little baggies.