If you have been following my blog for a while, you know I am a fan of eating healthy (for the most part!). I try very hard to introduce good healthy foods to my children and so far it’s going pretty well. But now that they are getting older and I don’t need to bring a fully equipped diaper bag with me to go out, it is incredibly easy to slip into the “we can pick something up when we get there” mode to eating and snacking.
When you are in a rush and you have not one child, but children to get ready and out the door, and there are potty trips and boots and mitts and hats and…well, you get the idea, it’s easy to leave out the snacks. And you know what? I can tell you from experience, when I don’t bring the healthy snacks for my kids, not only do we not eat well, but we are not “fueled” well for the rest of the day’s activities.
This may sound familiar: You are out at a sport class or a playgroup center and all they have is a vending machine and deli food. Your kids are suddenly starving. To get them back in the car and back home or to a healthy alternative will take too long, so you settle. Ok, for this one time, we’ll grab a vending machine snack, and a fruit drink and a, dare I say it, hot dog….”No! Don’t do it!” is what has literally screamed in my head in those terrible moments. The rest of the day has played out like this: kids are immediately moody and incapable of enjoying anything else. They are generally still hungry and the day is pretty much finished.
I had only a few moments like that and then I wised up. I do not leave home without my healthy snacks, water and fruit juices I feel comfortable giving my children. That’s it. I don’t budge with this. This method is, not only a million times better for your kids but it’s a lot less expensive too. And to have the healthy snacks in your purse, ready to pull out the moment someone says “I’m SO hungry, mama!” is priceless!
So what is my go-to snack? You guessed it, SunRype! My kids love the variety of fruit bars (Fruit to Go and FruitSource) and I am the biggest fan of the Just Fruit & Grains bars because they fill me up fast. They saved me when I recently went to a conference and could not eat the food offered.
When my son finishes school, he is thirsty and hungry the moment he gets out. I love treating him to a SunRype juice box to quench his thirst so he can enjoy some play time in the park before we leave. He always is so excited to get a SunRype treat. And for that, I am grateful. As I have said before, not all fruit juices are made equal. I am happy to offer SunRype to my kids because I know what they are getting is healthy (no preservatives and no colour!) and they love it! To help keep you going with great snacks and drinks, SunRype has offered another great giveaway to my readers! One of you will win a $50 prize pack of SunRype products! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win.
Good luck to all!
Open to Canadian residents only.
Be sure to check out SunRype’s Facebook page for recipes and promotions.
Disclosure: I am participating in the SunRype campaign with PTPA. I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own. a Rafflecopter giveaway
41 comments
I always pack along an assortment of healthy snacks in small, reusable containers. We also have water bottles that I keep in their carseats.
My rafflecopter name is Julie G.
I keep healthy snacks and a water bottle in the car and pack them in a backpack when we go on outings.
Stainless steel containers for water always in fridge and dry fruit with the kids every year to have on hand.
We use a lot of frozen and dehydrated fruit year round in cereal, smoothies, yogurt and as snacks.
I always pack SunRype snacks in my bag!
We always have fruits, cheese and healthy juice packs on hand.
thanks
After a grocery shop, I make the effort to cut up a bunch of fruit and veggies so they’re ready to bring along at a moments’ notice.
Number one rule: Only purchase healthy snacks and drinks! That way you’re not tempted to serve the rice krispie snacks or sugary cereals/granola bars/cookies, etc.
Lead by example. If you eat healthy snack and drinks so will your kids.
Serve at least once healthy veggie and drink per meal.
Have fruit and veggies cut up and easy to grab in the fridge. Adding a fruit or veggie dip may entice the kids even more!
Make it easy, and cut things into fun shapes.
I normally set up in advanced cut up fruits/veggies and have a ziplock bag of either dry cereal or trailmix
I like to have the fruits and vegetable washed, cut up and ready to go. That way they are ready to eat when ever my kids need a snack.
I always keep fruit to go snacks in the diaper bag and water in a thermos for the kids.
I keep fruit to go and littls packs of natural fruit snacks in my purse for those moments when the hunger hits
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
belinda mcnabb
I keep pre-portioned fruit and vegetables in snack bags in the fridge. Easy to grab and go.
We always leave with a healthy snack and a water bottle!
Katrin Q
Fruit to go bars are great for kids and busy parents!
My Tip is prepare snacks and anything else possible the night before. 🙂
I pack fruits and veggies in snack containers and fill water in our reusable cups!
we bring a lot of our own food when traveling, always water and apples for the van.
my kids are hard to feed, so my best answer would be to stop buying junky food in the first place so they only have healthy stuff to chose from.
Buy healthy snacks and drinks as well as make homemade healthy snacks and drinks!
I always carry boxes of raisins for the kids and have water with us.
Make it fun! Fun shapes, colours & lots of variety!
i like that it is easy to take when travelling entered the lovely giveaway @torviewtor
I keep healthy snacks and a water bottles in the car and in my purse:)
Check the labels before buying snacks so you don’t end up buying mainly sugar.
keep junk food out of reach!
Always have individually portioned healthy treats with you.
I have my heathy snacks washed and cut into small portions for easy quick and easy access.
Preparing in advance is the key. If you have ready to go types of snacks available you will be more likely to have the chance to go with the healthier versions. If not, and children are getting hungry and cranky, chances are you grab whatever is available.
If you provide healthy snacks they will eat them. My tip: keep it healthy, and don’t temp them with the other stuff. If the choice is grapes or apples they will eat healthy. If the choice is grapes or cookies, they will eat cookies.
Plan ahead. It’s much easier to grab fast junky snacks when you are rushed. If you take the time to cut up the fruit, veggies, cheese etc. ahead of time, you can just grab and go.
If you are busy in mornings, try packing your children’s lunches at night and putting them in the fridge overnight. Healthy food, and no rushing in the morning.
Always keep fruit handy.
I like to have cut up fruits and veggies handy. It’s easier to have it all ready beforehand so its quick and easy to hand out when kids need a snack. I usually keep a couple fruit bars in my purse…just in case!
We always keep bottled water stocked in our van. This works great if we do need to get fast food we skip on buying any drinks and the non needed calories.
finger fruits are always great (grapes,strawberrys,etc).. with diced cheese and crackers
Send water for school lunches instead of juice