Having healthy snacks around for the whole family is essential for fueling our bodies. Snacks can be easier than you think. It takes minimal effort to eat traditional snacks, follow along to learn more!
Eating snacks throughout the day is something I have recently been getting better about. Now that I have a baby to nurse and two toddlers to chase, it is essential to snack for daily success. When I do not snack throughout the day I feel so low on energy and cranky. No body wants a cranky mom. My mood sets the tone in the home so it is so very important for me to grab snacks throughout the day. I will admit, this is not something I have been the best at until recently.
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Why I have failed to “snack” in the past
One reason I have failed to snack in the past is due to not keeping “snacks” on hand. I often find that I do actually have things to snack on I just don’t realize them if they aren’t something I’ve prepared. Most people hear snacks and think of something like a protein bar or box of crackers when the word comes up. I’m hoping to give you some ideas for traditional food items that make great snacks.
It’s also easy to forget to snack when you get busy. Everybody is busy in different ways. Just like anything else that is important to us, we have to make time to take care of ourselves. I am in a busy season of raising toddlers and babies up to be disciples. This is HARD work! My body has lacked the fuel throughout the day to be a good mom. Don’t make that same mistake. As we start the new year, one of my goals is to take the time to take care of myself so that I can care for my family best. One way I plan to do this is by snacking more!
What is traditional snacking?
I’m not sure it’s really even a thing to say, “traditional” snacking. I’m going to go ahead and say that phrase any ways because it best describes the point I am trying to share with you today about.
To me, that phrase means eating real food, period. There is nothing complicated about it. I do not spend money buying things like fruit snacks and granola bars from the store. Why? Because they cost more money, are not healthy, and it seems lazy to do so.
I will admit that I rarely will buy boxed snacks from the store. I’m talking like a couple times a year for a trip or when I feel overwhelmed. But, generally, I am reaching for Whole Foods I already have here at home.
Prepared snack replacement ideas for kids and adults
Making the switch to eat real food with kids can be intimidating and overwhelming if you’re not used to it. I have toddlers and can usually get my kids to eat just about anything, willingly. My kids are used to eating real food and only get boxed treats when grandparents “spoil” them. I do believe that this is why they eat so well, because they don’t know any other diet. They go through picky phases but usually the phase doesn’t last long. Below are some of the snacks that my kids love.
Dried Fruits
We buy fruits in bulk from local farmers when they are in season and dehydrate them to enjoy for a later time. We even do this to make decorations for the holidays! If you do not have the time or resources to do this, there are great Organic options at most grocery stores. Some of the favorites my kids love are dried cranberries, apples, pineapples, dates, and apricots! Try different fruits and find their favorites to get your kids eating them regularly. Of course I love fresh fruit too, but having it dried and ready to go in a glass jar ahead of time helps make for a quick snack!
Gummies
My kids LOVE getting gummies when they go to grandparents house. I don’t love the ingredients, however. I have learned a simple recipe that takes just 3 minutes of my time to make! You simply just mix fruit juice with honey and gelatin and pour into a mold! Pop them in the fridge for a bit and they will be ready to go. Using grass fed gelatin is best to get the best nutrition value. I also recommend using raw, local honey to get all the immune health benefits!
Granola
We make granola regularly in this house. Granola is a great way to get the kids eating nuts. My kids don’t enjoy eating straight up nuts, but they will eat it in granola. I love this recipe best!
Cheese
Cheese is a favorite food here in our home. We buy a huge 5 pound block of sharp white cheddar cheese from Azure Standard and cut up half of it into sticks for snacks right away. This is a better option than buying string cheese from the store because there are no preservatives and added ingredients if you do it this way. We choose to eat raw dairy products for easier digestion.
Meat
Having cooked shredded chicken is an option for a meat source to snack on. My kids won’t eat this alone, so I opt for dried meat instead. Finding a good, Organic meat stick option could work great for a snack for the kids. I recently decided to purchase Organic beef sticks from Costco, thanks to a friend recommending the brand. My kids gobble them up! Boiled eggs is another great option to have on hand.
Crackers
Crackers of different sorts is another thing that most people would purchase for their kids as a boxed snack. Instead of buying them boxed, I make my own! We are big lovers of Sourdough in this house, and it’s pretty much the only thing we consume when it comes to grains. Making homemade sourdough crackers is as easy as dumping some Sourdough starter onto a hot pizza stone and seasoning it! It sounds complicated hearing the idea of homemade crackers. I promise it is about the easiest thing you could make! Just bake for about ten minutes or until it is crispy, then take it out and cut it up to store in a grass jar to snack on throughout the week!
Veggies
Vegetables are not a typical snack for my kids. However, every now and then I will cut up some celery stick and slather it in peanut butter for them to snack on. Carrot sticks and ranch are also another veggie option I can usually get my kids to eat.
Other snacks
Outside of the ideas I listed above my kids just eat whatever they can find. Most of the time snacks can look like left overs. If there is a flat bread or tortilla laying around they will eat it. They really do not care, and like I said this is because it is all they have ever known! The two snacks my kids eat most is fruit with peanut butter or cheese. We eat that combination at least once daily.
I hope I have given you some ideas for quick snacks that you can feed your family to keep everyone fueled! Eating real food in a traditional diet will help ensure your family is as healthy as they can be! Just consuming good ole food, exactly how God intended it and nothing more.
By the way, I will just add that if you buy boxed snacks for your family, I am not saying that you are failing or doing it wrong. I just feel strongly about feeding my family real food whenever possible and have seen the health benefits from doing so. There are seasons of life that I have not been as good at this, so I can relate if you do not feel able to eat a whole food diet for snacking.
If you have some other simple, whole food, snack ideas please share them in the comments below. I’d love to hear your ideas and add to my snack arsenal for my family!
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