You’re busy. I hear you!
Whether you stay-at-home, work-at-home, or a full or part-time working mom… you’ve got lots to do and little time to do it all!
Sometimes, when we’re rushed, we forget to eat healthily. We may even opt to reach for those not-so-healthy snacks for our children. Today, I want to share some grab-and-go snack ideas and hacks for the busy mom.
You don't want to miss this! Check out these healthy #snack hacks for the busy mom! Share on X
Why use these snack hacks?
1- Besides the apparent benefit of these healthy snack choices, you will save money! Many processed foods cost more to cover the expense of production and packaging.
2- Speaking of packaging, preparing your own snacks contributes to reducing household waste (especially if you store your snacks in reusable containers)!
3- I don’t know about you, but my children request a snack at the most inconvenient times (e.g., as I’m about to step into the shower when I’m cleaning a toilet or the minute I answer the phone). By having some quick grab-and-go items handy, they can help themselves to a snack whenever they need it.
Prepare
I firmly believe that preparation can be a huge time saver (and stress reliever). Some of the tips I’ll be sharing here will require some work ahead of time.
Here are some things to consider:
- Make a list of snacks for the week.
- Compile an accompanying grocery list.
- Collect your ideas and references in one place (i.e., bookmark recipe book pages, collect snack ideas on a Pinterest board, organize recipes in a binder, etc.)
- Select a couple of hours weekly to work on, bake, and assemble your snacks (for instance, Sunday afternoon from 1-3 pm).
- Purchase any food you might need.
- Gather your materials (snack containers, zippered bags, etc.).
- Wash and chop your veggies ahead of time.
- When planning the week’s snacks, I try to limit myself to 1-2 baked items per week, and the rest should be non-cooking options.
Healthy snack ideas
Here are some healthy snack ideas to include in your snack menu.
VEGGIES
The great thing with veggie snacks is that they can be prepared beforehand. Wash, chop, and place the snacks in containers. Store in the fridge.
- carrot sticks with homemade hummus
- celery with peanut butter and raisins
- carrots and cucumbers with a plain yogurt “dip”
- veggie feast (cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, celery, carrot sticks, peppers, etc.)
FRUITS
Some fruits may be more complex to prepare ahead of time, but here are some healthy snack ideas for fruits.
- microwave peanut butter until runny and drizzle over apple slices; sprinkle unsweetened coconut over top (for a chocolate fix, sprinkle mini dark chocolate chips as well)
- peel and cut a banana in half, stick a popsicle stick in one end, roll in yogurt, and freeze
- cinnamon apple chips (these can be made without sugar)
- berry medley (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries) served with Greek yogurt
- grab-and-go fruit: an apple, mandarin orange, banana, a container of grapes, etc.
HEARTY SNACKS
- homemade breakfast cookies
- homemade clean eating granola bars
- 3-ingredient peanut butter oat squares
- smoothies (assemble freezer packs of pre-cut fruits & veggies for smoothies)
- sweet potato banana bites
- use any muffin recipe to make mini muffins
- 3-ingredient energy balls
ALTERNATIVES TO KIDS’ FAVOURITES
- homemade fruit roll-ups (video tutorial)
- healthier, homemade “Pop Tarts” (free of corn syrup and refined sugar)
- slice cheese into sticks or slices (to replace cheese strings and processed cheese slices)
- homemade fruit gummies or fruit and veggie gummies
OTHER IDEAS
- roasted pumpkin or squash seeds
- hard-boiled egg (sliced) with cheese
- nut and seed mix (walnuts, almonds, cashews, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, etc.)
- pitted Medjool dates (serve with peanut butter for an extra kick)
- plain yogurt with a drizzle of honey
- keep full reusable water bottles in the fridge
CONSIDER USING THESE ITEMS FOR SNACK PREP:
Once you plan and prepare your snacks, store them in a place easily accessible to family members.
This is just a start. Once you get rolling, you’ll see how easy it is to prepare healthy grab-and-go snacks for your family!
SHARE WITH OTHERS
Thanks for the ideas! Definitely coming back here for your snack recipes (3-ingredient peanut butter oat squares? Yes, please!) when our kitchen renovation is done.
Oooh kitchen renovations… not fun. lol We remodelled our kitchen when my oldest was 10 months old. It was the craziest two months of our lives.
Glad you liked these ideas Amber!
Honestly great snack suggestions and this snacking mom truly approves and am going to have to keep a few of these in mind now. Thanks Jennifer and wishing you a lovely day now xoxo <3
I’m delighted you like these ideas Janine! Happy snacking!
Those are some great snack hacks for sure. I usually buy fruits and pre-package them in mini ziploc bags and Madison would just go in and pick up a bag when she wants something. I also have string cheese just sitting there. Makes my life easier.
Pre-packaging fruits and veggies is a HUGE time saver and it really helps kids (and adults) make healthier choices when things are already prepared.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on these healthy snack hacks Amanda!
Preparing makes everything so much easier! Great ideas! We’ve been toasting our own almonds for easy on-the-go snacks with a piece of fruit. Plus, our own almonds are easier to chew!
Great idea to toast your own almonds. We usually have ours raw for convenience sake but I really should toast some too.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on these healthy snack hacks Mary!
I do it for Des, so it seems like a no-brainer to prep healthy snacks for ME. Otherwise I might grab M&Ms. Isn’t that awful? Yes. I really love carrots with hummus. I love cheese slices with apple slices. I love hard-boiled eggs.
Your sweet potato banana bites link is awesome! Roast pumpkin seeds, AHHHHH.
And the peanut butter oat squares! Sheesh. This is awesome. I’m such a grazer. I eat all day long.
Carrots with hummus is a favourite around here. Love it!
I need healthy snacks too – otherwise I make unhealthy choices (like the case of chocolate mint girl guide cookies that’s sitting in the basement is calling to me right now). Must resist!
Glad you enjoyed my healthy snack hacks Tamara!
My go to’s are definitely nuts and fruit, but this opens up my eyes to some more fun and delicious ideas, so thank you!
Mmmm, I love fruit and nuts (almonds and cashews are my favourites)! I’m delighted you liked these suggestions Caroline.
There are some truly great ideas on this list! I really need to up my snacking game with the boys. Turtle Boy isn’t slowing down when it comes to growing and I wonder if I can keep up with 2 growing, busy boys and Hun’s high level of physical activity at work! :)
Yay! I’m glad you found some helpful ideas and tips here Kendall!
Great ideas! I have a hard time finding healthy, EASY things to grab with all the kiddos running around.
I’m delighted that these ideas were helpful Kayleigh! Hopefully those healthy snacks will be easier to prepare now!
LOVE these ideas, Jennifer! I am always looking for more healthy snack ideas. Thank you!
Yay! I’m glad you liked these ideas. Hopefully it helps you keep those healthy eats happening!
What a great resource for snack ideas! I have a love/hate relationship with snacks! It seems like no matter how many snacks I make my kids will destroy them in no time flat! I try to hide them for when we are out and about. My kids are just bottomless pits. It sure helps to be prepared though and I need to get back on the bandwagon. Thanks for the inspiration!
I’m delighted you enjoyed these snack ideas Rebekah. I try to stay on top of snack prep because my kids (like yours) are bottomless pits! lol
All great snacks Jennifer. I’m a big snacker so planning them out when I shop helps me a lot.
I’m delighted these snacks meet your approval Tiffany (I look up to you for health and fitness stuff)!
These are great ideas! Hummus is pretty much the only way I will ever eat carrots.
Carrots and hummus is one of our household favourites! The kids go crazy over it!