The Best Healthy Snacks For Busy Moms And Dads On-The-Go
Being a parent takes a lot of energy. When you've spent all your energy chasing your kids around a grocery store or chauffeuring them from place to place, you're going to need to replenish that energy with a healthy snack.
The thing is, making a healthy snack also takes energy. That's why we've compiled this list of easy healthy snacks that will give you a boost in the middle of the day. Keep reading to get a whole bunch of on-the-go snack ideas that are perfect for busy moms and dads.
A Low Sugar Cereal Can Give You A Boost In The Morning Or The Afternoon
Most cereals are full of hidden sugars. Even supposedly healthy cereals like Raisin Bran can have a whole bunch of sugar in every spoonful. Opt for low sugar cereals when you're looking for something to munch on-the-go.
Kashi cereals are usually low in sugar, or you can go for basic no-name cereals that just contain one popped or flaked grain. Pour some in a baggie and take it with you during carpool.
Banana Chips Will Give You More Energy Than Regular Chips
Chips are a hard habit to kick. They do make for a delicious quick snack, but they aren't healthy in the least. If you don't want to give up chips altogether, consider swapping potato chips for banana chips.
Banana chips will give you more energy than regular chips to keep you going all day long. Also, these things can stay fresh in your pantry forever. That's one thing that regular bananas can't do.
A Whole Wheat English Muffin Is Good On-The-Go
So, English muffins aren't exactly keto-friendly, but you don't have to be keto to be healthy. Sometimes you need a few carbs to get you through the day, especially if you're a parent. An English muffin is a great vehicle for all sorts of protein-rich toppings, like peanut butter, cream cheese, or egg salad.
You could even make a little breakfast sandwich if you can get a minute to yourself.
A Yogurt Smoothie Hits The Spot
Smoothies are delicious, and if you make them in a travel cup, they make great on-the-go snacks. If you're feeling like a Pinterest parent, you can make your own smoothie with fresh ingredients paired with juice, almond milk, or plain yogurt.
If that just seems like too much for a Tuesday morning, you can get healthy-ish bottled yogurt smoothies from brands like Dannon and Yoplait. Nothing beats homemade, though. Sorry, Dannon.
Edamame
Edamame became popular at sushi restaurants, but you can easily make these little beans at home. You can find them in the freezer section of your grocery story both shelled and unshelled. These beans can become super addictive if you sprinkle a bit of flaky salt on them, and they're good for you too.
Edamame is full of protein and fiber. This is a snack that both kids and adults can enjoy.
String Cheese Isn't Just For The Kids
Remember string cheese? Well, you don't have to be a kid to enjoy a delicious stick of peelable cheese. These things make a great mid-morning snack and they usually contain under 100 calories.
Cheese contains healthy fats and calcium that's great for both developing and already-developed bones. Cheese strings come pre-packaged so you can pop them in a lunchbox and eat them whenever you feel like a delicious snack, guilt-free.
You Know What They Say About An Apple A Day...
Look, I know this one is pretty much a no-brainer, but fruits that you can hold in your hand make great on-the-go snacks. Fruits like apples, bananas, pears, and peaches can be eaten with one hand, so your other hand is free to deal with whatever trouble your kids are stirring up.
A medium-sized apple contains about 100 calories and tons of healthy fiber. It's also full of essential vitamins and minerals.
A Granola Bar Can Work In A Pinch
Granola bars can contain a lot of sugar, so be careful not to buy the totally chocolate-covered ones. If you stick to natural brands, there are some healthy granola bars out there that are full of fiber and wholesome ingredients. Just make sure that you read the nutrition label.
Kashi is generally a good brand for healthy cereal-based products. Granola bars come in tons of flavors, so I'm sure you can find one that suits your tastes.
Overnight Oats
Parents everywhere, listen up. Overnight oats is the next best thing in on-the-go food options. Basically, you take regular oats. You put them in a jar with toppings of your choice as some milk or almond milk. Then you put the whole thing in the fridge, and in the morning, you have a delicious breakfast that's portable and healthy. It's genius.
I like to throw in some almond butter and raspberry jam, but you can literally stir in anything you want.
Carrots And Hummus
The roasted carrots and hummus in this photo look pretty fancy, but you don't have to roast carrots to make a delicious snack. You could just dip some regular raw carrots in hummus if you're in a rush.
You can really dip any vegetable in hummus: cucumber, peppers, celery... it all works. Hummus also comes in a variety of different flavors, so whether you're into roasted red pepper or caramelized onion, there's a hummus for you.
Stovetop Popcorn For When The Party Is Poppin'
Microwave popcorn can be full of sodium and unhealthy fats, but if you buy unpopped popcorn kernels, you can easily make stovetop popcorn, which is a great low-calorie alternative. Plus, when you make popcorn on the stove, you get to watch all of those little kernels pop (if you have a pot with a clear glass lid, which I highly recommend you get if you're going to try this at home).
Top your stovetop-popped popcorn with a little bit of salt and some paprika and you're good to go.
Homemade Trail Mix Is Better
Trail mix is supposed to be an on-the-go snack. It has "trail" in its name. A lot of the trail mix packs you can buy at the grocery store aren't exactly healthy, though. They can be full of excess salt and sugar.
Buy plain nuts and seeds instead, and make your own trail mix. Then you can just grab a baggie and take it with you whenever you need a boost of energy.
A Boiled Egg Is A Ready-Made Protein Pack
Hard boiled eggs are full of protein and healthy fats, plus they're super portable. Yeah, they might make your house smell... and your car... and your office, but if you like hard boiled eggs, then the smell is totally worth it.
If you're feeling fancy, you can make devilled eggs, but maybe not right before dance class and right after soccer practice. Devilled eggs take a little bit more effort.
Adult Ants On A Log
Remember ants on a log? Did you have yours with cream cheese or peanut butter? I'm a peanut butter ants on log sort of person. Celery and peanut butter is an unexpectedly great flavor combination, and it makes for a healthy snack when you're on the move or in a hurry.
Peanut butter is full of protein, and if you use natural peanut butter, you avoid eating a whole bunch of excess salt and sugar.
Chia Pudding Is The New Chocolate Pudding
When chia seeds are immersed in a liquid, they release this jelly-like substance that turns the liquid into a pudding. You can use any liquid you like, but I think almond milk works best. You can find lots of chia pudding recipes online that will tell you exactly how much liquid to use and which flavors to add.
Chocolate lovers can add a bit of cocoa powder, and fruit lovers can add chopped strawberries, or any chopped fruit, really.
Cottage Cheese Isn't Just For The Cottage
Cottage cheese has been labeled a "diet food" in the past, but don't let that turn you off of this slightly slimy snack food. Cottage cheese is just okay on it's own, but if you add some cut-up tomatoes, cucumbers, and green onions, you've got yourself a delicious mid-day meal.
Call me crazy, but I actually love cottage cheese. Some people eat cottage cheese with fruit. I'm not about that life but to each their own.
Turkey Rollups Are Low-Carb And Delicious
Deli sandwiches are delicious, but sometimes you don't want all of that bread. You can take sliced deli meat and roll them up with lettuce, tomato, cheese, mustard, and mayonnaise. It's basically like a turkey sandwich but without the sandwich part.
Pack a bunch of these in a Tupperware container and take it to work with you, or pack it in your kids' lunches. I could go for a turkey rollup right about now...
Tuna Salad Is A Staple For A Reason
We're not reinventing the wheel here. A tuna salad is a tuna salad is a tuna salad. The thing is, tuna salad became a staple for a reason. This stuff is delicious and full of healthy fats.
You can make little lettuce wraps with tuna salad, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese, and whatever other toppings you'd like. Lettuce wraps are low carb, and a little bit more diverse in flavor than a bowl of tuna salad.
Roasted Chickpeas Add Some Much Needed Crunch
Roasted chickpeas will satisfy any craving you have for snacks like chips or pretzels. They're salty, crunchy, full of protein, and you can add whatever flavors you like. If you want some spice, add some cayenne pepper. If you're more into mild flavors, add some cumin and some lime juice.
These things are super easy to make and they can last in your pantry for a long time. They travel well and they're pretty healthy.
Lentil Salad Is A Flavor Explosion
For this last snack, we're going to make things a little bit more complicated— but only a little bit. Lentil salads are great healthy snacks to take on the go, but they do involve some prep work.
You actually have to cook the lentils, and you have to assemble a salad, but all of that can be done the night before. Then, in the morning, you have a delicious lunch that's ready for packing.
