Five Healthy Lunch and Snack Hacks

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After I wrote my previous post on Sistema® and how they helped me stay organized with lunches last school year, I had a request for other lunch and snack hacks. I try very hard to pack Sesame a trash free lunch most days but I’m not always successful, plus now that he’s in first grade we do individual snacks instead of class snacks. This means I’m packing a lunch and snack every single day.

So, how do I survive when I have a really busy week? I incorporate these five snacks either in his lunch when we’re out of fresh fruit or his snack for the day. Most of these snacks are also perfect for throwing in your purse when you’re going on errands or having a family day. Hangry kids (and parents) are no fun and portable snacks while not always environmentally friendly are game changers.

Note: This post is not sponsored but there are some affiliate links throughout.

 

 

Nature Valley Oatmeal Squares are a family favorite so we always have them in the house. They come in several different flavors but Cinnamon Brown Sugar is the only one I can get everyone to eat. I usually pack these for road trips and when we’re running errands BUT packing snack every day is a bit overwhelming so they’ve been one of my favorite snacks to pack for him.

 

GoGoSqueez – Another family favorite if you’ve been following my InstaStories, you know that Blueberry is a fan of the fruit and veggie ones. Sesame’s favorite is the apple cinnamon and I love that I can get them in a value pack so I know we’ll have enough for a couple weeks. I’d say this is probably Sesame’s favorite snack although he really likes when I make homemade ones for him using the Infantino Squeeze Station.

Stonyfield Organic Snack Packs – These are a new addition to the snack round-up and I think they’ll be a keeper. I have to put these in his lunch bag since they eat snack in the afternoon and I want to make sure they stay cold. Full disclosure: I purchased these for a sponsored Facebook post BUT Sesame really does like them and was bummed when we ran out. When I do my next big grocery order, they’ll definitely be in the September lunch rotation. Sesame really likes the strawberry yogurt with graham crackers.

 

Dannon Danimals Yogurt Smoothies – I can’t take credit for this find. Mr. S actually purchased these for Sesame last school year randomly. They became one of his kinda sorta favorites. I say kinda sorta because unlike his top three choices, he gets burned out from drinking them rather quickly. The good thing is now that Blueberry is older we can give them to him as a snack, so nothing goes to waste.

 

Fruit cups – I try really hard to pack fresh fruit in Sesame’s lunch each week but this doesn’t always happen. Sometimes because we ran out halfway through the week since our entire family eats a lot of fruit and other times because I didn’t make his lunch the night before and using a knife when you’ve been up half the night isn’t the wisest choice. Since Sesame prefers fresh fruit, he only likes the peach cups that are in the 100% fruit juice. I know this because we bought the above variety pack and he let me know not to pack the mixed fruit ones anymore. Oh, he also doesn’t mandarin oranges in the cups either. Hopefully, your child isn’t as picky as mine. I put these last on the list because they’re my last resort and something I can’t put in his lunch or snack too often since he will let me know that he would like fresh peaches.

What are your favorite snack and lunch hacks? Be sure to check out my Parenting Hacks idea list on Amazon for more helpful suggestions