Healthy Kids' Snack Ideas: 6 Must-Pack Snacks for Moms on the Go

If you're a mom on the go, you know how tempting it can be to hit the drive-thru or the vending machine when your kids' tummies start to growl. But there are healthier and less expensive alternatives. To ward off last-minute munchies, keep a bag packed in your car or in your fridge with some of the following: 1. Healthy granola bars It is possible to find healthy, organic varieties of granola bars, but you'll have to look at the label carefully. Look for a brand with high fiber and whole grains and no high fructose corn syrup. Once you find a variety that you and your kids love, you can save money by buying in bulk. (Look online for deals if you don't belong to a savings warehouse.) Once you are well stocked, you'll want to stash an extra box or two in the trunk of your car for emergency purposes. 2. Fresh fruit There's nothing more satisfying and easier to prepare than fresh fruit. It comes in its own packaging! Bananas, grapes, apples and pears can all be taken along in the car. If you're eating before heading out the door, you can enjoy kiwi, oranges and mangos. Make it a habit to keep a bowl full of fruit salad in the refrigerator. This way, you can scoop some up in a to-go container at a moment's notice. My kids love to eat fresh fruit pieces by spearing each piece with a toothpick. We buy the decorative toothpicks with colored cellophane or flags at the top to make it more fun. 3. Fresh vegetables Baby carrots are the perfect on-the-go snack because they require no prep work at all. They can be kept in a plastic bag in your purse at room temperature and eaten on the go. Other vegetable choices require some forethought, but they are very simple to prepare, too. Try celery sticks, pepper strips, cucumber rounds, radishes and broccoli stalks to add variety to your diet. Again, it will be a lot easier to take these with you if they are already washed and presliced. When you get home from the grocery store each week, take a few minutes to wash and prepare your veggies. We find that we throw out a lot less produce if we get it ready right away (instead of accidentally pushing it to back of the fridge where we too often forget about it.) 4. Whole grain crackers and peanut butter This snack is tasty and good for you too. With whole grain crackers, you'll be able to get those important grains without all of the additives and empty nutrition of regular crackers. Adding the peanut butter makes this snack balanced between protein and carbohydrates, which will help keep you fuller for longer periods of time. 5. String cheese This is another kid favorite that is perfect for moms. If you don't want to go the traditional mozzarella route, there are a variety of different cheeses available in portable packaging. Cheddar, Swiss and Monterey Jack are all easy to find these days at the supermarket. Of course, you'll want to eat these within a few hours of leaving home. 6. Hard boiled eggs Boiling a dozen eggs a few times a month and keeping them in the fridge will provide you with healthy and quick snacks. These are best eaten at home because you don't want to go too long without refrigeration, but hard-boiled eggs are easy to prepare, easy to eat and have a lot of nutritional power that your body needs when you are on the go. Just be sure to clearly mark the carton that holds the hard-boiled eggs so you don't end up with any mishaps! With a snack bag packed with some of these items (and some water, of course), you'll be ready to satisfy your kids' hunger and maintain the high energy levels you need as a busy mom.