28 On-The-Go Snacks for Kids
My kids and I spend a lot of time on the go with our homeschool group or for field trips. We could never afford to purchase snacks and meals each time we go out, plus that wouldn’t be healthy! Instead, I created a list of my favorite on-the-go snacks for kids that I use to pack our lunches.
I’ll be honest; only one of my four kids really likes raw veggies. I know – it’s a bummer. I’ve tried my hardest, but they just refuse to try them. Only two of my four kids like any type of dip – including ranch.
I must be raising mutant children.
Their dislike of dips does make it a bit more challenging to find the right snacks for them. I do pack a variety of snacks because what works for one kid might not work for another.
Picking the right snacks for kids can be so easy!
28 On-The-Go Snacks for Kids
- Applesauce Pouches. I make my own pouches by purchasing quarts of applesauce and filling these pouches I purchased from Amazon.
- Cheese sticks
- Popcorn – flavored or plain
- Granola
- Fruit. Any and all kinds of fruit are definitely must-have on-the-go snacks for kids.
- Harvest Snap Peas. They’re like crispy pea chips – SO GOOD!
- Hummus with Chips
- Cubed Cheese
- Sliced Summer Sausage
- Guacamole with Crackers
- Rolled Lunch Meat with Pretzel Sticks
- Pepperoni Rolls
- Nuts – all types
- Pretzels
- Tortilla Chips with Salsa
- Dried Fruit
- Plain Crackers
- Peanut Butter Crackers
- Graham Crackers
- Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Bagels with Cream Cheese. Just toast and slather before you leave your house and keep them in zippered bags!
- Yogurt Tubes. You can make homemade yogurt tubes instead as well!
- Cereal. Put a small amount into zippered bags.
- Granola Bars
- Cereal Bars or Fig Bars
- Raisins or Dried Cranberries
- Muffins. Try my banana muffins!
- Peanut butter sandwiches. Seriously, this is like the quintessential snacks for kids. I lived on peanut butter sandwiches growing up.
My Favorite On-The-Go Snack Gear
As I mentioned earlier, we tend to be on the go often. An average week includes participating in our weekly homeschool group, speech therapies, 2-3 soccer practices, piano lessons, and, at least, one hike or park time.
I typically pack snacks for kids each time we leave the house. I know, for some, that can sound like overkill, but if I had to purchase food out each time we left our home, I would blow our budget.
At the same time, packing that much food takes snack bags, lunch boxes, reusable water bottles, and other gear. So, I wanted to share with you my favorite on-the-go snack gear.
1. Wattne 10-Pack Reusable Snack Bags
Time to ditch the plastic bags and switch to reusable snack bags. Some people use cloth reusable bags, but that’s not what I prefer. Plus, my husband has no desire to use fabric bags in his lunch.
Instead, we use snack bags from Wattne. You get 10 in each pack, and they come in a variety of sizes. The bags are made from food-grade PEVA-material. They’re lead-free, BPA-free, PVC-free, and chlorine-free.
2. Contigo Straw Flip Cup – 2 Pack
I like to bring reusable water bottles along with the snacks for kids I pack. That way, I don’t have to purchase drinks when I’m out. My kids all have a Contigo cup. I’ve found that they last a long time, especially for the price, and toddlers up to older kids use them easily.
3. Mier Large Insulated Lunch Bag
You need an insulated lunch bag when you’re taking snacks for kids with you. Otherwise, you’re limited by what you can bring. If you need to keep something cold, insulation is a necessity.
I like the Mier Large Insulated Lunch Bag because of its size. I can easily toss in all of the snacks I need, plus a salad for me, with extra room to spare. Plus, it’s affordable and durable, so you won’t need to purchase another lunch bag.
4. Kirecoo 12-Pack Reusable Food Squeeze Pouches
I mentioned these above when I said that I refill pouches with applesauce. The cost of purchasing applesauce pouches is really insane. A box of 12 organic applesauce pouches costs between $6-8, but a quart of organic applesauce is $2-3.
So, I purchase these pouches (even though they’re marketed for baby food) and my kids love them for applesauce. It’s an easy way to save money on snacks for kids.
Final Thoughts
I used to think that packing on-the-go snacks for kids was a pain in the butt. Then, I saw how much it cost (and how unhealthy it was) to grab chicken nuggets or fries while I was out for the day.
Toss a few of these snacks in your insulated lunch bag, fill up water bottles, and you’ll be good to go!
