Yes, there is such a thing as a hunger tantrum. When kids, especially little ones, start getting the nibbles, and there isn’t anything on hand for them to eat, it can result in tears and screaming! Pack a child-friendly snack bag to take with you when you’re out and about with your child in tow, so you can avoid hunger tantrums, and won’t need to rely on unhealthy, convenience foods to keep your child happy!
Here are a few great snacks that can fit in your handbag:
- Nuts and seeds are high in monounsaturated fats, which are good for you and your child. Healthy fats are an important source of energy for the body’s growth, vitamin transport, and hormone production. As a general rule, don’t give your child more than five nuts at a time and keep nuts reserved for older children, as they can pose a choking hazard.
- Oat and chocolate-chip energy bites can be made ahead. Mix together 1 cup raw oats, ½ cup peanut butter, ½ cup chocolate chips, and ⅓ cup honey. Roll the mixture into balls on a tray and freeze until set. Store in sealed bags.
- Popcorn is a child’s favourite snack. Make popcorn and divide it into containers for each child before you leave for your daily activities.
- For growing children, lean biltong is high in muscle-building protein. An easy-to-eat protein-rich snack is a deshelled boiled egg stored in a container.
- Roasted chickpeas and salted peanuts are a tasty alternative to crisps. Make a big batch and keep it in an airtight container.
- Cut vegetables into sticks to dip in cottage cheese, peanut butter, or hummus. Whole small vegetables like baby marrow, baby tomatoes, or baby carrots work well.
- Make a ham and cheese roll-up by layering a slice of lean cold meat with a slice of cheese. Roll it up and insert a pretzel stick through the middle to hold the snack together.
- Pack a water bottle. Almost two-thirds of children consume sugary drinks at least twice a week, which is alarming. Each sugary drink contains about eight teaspoons of added sugar on average. Instead, bring a 500ml water bottle with you on family outings (one bottle per family member). In the summer, freeze the water overnight to have cool water on hand at all times. If you want, you can infuse and flavour the water with chopped fruit, such as berries or apples, or herbs, such as mint. Or, use Rooibos tea or your favorite herbal tea flavour to make homemade iced tea. When the family is out of the house, store it in bottles to take with you.
- Whole pieces of fresh fruit fit well in handbags but avoid bruising by choosing firmer fruits like apples. Softer fruits, such as berries and kiwi, can also be placed in a container to avoid being damaged.
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