Sometimes, it’s hard for moms to take time to eat a large meal. If you’re a busy mom during the day whether it’s taking care of the kids or working outside the home, it’s important to get at least a healthy snack so that you can maintain the energy that you need until you can enjoy a meal. Follow these tips to find snacks that have the right balance of nutrients in them without spending a lot of money or time.
Small Bags of Cereal
Put a small amount of a healthy cereal in sandwich bags. When you feel hungry during the day, grab a bag to eat instead of eating chips or cookies. You can take these to work with you or keep a bag or two in the car. They are also good for kids to have so that they don’t eat a lot of junk food during the day.
Variety Boxes
There are companies online, such as The Gift Box, that will send you small boxes of healthy snacks each month or when you place an order. Some boxes have nuts and chocolate in them while other boxes have small packs of coffee or cookies. You never know what you’re going to get when the box arrives, giving you a variety of snacks that you can enjoy that day and through the week. Or, you could make your own variety box with small packages of nuts, dried berries, and cookies.
Smoothies
This is a healthy snack that you can make using your own ingredients or that you can get in the store. If you purchase smoothies in the store, get small containers that are about 100 calories. Put some in the refrigerator at work as well so that you have something refreshing during the day. If you make your own smoothies, freeze a portion so that you have it for later.
Chocolate Bars
Some might not think that chocolate is healthy, but there are a few benefits from eating dark chocolate. It can help lower the blood pressure and has a positive impact on heart health. Get a few 100 calorie bars or sugar-free chocolate candies so that you’re not eating a lot of the excess sugar during the day. Another option is to get granola bars that have chocolate in them to have a balance of sweet and salty flavors.
Cheese
You can eat string cheese, cheese cubes or slices of cheese during the day for an energy boost. This snack can usually sit on the counter for a few hours, which makes it a good option to enjoy if you are trying to do chores in the house or take care of the kids, getting a bite every once in a while to tide you over until your meal.
Snacking during the day helps to keep your energy level up so that you can function. However, that doesn’t mean that you should eat foods that are unhealthy. Find a variety of things that you like, such as fruits, vegetables, and baked goods that will offer the calories you need and the flavors that you enjoy through the week.
This is a guest post from Emma Sturgis. Emma is a freelance writer based out of Boston, MA. She writes most often on health and education. When not writing, she enjoys reading and watching film noir. Say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2
At Daily Momtivity, we know a lot about snacking! Here are some of our kids’ favorites:
Thank you for sharing these snacks! I often have cookies or candies in busy days although I know it’s not good. Gonna give the gift box a try, it sounds great.
The Gift Box sounds great. I’m always thinking about my kids and their needs. It would be nice to get something special for myself.