Healthy Snacks - Prepackaged Items - Stocking Up

Of course it would be great if we could all find and prioritize the time to make everything from scratch but in reality (my reality at least) finding the best easy to take and pack snacks comes in a close second. Cookie Magazine (a victim of the recesssion, sadly, but more on that in a minute) had a great article a few years back that showcased, "These healthy lunch-box essentials and snacks are sure to pull weight at the daily cafeteria stock exchange, but they're so tasty that your kids won't even try to trade."

Back to School time feels to me a bit like New Year's, we have really good intentions, we try to make resolutions and change habits and improve our lot. Fresh school supplies, new haircuts, freckled noses and sun-streaked hair - the first day of school. A month later - homework, soccer, homework, "what's for dinner," laundry on the floor and the best laid plans go out the window.

I don't think I can solve that for you, or for myself - my laundry room clearly has gypsies living in it who leave additional clothing behind in it each day. What I can do is help you find ways to keep your kids lunches relatively healthy and keep it easy on you. A few packaged things in a lunch are a good idea since who knows when the kids will need a snack, especially after summer break when they could raid the fridge and cupboard whenever you weren't looking.

Read the labels, find three or four go-to items, shop around a bit and then stock up. My girls love the Kids Clif Bars, I have found them at the local grocery stores priced from 49 cents to 89 cents. Clearly when I find the 49 cent ones it's time to buy a box. Somethings, like little crackers in packages seem odd to me - the per package price is enormous compared to buying in bulk and filtering them into little snack packs. Other things - raisins for example - seem to be pretty close in comparison buying the tiny boxes or a big bag so I get the boxes to save myself the sticky mess of transferring from one container to another.

If you live near a Costco or Sam's Club you can often stock up on things at a bulk price. If you don't, another great option is setting up a subscription on Amazon.com to your favorite staple items. They will just show up at your doorstep at the time you have determined you will need them again. Save yourself a trip to the store and have some of the key lunch items on hand.

To change the subject for just a minute, early in my post I mentioned something about Cookie Magazine. The editors and some of the writers from what was my favorite parenting publication have created a new place for information called Momfilter. Right now it's only on Facebook but the website is coming soon and we are all eager with anticipation.