Families are so busy these days that planning and prepping ahead are a necessity. Here are a couple of ideas to help you stock your fridge with healthy, nutritious snacks a week in advance.

A balanced snack for kids is a carbohydrate (which can be a grain or a fruit) paired with a little protein or dairy. At the start of the week, try pre-planning 3 different carbohydrates and 3 protein or dairy options to have ready in the fridge to make packing school snacks or after school snacks a breeze.

Ex)

Having these items washed, portioned in baggies or containers and set aside allows for quick and easy snacks, with 9 different combination possibilities. You can always change up the type of fruit, muffin, yogurt and/or cheese for more variety.

• Orange and cheese
• Orange and jerky
• Orange and yogurt
• Muffin and cheese
• Muffin and jerky
• Muffin and yogurt
• Grapes and cheese
• Grapes and jerky
• Grapes and yogurt

Some other favorites snack options that can be easily put into rotation are:

• Smoothies (make extra and freeze as popsicles for later in the week)
• Crackers with hummus and/or veggies
• Grapes and dried black beans
• Homemade energy balls
• Tomato and boiled eggs
• Cottage cheese and fruit
• Banana roll-up (a wrap with nut or seed butter rolled up with a banana)
• Nut or seed and dried fruit mixture
• Apple and nut or seed butter
• Ants on a log (celery, nut or seed butter, and raisins)
• Egg muffins with fruit
• Homemade mini pizza bagels (mini bagels or English muffin, tomato sauce, leftover ham and cheese)

Taking a few minutes to plan and about 30 minutes to execute over the weekend keeps you organized trough out the busy week. For example, when I make muffins, I make mini muffins as well so I can have snacks to stock our freezer. Homemade mini bagel pizzas are also easy to make ahead and freeze. Keeping your freezer stocked for easy snacks will be a blessing during the busy weeks ahead!

By Kelsey Hagen – Registered Dietitian (Nutritionist)

Revive Wellness Inc.