Favorite snacks to bring in the parks

[tinkermomma]

In honor of the "Just curious on average everyone spends on food" thread, I wanted to know what kind of snacks you enjoy and what kinds of tips and tricks you have for keeping them yummy.

On the buying food side, I am excited to try Steakhouse 55 this time. I'm also strangely excited to try the the new menus at Hungry Bear, and have our usual treats of Monte Cristo and Dole Whip and give the famous potato soup at Carnation a whirl.

I have a mini game plan of easy to eat chicken pesto on focaccia sandwiches for us and a bunch of healthy snacks for the little one. I feel like I can do better in this category though...

So what do you bring?

 

[starshine514]

Trail mix. You can make your own and customize it for each family member. We made out a bag for each day and put our names on them before leaving and then just picked each person one of their bags each day. We included nuts, dried fruit, cereal, small pretzels and M&Ms - and each person got to put in only what they liked (so no raisins for DH).

Oh, and PB&J (especially for DD4, who isn't an early morning eater) - unless I'm there when it's cold, then I'm willing to bring in real sandwiches, but if it's warm, I only trust PB&J to stay good.

 

[helenb]

Cereal bars, dried fruit and small bags of goldfish crackers for DD. Plus we wear water bottles in insulated slings around our shoulders.

 

[rentayenta]

We eat a lot of the sancks that the parks sell but we also bring in beef jerky, dried fruit, water bottles, trail mix, and Dum Dum suckers.

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

We go for high protein (esp PB&J) and carbs (crackers), but we're local. If you bring a water bottle with a wide mouth, you can get free ice water at any quick service window and pour it in there to keep it cool.

 

[Daisybelle]

We do custom trail mix too. I also bought some Soy Joy bars and cheese and cracker packs to carry with us. We must keep our energy up!

 

[cougarfan84]

Snacks I enjoy are mostly trail mix (either bought or homemade) and beef jerky. I also prefer bringing a refillable water bottle around with me as to keep me hydrated in the heat. While I generally enjoy candy and other sugary snacks, I find that they don't do a very good job at keeping my energy up during the day (especially in the heat). The nuts/jerky/etc. seem to be much more satisfying to me in these conditions.

 

[SpaceMania]

We bring in water bottles, goldfish, wheat thins & granola bars. But as for the snacks in the parks, i LOVE the Cream cheese filled pretzel (with or without the jalapeno) sooooo yummy.

 

[PinkBudgie]

This year I will bring my peanut bars. They have enough protein to hold me over for awhile when I get hungry. Last year I brought Target's brand of Cajun mix. Love that stuff!

 

[trixieg]

Pink Budgie, are your peanut bars homemade? If so, would you mind sharing the recipe? We are a peanut loving family & I'm intrigued! Thanks!!

 

[tinkermomma]

Trail mix. You can make your own and customize it for each family member. We made out a bag for each day and put our names on them before leaving and then just picked each person one of their bags each day. We included nuts, dried fruit, cereal, small pretzels and M&Ms - and each person got to put in only what they liked (so no raisins for DH).

Oooooh. I love this idea.

We go for high protein (esp PB&J) and carbs (crackers), but we're local. If you bring a water bottle with a wide mouth, you can get free ice water at any quick service window and pour it in there to keep it cool.

Thank you for the advice about the water Shelby! I read that on your blog as well (which I thoroughly love, by the way) so I will definitely be doing that on our next trip.

Pink Budgie, are your peanut bars homemade? If so, would you mind sharing the recipe? We are a peanut loving family & I'm intrigued! Thanks!!

This!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Pink Budgie, are your peanut bars homemade? If so, would you mind sharing the recipe? We are a peanut loving family & I'm intrigued! Thanks!!

Ok, Here's what you do:

Hop in the car and head to Costco. Actually something homemade along those lines sounds yummy. Come to think of it, my MIL makes some yummy bar cookies she calls Butter Fingers. Peanut butter on the bottom and chocolate on top. But these are Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Nut: Peanut.They are so good! During the school year I take one to work everyday to have at break. Just one holds me over for 3 hours until lunch. I also keep one in my purse at all times in case I get hungry and shakey.

 

[kkmcan]

We usually bring peanuts, turkey jerky, granola bars, goldfish and Austins cheese on crackers. Sometimes Dh and I like to bring protein bars as well.

 

[trixieg]

Ok, Here's what you do:

Hop in the car and head to Costco. Actually something homemade along those lines sounds yummy. Come to think of it, my MIL makes some yummy bar cookies she calls Butter Fingers. Peanut butter on the bottom and chocolate on top. But these are Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Nut: Peanut.They are so good! During the school year I take one to work everyday to have at break. Just one holds me over for 3 hours until lunch. I also keep one in my purse at all times in case I get hungry and shakey.

You sound like my kind of shopper! I love Costco & I love those bars!! The Butter Fingers sound yummy, though. Now I want some peanut butter & chocolate, uh-oh!

 

[groovygirl927]

I like having things like granola bars, trail mix, nuts, and gum. Anything that I can easily pack in my little bag I bring. I also bring a water bottle and bring those little packs that you mix with water can't think what they are called right now. (crystal light is one brand) My kids usually drink more of those than i do but always like to have them on hand.

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

Thanks Tinkermomma!

 

[marcemc]

Cool delicious Coconut water

 

[azmommyto3]

Ok, Here's what you do:

Hop in the car and head to Costco. Actually something homemade along those lines sounds yummy. Come to think of it, my MIL makes some yummy bar cookies she calls Butter Fingers. Peanut butter on the bottom and chocolate on top. But these are Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Nut: Peanut.They are so good! During the school year I take one to work everyday to have at break. Just one holds me over for 3 hours until lunch. I also keep one in my purse at all times in case I get hungry and shakey.

Oooooohhhh....we love these bars!! They are a favorite of ours to take into Disney as well

 

[Squirrel!!!]

Nothing out of the ordinary, but as a local, trying to make it on the cheap, so in my bag will be a bagel with cream cheese that was frozen overnight so it makes it to mid morning, trail mix of pretzel goldfish (I hate hate hate the cheddar ones, blech how they gum up in my teeth), dried cranberries and cashews and sometimes some kind of cereal, a few dum dums or root beer barrels.