Healthy portable snacks

[disfan07]

I need some advice on some good portable snacks to take with me to classes on tuesdays and thursdays and to doctors appts on fridays.

I am in class from 10-6 on tues and thursdays with only an hour break between 2 and 3PM. And on fridays, I leave my house at 10:30AM to drive 1 1/2 hours to the doctors and I am usually there from 12:30-4, sometimes with no time for lunch and then it usually takes me about 2 hours to get back home. So that is about 7 hours on fridays.

I want to take healthy snacks with me that will hold up well in the car, in my backpack or purse and that can last for at least a few hours. I also want them to be able to fill me up. But I am at a loss for what some good snacks would be.

The one big thing is that I can't eat peanuts or tree nuts so those are both out.

Does anyone have any ideas for some good, healthy portable snacks?

 

[mamacatnv]

I pack DH's lunch with:
Raw almonds
Tangerine or Apple - whole
Trail Mix that I make: Raw & roasted/salted sunflower seeds, raw pumpkin seeds, raw cashews, roasted salted peanuts(sometimes) raisins, craisins and mini M&M's
Asst. veggies with hummus to dip
Veggie flax seed tortilla chips from Trader Joes, he loves them and the extra fiber make them a filling snack, I send a small tub of salsa with them.
FlatOut (wraps) whole grain (again that extra fiber goes a long way without a lot of added calories), cut in half with a protein such as chicken, turkey or peanut butter.
Small container of canned/drained garbonzo beans

 

[golfgal]

I take a lot of cut up veges, cheese, crackers, salami to work. I have an insulated "lunch" bag, I put in two water bottles that are half frozen/half water. I take one water bottle out to drink while working, the other stays in the bag until I eat. It works great, keeps everything cool enough.

 

[JessicaR]

Peanut butter stuffed celery. String cheese and mini bell cheese with wheat thins, raisins, nuts and dried fruits. Cliff and Luna bars. Almonds and apples. Granola bites and a banana.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Have you seen these new containers that have freezable lids? I got some recently. Very cool. They come in a package of 4. The pack is less than $5 at Wal-mart.

- I love Chiboni (sp) Greek yogurt. There are some really great new flavors like, black cherry, mango, and pineapple. I throw a handful of walnuts in the container and it fills me up. The Greek yogurt has a lot of protein in it (I know you can't have the walnuts). The protein is what will keep you full.
Anyway, those freezer containers I mentioned earlier would keep the yogurt cold.

- Hard boiled eggs

- Low fat cheese sticks

- Shelled and cooked edamamae

- As a pp mentioned, seeds are a good source of protein, like sunflower and pumpkin. I love them both (and nuts)

- low fat cottage cheese (with pineapple tidbits)

- Unsalted pretzels

- fruit and veggies (as a pp mentioned). I also like unsweetened applesauce and pineapple tidbits. They are both portable

- I love, love, love Pringles whole wheat baked cheese stix. They come in pre-packaged individual servings. They are in the chip aisle and they come in 3 or 4 flavors (Pizza is the only other one I can remember (but cheese is my favorite)

 

[OceanAnnie]

Peanut butter stuffed celery. String cheese and mini bell cheese with wheat thins, raisins, nuts and dried fruits. Cliff and Luna bars. Almonds and apples. Granola bites and a banana.

I second the Luna bars! They are soooo good! You can catch them on sale for .99 from time to time. I stock up and throw some in my purse. My favorites are, Blueberry Bliss, Lemon Zest, Iced Oatmeal. Lots of flavors to choose from. I look for ones that have a good amount of protein. Sometimes I just go for the flavor. The bonus is they have vitamins and minerals too.

http://www.lunabar.com/products/

 

[disfan07]

Thanks for the suggestions. As i mentioned in my OP, peanuts and tree nuts are not possible. I am severely allergic to peanuts, and we think I have developed a treenut allergy so neither are possible. Unfortunately, eggs are not possible either because I am allergic to those as well.

I'll have to look at the luna bars again. I vaguely remember looking at those and finding out they were unsafe for me becaus eof cross contamination issues with peanuts. But i'll definitley have to check again!

Have you seen these new containers that have freezable lids? I got some recently. Very cool. They come in a package of 4. The pack is less than $5 at Wal-mart.

I'll have to look for those. Taking greek yogurt in those like you mentioned would be great for days when I have doctors appts.

Greek yogurt and some fruit and veggies sounds like it would be perfect for doctors appts. They have a cafeteria which is actually pretty good but $10/week adds up for lunch and I don't always have time. But I can grab like 10 miniutes to just sit in the hospital courtyard and eat something I brought.

For school though, if I am able to find some safe bars like luna or cliff bars those along with some veggies would be the best. I like something I don't have to keep cold and can just throw into my purse because the less I have to carry around campus, the better!

 

[OceanAnnie]

Oh, lite popcorn is a good healthy snack too. If you have access to a microwave you can just carry a package and zap it when you are ready. I love lite popcorn. Very little calories and you can eat a lot of it.

 

[MoonFaerie]

These are yummy. I always keep a pack or 2 in my backpack. They have apple, mango, and pineapple, IIRC.
http://doledepot.com/store/dole-fruit-bites-real-apple-chunks-0-75-oz-6pk.html

 

[JessicaR]

OK so eliminate the Luna and Cliff bars as they are made in a factory with nuts.

The rest of the ideas sound great though!

 

[disfan07]

These are yummy. I always keep a pack or 2 in my backpack. They have apple, mango, and pineapple, IIRC.
http://doledepot.com/store/dole-fruit-bites-real-apple-chunks-0-75-oz-6pk.html

those sound really good! I haven't seen those before. Where in the grocery store do you usually find them?

 

[MoonFaerie]

those sound really good! I haven't seen those before. Where in the grocery store do you usually find them?

I've never looked for them anywhere but Kroger, but in our store, they're with the raisins. Also in the aisle is cookies and crackers. Hope that helps!

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

I second the Chobani yogurt. It's creamy and filling. Have a piece of fruit with it, and some crackers. I've been eating a yogurt and some taboule salad for lunch every day. The taboule is really tasty! You will need an insulated lunch bag though, especially as the weather warms. Kashi Go Lean Crunch bars are good too - they have protein and fiber, which will keep you full. Kashi granola bars are good too. Not sure if they could have nut cross contamination though.

 

[HeatherC]

I like to make a big thing of tabouli. I use the Near East one and add chopped cucumbers, carrots and black olives to it. Very yummy and healthy and can even go unrefrigerated for a few hours.

I also like the Atkins Double Chocolate Caramel Crunch Bars. But not sure about nuts.

Barilla Plus pasta is also good with diced veggies and a lowfat italian dressing.

 

[bellebud]

you could also carry a can of Ensure (or Slimfast)... depending on which you'd prefer. They can replace a meal in a pinch. Of course, real food is better, but sometimes you run out of choices.

If you'd consider carrying a small thermos, you could carry either hot or cold food (a salad, mac and cheese, soups, etc).

 

[java]

We package up bags of "serving size" portions of Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal. I am not sure if it's peanut free- but they have great labeling with allergans clearly labeled.

 

[minniecarousel]

* string cheese
* sliced apple
* bag of baby carrots
* a couple of "cuties" while they're still available

And I agree, if you can find a fiber/protein bar that meets your needs, that would be great.

 

[bigmerle1966]

I like something I don't have to keep cold and can just throw into my purse because the less I have to carry around campus, the better!

Depending on how big a purse you carry you could try finding a small insulated lunch sack that could fit in it and get a small freezer pack to put in it to keep things cool. Rubbermaid makes those little Blue Ice ones.

Or just put the freezer pack in a quart plastic bag with the snacks.

There are times when I have lots to carry in to work and I will hook one purse strap through my lunch bag straps.

 

[mamacatnv]

Gah, I feel so stupid, I don't know how I missed the whole sentence on no nuts.....

My DD likes the yogurt in a tube, I freeze it and it keeps her lunch cool and is perfect to eat anytime during the day.

I also buy the cooked chicken breast strips from Costco, they are Foster Farms here in the west. I keep them frozen then toss them into a baggie and into my purse good most of the day, they don't even defrost until early afternoon if kept in my leather purse.

Trader Joes also has guilt free tortilla chips, they are really yummy with hummus or taboli salad (I'm not a salsa fan)

Cold cuts & crackers

Every sunday I spend an hour or so in the kitchen, I weigh out portions of everything I've mentioned and baggie or small container it all. I chop the veggies, pack up grapes or berries et. Then for the rest of the week, I just grab and go. This has been a huge time saver and something I have made a habit out of.

DS is a college student, he has an insulated bag that looks like a lunch sack, it fold over on top and fits in his backpack no problem. I have bought him several and he just always keeps one full of goodies.

 

[disfan07]

We package up bags of "serving size" portions of Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal. I am not sure if it's peanut free- but they have great labeling with allergans clearly labeled.

I actually just looked it up. The cereals are actually safe. I'll have to add that to my shopping list for next week. Unfortunately, their kashi snack bars are not. I understand that peanuts and nuts are a great source of protein, I just wish all of these companies would figure out a way to make the non-nut flavors safe for people like me.

I mean...I can quaker chewy bars from Canada that are safe, but I can't get them here. it's frustrating!

I didn't even think of freezing stuff and just letting it defrost throughout the day. This is why I asked here....I was having a serious mental block with snacks