Snacks - what do you buy for the kids?

[disneydreamersx4]

I buy these items at Costco and we share them with DD's friends: popcorn, Pepperidge Farm goldfish crackers, Fiber One bars, Peanut Butter bars - bought these for me because I don't like the Fiber One bars but now the kids and their friends like them too so I'm going to stop buying the Fiber one bars, Craisins

I always have apples, bananas, sometimes a watermelon, slices of american cheese, I forgot yogurt

and we usually have one or two cartons of ice cream on hand

Do you think I buy too many snacks?

 

[VAfamily1998]

My kids typically snack on
fresh fruits/veggies,
yogurt,
cheese (they like cheddar, Dubliner, and Parano best),
air popped popcorn
almonds
Hummus and pita chips

 

[redlawyer]

My kids eat pretzels, apples, pears, grapes, raisins, oatmeal snack bars, ants on a log and fruit loops! I know, I know. They aren't allowed to eat it for breakfast, but I compromise in letting them eat it as a snack.

 

[huffjoann]

I am not the healthiest mom around but mine loves rice krispie treats,, and they seem to do well tossed into a backpack to take to the park too

 

[charming23]

My 11 year old cousin spends a lot of time at our house in the summer and he loves:

popcorn
granola bars
pretzels
tortillia chips and salsa
homemade chocolate chip cookies
apple slices
orange slices
yougurt (goGurts in particular)
bananas

 

[*BTMRR*]

String cheese, apples/bananas/oranges/carrot sticks, chips with salsa, popcorn, ham sliced thin and rolled up with cream cheese, crackers with slices of cheese, dry cereal, ice cream, peanut butter sandwiches, and, lately, LOTS AND LOTS of popsicles.

 

[neatokimmo]

Popcorn, bananas and grapes are our main three. Sugar cereal is also eaten as a snack instead of for breakfast.

 

[Swimalie]

Our biggest snack - blueberries! We go through a pint a day between my son and I. I can't wait until my blueberry bushes start producing more.

 

[sameyeyam]

Your question of "do you think I buy too many snacks" is a hard one.

I think you need to ask your self a couple of questions:

1. Is anybody in your family overweight? If so, then you are probably eating too many snacks and not getting enough physical activity.

2. Are your main meals healthy & include lots of fruit & veggies? Does the family eat their entire meal and act hungry when they come to the table? If the answers are yes, then you are probably not eating too many snacks.

My gut feeling is if you are asking this question then you are starting to think that maybe your family is snacking too much. Try cutting back and focusing more on daily meals and see what happens. Believe it or not our kids won't starve to death if they don't get snacks. Not only that they might quit being such picky eaters and actually eat more healthy foods at dinner.

 

[PHXscuba]

I'm not sure if your question is, "Are my kids eating/demanding too many snacks?" or "Am I too generous with the snacks for all my DD's friends?"

If it's about feeding the neighborhood and feeling like the local buffet, I don't think you have to provide an endless variety of snack food. A few feeds-a-crowd snacks like popcorn or Popsicles can go a long way.

PHXscuba

 

[disneydreamersx4]

So, my kids eat healthy at meals but I think I will do better with getting them to eat more fruit and veggies for snacks. I also think I will switch snacks for the friends to popcorn and popsicles

 

[r4blessings]

I am trying to figure out some new budget "crowd" snacks too! Typically my kids have a friend or two over several times a week to swim and play. Its fine by me, I actually prefer they play here, but in the cooler months I bake snacks for them....cookies, muffins, brownies, cake or cupcakes. But with the hot temps now I don't want to turn on the oven.

I feed my kids healthy snacks for the most part, but can't afford to feed a bunch of 12 year old boys the good stuff!

Popcorn, pretzels, watermelon, veggies and dip are things I have been doing, but looking for new ideas! After swimming and playing lax for a few hours they are HUNGRY!

 

[quandrea]

I always bring this snack mix. One package of peanut or plain m &ms, 1 cup dried pineapple, chopped, 2 cups of Chex, 2 cups of mixed nuts, 1 cup of mini pretzels, 1 cup dried apricots, sliced, 1 cup of yogurt covered raisins. This keeps the whole week and everyone loves it. High in protein, lots of fruit and whole grain. Keeps you going all day.