Summer Snacks Sports Cooler/bag ideas

[threecrazykids]

Ok, I know all you parents of kids who are in sports suffer the same demise I do...the dreaded "concession stand drain" on the budget. I need some ideas of what to pack in my summer bag to keep my kids away from it!

I know winter sports are different, but I really mostly only have this problem in the summer when it comes to multiple trips to the concession stand.

I usually pack a cooler/bag of drinks/food that typically includes:
(note I don't bring ALL of this to every game, just a mix of different items)
fresh fruit
cheese sticks
licorice
water
maybe a couple small kid sodas (those little tiny 1/2 cans are enough for 2 of my kids to share 1).
bread/turkey/cheese
thermos with hot dogs/boiling water
sunflower seeds

What do YOU bring in your sport snack bags? There has to be some more ideas on how to prevent spending $10/day at these games!
We have games on average at least 3 nights a week so please help!

 

[KiKi Mouse]

Soccer family here....

I already put some boxed snacks in. I usually bring fruit, cheese/crackers.

How do you do the hot dogs? I may try that!

 

[tink_lover]

Ok, I know all you parents of kids who are in sports suffer the same demise I do...the dreaded "concession stand drain" on the budget. I need some ideas of what to pack in my summer bag to keep my kids away from it!

I know winter sports are different, but I really mostly only have this problem in the summer when it comes to multiple trips to the concession stand.

I usually pack a cooler/bag of drinks/food that typically includes:
(note I don't bring ALL of this to every game, just a mix of different items)
fresh fruit
cheese sticks
licorice
water
maybe a couple small kid sodas (those little tiny 1/2 cans are enough for 2 of my kids to share 1).
bread/turkey/cheese
thermos with hot dogs/boiling water
sunflower seeds

What do YOU bring in your sport snack bags? There has to be some more ideas on how to prevent spending $10/day at these games!
We have games on average at least 3 nights a week so please help!

With all the stuff you are already bringing - what are they going to the concession stand for? Is it something sweet? So, maybe add some M&Ms to the bag. This morning for 2 soccer games (spread out so we were there a total of 4 hours) I brought cheese cubes, G2, water, rice crispy bars, fruit snacks, cheese-it type crackers, capri pouches, skittles and oranges. No need for concession snacks for us (even though it is right there). Do you preface going there with "no concessions today"? I set the expectation with my kids right when we get there to not even ask so they know ahead of time what the answer is going to be. Of course, once or twice, as a treat, I will give them some $$ and let them buy treats there.

 

[HeatherC]

With 3 kids playing soccer and baseball, we are the field almost every night and Sat. mornings.

I usually keep mixed nuts in the car along with some FiberPlus Chocolate Granola bars. They love them and it keeps them full so they aren't asking for junk from the snack shack.

I'm also pretty good about having dinner ready for them the minute we get home thanks to that handy dandy crockpot.

They also love cold fried chicken.

 

[Mic]

I am afraid to even guess how much money I have spent the last 16 years at my childrens' sporting events and games. All four kids played some type of sport year-round, and at lest one sport for a season each year. The parents here take turns providing snacks for the team/squad each week, and some of the most popular things are: grapes, frozen are even better
cheese sticks
apples
bananas
pretzels
cheese or peanut butter crackers
Gripz snacks
Prepackaged or homemade trail mix(this is the most popular snack. I made mine with chex, small pretzels, pretzel rods, raisins, cheese sticks, and M&M's.
Bottled water
Gatorade
Capri-Suns(frozen)
Small juice bottles(100% juice-usually apple)

For those of us in the stands, I've seen a few parents pack sandwiches, fruit, even beanie weanies(one 5-year-old is a big fan). A few stop and pick up something from places like Subway on their way from work. Drinks are lots of different things...the concession stand charges $1 for canned soda and $2 for bottled water. I tried organizing a snack group of parents in the stands, where we take turns packing for us like we do for the team, but that never went over well.

 

[mommycrawford]

Right now on Amazon in the sales and specials grocery, there are bags of nuts and fruit mixes that are like 12 for $13 but with the coupon offered and sub&save, come out to $9 a dozen....I bought pistachio packs and toffee peanut packs...plus izzies are on sale too: all juice and carbonation!

 

[Pixieflip]

Walmart has these cute soft plastic baskets that are 2 for $2. I bought some to use as a pantry in our vans' trunks! I keep the pantry stocked with snack sized treats that won't melt (pretzels, peanuts, Teddy Grahams, crackers, etc). The rule is one, MAYBE two, snacks per game, 3 max if it's a double header. That takes so much stress out of walking out the door and making sure everyone has food to take so they don't STARVE. I do NOT buy concession stand food! So they think they'll starve! Sometimes we bring fresh fruit or cheese sticks in a cooler, but it's so easy to pack just that and not everything else.

 

[MandM-Mom]

Wow, thats alot of snacks...we want to be on your team We bring drinks, G2 and bottled water but we give the girls a one snack limit(aprox. $2) from the snack bar or we could go bankrupt to our local little league....our snack bar is really reasonable so I don't mind, but if we are there more than one game in a row or back again later for another I pack some snacks, if its an away game we pack a lunch to eat before the ride home.

The snack box in the van is a great idea, I may put one together for our van...we are always on the run Thank You for the great ideas on different snack ideas!

 

[disluhypno]

Your current list already looks pretty good. Most of it isn't as heavily processed as some snacks I have seen parents give their children--potato chips, Gatorade, lunchables, crackers, candy, etc.

Sticking to the fresh fruit is a big one, because if they are playing or doing strenuous work outside, they are going to need to replenish their bodies with electrolytes--bananas are extremely high in electrolytes because of the potassium. In fact, bananas have more potassium than a bottle of Gatorade (plus much less sugar, meaning no sugar crashes!). The good carbohydrates found in the fruit and the fresh vegetables will also give them energy for their muscles.

I like the sunflower seeds idea--I love them. I also love walnuts and almonds. These are two super nuts, especially the walnuts which contain an amazing amount of omega 3 fatty acids, something a lot of us (especially children these days) are deficient in. I always soak my seeds and my nuts in order to make them easier for the body to digest and assimilate the nutrients, however it isn't completely necessary. The protein and fat found in nuts and seeds will provide some serious energy for your children, as long as the consumption isn't over done (moderation, in other words--however kids tend to listen to their bodies more than adults, especially if they are eating a good, balanced diet).

Cheese and turkey are good sources of protein as well. Raw organic cheese is sold in many supermarkets, and it is an excellent source of calcium, protein and Vitamin K--plus it's raw, meaning all enzymes and vitamins are totally in tact and will contribute to better assimilation (pasteurization leads to denaturing of a lot of important nutrients).

I'm not necessarily a fan of many grain products, but if you do bring crackers, whole grain ones will be best. Even better, bake your own the night before, if time permits. This way you will know exactly what your kids are putting inside their bodies.

Almost forgot about the most important thing--water! Water is an amazing and essential nutrient that we all need in order to survive, including when we are exercising, playing or working out (especially in heat). Hydration should be emphasized before eating, I believe. We can go weeks without food, but only a few a days without water. Water influences all the major (and minor) functions of the body, and it is absolutely vital for pristine health. You could try adding a twist to it by adding lemon or lime juice, with a dash of Stevia to make it sweet.

Hopefully these suggestions have been useful, and please tell us what you do decide on putting into your snacks!

 

[heatherwillmom]

Along with bottles of water, we bring the small flavor packets. I get the sugar-free ones from Crystal light. Many of then have vitamin C as well. The small packs of nuts are great because they stay fresher. We get the small packs of dried fruit sometimes for a change. We also get the packages of apples that are already sliced.

 

[threecrazykids]

All you have to do is drop however many hot dogs you need into a thermos and then I just microwave water to boiling (about 4-5 mins) and then just pour it into the thermos! They will stay hot several hours!

I bought a large thermos years ago for camping and we do this when we go out on the boat fishing too!

 

[threecrazykids]

With all the stuff you are already bringing - what are they going to the concession stand for? Is it something sweet?

Yes! That sweet candy crap that at "only a quarter" for a ring pop will rob me of my life savings over the course of the summer.

Really they don't go THAT often, maybe once a week I'll give them either a quarter or 0.50 and tell them before hand that is all they get.

And I do have to set that precedence like you do as well about not getting anything.

I am just looking for some other ideas of what to pack really. Last year I think there was a huge thread about this same type of question. Can't find it, but there were people talking about bringing cold chicken legs they'd cooked the night before (bbq) and several other cool ideas!

 

[threecrazykids]

Wow, thats alot of snacks...we want to be on your team We bring drinks, G2 and bottled water but we give the girls a one snack limit(aprox. $2) from the snack bar or we could go bankrupt to our local little league....our snack bar is really reasonable so I don't mind, but if we are there more than one game in a row or back again later for another I pack some snacks, if its an away game we pack a lunch to eat before the ride home.

The snack box in the van is a great idea, I may put one together for our van...we are always on the run Thank You for the great ideas on different snack ideas!

This is just the cooler I pack for my other 2 kids to snack on while we're at the game, not for the team. And I don't pack ALL of this every time...just a couple things for each game. I was just listing out different things I've brought.

I was just trying to find some NEW ideas of what to pack in the cooler/bag.

 

[tjmw2727]

This is just the cooler I pack for my other 2 kids to snack on while we're at the game, not for the team. And I don't pack ALL of this every time...just a couple things for each game. I was just listing out different things I've brought.

I was just trying to find some NEW ideas of what to pack in the cooler/bag.

Are they bored?

I too was wondering if the snacks were for the players or spectators. One thing I found was that when my kids were watching and not playing they wanted snacks and to walk to the concession to have something else to do - a little bored.

I did a couple things, set the rules on concession purchases, usually none with mabye an ice cream on Fridays, whatever you deem appropriate. The kids eached picked their own snack - or two depending on the length and time of the activity. This way they can't complain as they picked it. Then I put in some fruit and water and off we go. If you want to feed them dinner while at the activity any picnic dinner will do. Cold fried chicken, cold pasta salads - look up picnic dinners on food network for some great ideas

My snacks are the usual, rice cakes, pretzels, goldfish, whatever is on sale in the big box and then poured into reusable snack size containers. I also do string cheesse, nutilla on vanilla wafers, carrots, or celery & dip, pickles, granola bars, etc.

I found the busier I kept the kids who wern't playing the less they snack. If you help me keep score then after x# of innings I will walk you over to the playground or we go to a clear area to play tag. Bring a camera and have them be the photographer - we get some GREAT shots that way. When they were younger I would bring activities - bubbles, figurines etc and just play with them in addition to watching the game.

If they really do like getting the ring pops then perhaps have them earn their own spending money. This could be a learning experience, earning the money and deciding when to spend it. You could limit the purchases to x# of times per week. Then at the game it can use up a bit of time Walking to the stand, checking their $, purchasing the lollypop and counting up their change, walking back to the chairs and then enjoying your treat !

Have fun!

 

[hsmamato2]

thanks for reminding me to keep a snack shack in my car! we don't do sprots,but the other day I fed my kids a hearty lunch,then went to a museum foolishly assuming they'd be fine (they are NOT little)
within 2 hours they were assaulting me with starvation pleas for the cafe.....unbelieveable! from now on I'm keeping snacks in the car!

 

[KiKi Mouse]

Our "snack shack" is for our 3 y/o during games when we are watching her older sister. After the game big big sister eats. We often have the snack cooler in the back of the van when we go out because it seems like whenever we leave the house the "I'm hungry" starts up.

One thing that I need to do is pack rain gear and cold weather gear to have in there too. Watched a game the other day in the cold pouring rain in my winter jacket that is not water proof. I was the only moron there without an umbrella so I have to find ours.

Good thread, thanks for the ideas.