Snack time. It feels like I am always in the middle of making snacks, cleaning up after snack time, packing snacks for outings - and with active twin preschoolers and a busy life, I needed to find a way to make snack time easier while still making sure that I was feeding my family foods that I can feel good about. As my boys are becoming more independent, I also want to give them freedom to make more of their own food choices. A DIY Snack Station was an easy solution to make snack time easier and more fun for all of us!
But I also love it because it makes things so much easier for me! I can prepare several days' worth of snacks in advance and have them ready to serve or to pack in my bag when we are heading out. It definitely cuts down on the time that it takes us to get out the door - and gives us more time for fun.
Here's how to put together your own Snack Station and some of my favorite easy snack ideas for kids.
Start with a sturdy, clear plastic box that will fit on your refrigerator shelf. I used a chalk marker to label it as well. Grab your snacks (see my suggestions below) and some washable plastic containers. I love using these instead of plastic bags because they stack neatly, protect the food better, and are reusable. You can find lots of different sizes to make sure you are making serving sizes appropriate to your children's ages.
I clean and prepare all our produce in advance (I still slice grapes for my kids) and portion everything into single serving containers. Then just pop the tops on, pack up your box, and slide it into the refrigerator. Totally easy, and my boys can find exactly what they are looking for and help themselves!
You can also pack up a basket for items that don't need to be refrigerated. We keep one on a low shelf in the pantry so the kids can access it easily.
Wondering what to put in your Snack Station? Here's some of my favorite easy snacks for kids.
In the Refrigerator:
- Low fat cheese sticks
- Greek yogurt
- Edamame
- Cottage cheese
- Hard boiled eggs
- Hummus
- Fruit: grapes, berries, clementines, apple or pear slices, pineapple chunks, peach slices
- Vegetables: Carrot sticks, celery, zucchini sticks, snap peas, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes
In the Pantry:
- Nuts
- Low sugar cereal
- Granola bars
- Crackers
- Popcorn
- Fruit & veggie mixed snack pouches
- Raisins
- Mini rice cakes
- Peanut butter (or other nut butters if allergies are an issue)
I also make sure that we stock our snack station with Capri Sun Organic juice drink. My kids love the taste and I love the organic, simpler ingredients.
It's hard to strike a balance between what kids want to drink and what's good for them, so I'm glad the Capri Sun brand introduced Capri Sun Organic, a certified USDA organic juice drink that contains one serving of fruit.* With no added sugar and 100% of the recommended daily value of Vitamin C, it's a drink we can all agree on.
*Each pouch provides 1/2 cup fruit juice which is one serving of fruit according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.
Made with 66 percent fruit juice and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, Capri Sun Organic gives kids the taste they love and gives parents a wholesome drink option that they can feel good about serving. And the convenient pouch makes it a perfect choice for our snack station and to pack on the go!
We love our Snack Station, filled with Capri Sun Organic and my kids' favorite snacks that I feel good about serving too. It's made snack time easy for me and fun for them while we're still making healthy choices. Win win!
What's your favorite easy snack for kids? Leave a comment below or message me on Facebook and let me know!
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