Here at our house we have the snack box. In the car we have the snack bag. It is my attempt at finding an easy way for the kids to access a variety of snacks in the house and to cut down on expenditures while out and about. It has been working for over a year now and it has saved us time as well as money!
I have everything from trail mix to granola bars to applesauce to pudding in it. When the kids want a snack, they still have to ask, but if it’s not too close to dinner, they can have their choice! I keep it in the lower cupboard where it is easily accessible to the kids. Cookies and gummies are kept up high and out of reach so that we have something resembling control over the junkiest of the snacks.
I also keep a snack bag in the car. I try to keep one or two things in it that are not in the box in the house. And obviously, nothing in it that requires a spoon or fork ;) I do however often toss a small lunchbox size cooler of juice pouches in the trunk if I know we are going to be gone from the house for an extended period.
So, how do I keep these ideas from “going stale”. If you’ve been with me for very long, you have seen the variety of items I buy and know that sales go in cycles. The contents of the snack box/bag follow the sales. My kids have been raised with my deal shopping ways and know that the sale will come around again for the item they love. The fact that they have a choice in what they pick each time also helps.
(Thanks Sarah!)
Marleah says
We also have a snack box at home and it makes packing lunches in the morning super fast. Then there’s a lunch drawer in the fridge, just grab a few things from the fridge and the box, make a sandwich, lunch packed in under 2 minutes!