If you are like me, packing a lunch is often the last thing planned before running out the door. Sometimes I even skip it and opt to eat out, which is a new challenge all on its own. Here are a few items that I like to keep on hand to ensure the kids are fed, happy and healthy.

The first thing that I would like to note is that I pay special attention to sugars when packing these items. Kids are already stimulated simply by the new places and faces they encounter on the go. It is important that they are not also battling the sugar rush and subsequent crash. Managing your child’s diet is the easiest way to manage their moods and, to some extent, their behavior. Sugary foods are easier to get your child to eat, which is a problem we struggle with, so I don’t offer certain “On-The-Go” foods at home. This keeps the snack foods exciting and increases my success in actually getting the kids to eat them.

Fortunately, my kids do not have any diet restrictions, so I appreciate that that may require some modifications. I am not a “cut into shapes” or “plate it cute” type mom, but if you are, that can help get kids to eat too!

I keep two kinds of snacks. Perishables and Non-Perishables. The Perishable snacks live in the insulated pocket of the diaper bag or have more planned long outings. The non-perishables are always in a ziplock in either my purse or the diaper bag.

Perishables: Cheese, luncheon meat, Yogurt (opt for type with less sugar), fruit (cuties, grapes, berries), carrot sticks, and jello (sugar-free).

Non- perishables: peanut butter-filled pretzels, dehydrated fruit, dehydrated yogurt bites, nuts and seeds (shelled and light salt), seaweed, cheez-it crackers, gold fish, veggie straws.

Extra snacks for longer trips: Add water meals (oatmeal, mac 'n' cheese, wild grain rice, snack packs (lunchables, meat and cheese, pizza), cottage cheese (some have the fruit combo too).

I like to be mindful that I pack more of everything else than cracker/cookie types. This is an easy way to ensure that your kiddos get variety and also get certain slower-digesting foods.

I like to use cute containers for the nuts and seeds because that makes them more fun to eat. Getting kids to eat is not always about the food type, but also about how fun it is. I find that string cheese is more popular than square cheese and that baby bell cheese is even more exciting because of the wax packaging. I make all the snack packs at the same time. When I buy the snack items I keep them in a ziplock so I never need to spend much time searching. I keep all the snack perishables in the drawer with the bag salads covering the glass view so the kids don’t see them on an average day.

Hope this helps some moms plan a more well rounded to-go snack for the kiddos!