Stocking up on snacks can be an expensive affair if you simply let marketing and colourful displays guide your choices.
I don’t know about you but my kid is a serious snacker. Sometimes whole meals are abandoned in favour of grazing throughout the day.
I’ve come to learn that a plentiful supply of different snacks is a total necessity in our home. Having a variety of snack options also makes life easier when you are heading out for the day.
I don’t even attempt to run errands or go on a car-ride without throwing a couple of snacks into my handbag. They are the perfect remedy for a brewing tantrum and excellent bribery for when the errands are “boring” in nature for children.
We like to mix up our snacks to keep things interesting. I like to have at least five or six different options available at any one time. Children are fickle little creatures and what they loved yesterday they might loath today.
Stocking up on snacks can be an expensive affair if you simply let marketing and colourful displays guide your choices. I’ve put together the following list of our favourite shop bought snacks that also happen to be really good value (and pretty healthy too).
1. Large packets of brioche rolls. You can get plain or chocolate flavour and the majority of brands have them individually packaged. Not ideal for the environment but definitely handy to be able to throw in your handbag without needing to fetch a lunch box or tin foil. These are as cheap as 80-90 cent for a large packet and are readily available in all supermarkets.
2. Mini packets of raisins. I pick these up in Dealz, Aldi or Lidl for cheaper than a two litre of milk and they are super handy. We throw them into porridge and offer as a little treat/snack. They encourage fine motor skills as your child can hold the packet and take them out one by one as they enjoy them.
3. Frozen fruit. We are massive fruit fans but we literally go through a punnet a day at the very least. I’ve started buying frozen bags of Mango and Pineapple which are so much cheaper. I add a handful of the fruit to a lunch box the night before and by morning they have defrosted and are ready to snack on straight from the fridge.
4. Popcorn multi-packs. I pick these up super cheap from Aldi/Lidl and find that they are worth their weight in gold. I transfer to a little bowl and give them to my son when he is watching TV. It’s a great distraction and a healthy snack for him to enjoy while I get some chores around the house done.
5. Mini Cheddars/Ritz. These little cheesy crackers are great snacks and I always see them in Dealz and Mr Price. They come in a variety of different sizes and via different brands and are a big hit. You can pick up a multi-pack which has individual mini-packets or a larger box which you can ration out yourself.
6. Frube style yoghurt. They can be messy but they don’t require a spoon or much work from me and they often give me just enough time to make a cup of coffee or stick on a wash. They are also really good value as you’ll always find one brand on offer for as little as €1.50.
7. Grapes. An absolute staple in our house. We love them straight from the fridge or frozen as a treat on a hot day! My son is almost five and I still cut them to avoid choking because you can never be too careful. It only takes a couple of seconds.
8. Rice cakes. Yoghurt covered, chocolate covered or plain with some added jam or peanut butter – these are a great cheap snack for any time of the day.
Tracey is a happy mammy to four-year-old Billy. She is a breastfeeder, gentle parent and has recently lost five stone so healthy family eating is her passion! You can find her at www.loveofliving.ie.