Are you tired of eating junk? Trade your pre-packaged foods for these dietitian-approved easy snacks for busy moms
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
No matter what stage of motherhood you happen to be in, you’re busy! Diapering babies, toddler meltdowns, or school-aged activities in addition to basic laundry, cooking, and cleaning can be exhausting. Sometimes the only snack you remember to grab in a day is a half-eaten granola bar you found left on the kitchen table from one of the kids. If you want to set yourself up for success and make some positive changes to your snacking, here are some easy ideas!
1. Fresh Fruit
Fruit is one of the easiest whole foods you can eat. Most fruits travel well in lunch boxes and are easy to store at home. The most important part of snacking on fruit is prepping the fruit ahead. Peel, cut or wash your fruit beforehand so it’s easy to grab and go! The only way I’m ever going to eat grapes is if I take them off the stem, wash them, and put them in the fridge for later first! Take time to make a grab-and-go snack work better for you! If you’re trying to keep costs low, try apples, bananas, and seasonal fruits on sale. I find that Aldi usually has the best prices on produce but their produce does seem to go bad sooner.
2. Dried Fruit
Dried fruit is a fantastic snack for traveling or grabbing quickly! The downside is that fruit gets smaller when it is dried but its natural sugars are still present so it’s easy to accidentally eat more sugar than you mean to if you eat large handfuls. Some dried fruits like craisins also have added sugars to make them less sour. Either way, dried fruit is a quick and easy snack in small amounts. I like to keep dried mangos from Sam’s Club in my car!
3. Cut Veggies
Like fruit, fresh-cut veggies are another of the great snacks for busy moms. Veggies like carrots, bell peppers, or celery are great stand-alone snacks but can be even more filling and flavorful with hummus. Again, like the fruit the most important part of making the veggies an easy snack is washing and cutting them before you want them!
4. Cheese and Crackers
Cheese and crackers are a classic combo. Pair your favorite cheese with your favorite cracker and you’ve got an easy snack to eat alone or with the kids! Usually, the cheapest way to buy cheese is in a brick. I like to cut my brick of cheese up on the day I buy it and then keep it in an airtight container in the fridge to make eating as easy as possible for later!
5. Cheese Sticks
Cheese sticks are one of the easiest snacks for busy moms on the go! They fit great into a purse or pocket for some grab-and-go protein. I find that there are lots of different textures to cheese sticks so try experimenting with different brands if you don’t like the moisture content of the first ones you try. If you like a name-brand best, you can often find money-back deals on Ibotta!
6. Granola
Granola is a great grab-and-go snack. If you’re looking for healthy granola bars, try to choose one without chocolate or other added treats inside. Something with plain and simple ingredients is best. Loose granola clusters are another great choice. There are tons of varieties to choose from in the cereal section of your local grocery store but you’d be surprised at how easy it is to make your own granola at home!
7. Hard Boiled Eggs
Okay, this one may not be everyone’s cup of tea but they sell hard-boiled eggs prepared and shelled at the grocery store and gas stations so I’m guessing more people like them than are willing to admit! Hard-boiled eggs are easy snacks for busy moms because they are easy to prep and full of protein! You can easily make hard-boiled eggs on the stovetop in about 15 minutes but I’ve found the best way to make easy-to-peel eggs is in the Instapot! I like to write the date the eggs were boiled with a pencil on the eggshells. This also helps differentiate the hard-boiled eggs from the regular ones.
8. Popcorn
Popcorn as a health food? Hear me out. Popcorn on its own is a great source of whole grain and fiber. Air popped is the healthiest because it doesn’t have the extra oil but microwavable popcorn is often easier to bring to the office as a snack for a working mom like yourself!
Types of Popcorn:
- Electric Air Popper: Electric Air Poppers are great if you’re planning on eating a lot of popcorn at home. Popcorn kernels are relatively cheap for a big bag. Choose this option only if you have space in your kitchen to store another appliance.
- Pre-popped Popcorn: Pre-popped air-popped popcorn comes in a large bag like chips. This would be a good option if you aren’t committed to popcorn yet but want to give it a try! Since it’s pre-popped it’s a quick snack on a busy day.
- Microwaveable Popcorn: This option usually has the most added butter and sodium but it can still be a fun pick-me-up midday snack and certainly one of the easiest snacks for busy moms. When choosing a microwaveable popcorn, try to find one with less butter and flavoring.
9. Chia Pudding
Chia pudding has quickly become one of my favorite go-to snacks this year. It takes minimal work to make but does take some planning ahead since it needs to sit for 12 or more hours before eating. There are tons of chia pudding recipes just a Google search away but I’ll give you the base recipe here.
How to Make Chia Seed Pudding Base:
- Mix 1/2 a cup of milk with 2.5 Tbsps of whole chia seeds (ground chia seeds do not produce the right consistency)
- Let your mixture sit for 5 minutes
- After 5 minutes stir your mixture again to ensure there are no clumps
- Place your mixture in the fridge and let it set for 12 hours or more. Chia pudding can last in the fridge for up to 5 days
What’s great about this recipe is that chia seed pudding is super customizable! Most recipes add a sweetener like sugar or honey and add toppings like coconut flakes, or fresh fruit. It’s also a pretty universal recipe meaning you can use whatever kind of milk you already have. I think it tastes best with almond milk but because I have a toddler at home I usually have 2% cow’s milk on hand.
10. Nuts
Nuts can be a more expensive snack depending on what variety you like but they’re a fantastic source of protein and easy to eat. You’ll find the best deal per ounce if you buy a larger container and portion it out yourself but they do make smaller containers to keep in your purse, gym bag, or desk drawer for quick snacking! Like granola, look for simple ingredients to find the healthiest option and avoid highly salted flavored nuts.
11. Yogurt
Yogurt is another one of the best easy snacks for busy moms. There are SO many types of yogurt to choose from but the best yogurt is the yogurt you’re actually going to eat. Greek yogurt has more protein than regular yogurt but if you don’t like the texture of Greek yogurt, don’t waste your money! If you’re looking for the healthiest yogurt, choose one that has limited added sugars like Chobani Zero Sugar.
Typically it’s cheaper to buy a large container of yogurt. If you want to bring yogurt out of the house to a sports tournament or school pickup, consider packaging the yogurt into a smaller container yourself. Fresh fruits, nuts, and granola are great additions to yogurt and can add more flavor especially if you choose a low-sugar variety.
12. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is so much like yogurt it’s almost cheating to add but most people don’t think about this as a snack. Add fresh fruit, granola, and other flavorings to cottage cheese, or eat it plain! Like yogurt, you’ll get the best deal per ounce if you buy a larger tub of plain cottage cheese than pre-flavored or individually packaged cups. Remember, if you don’t eat the whole tub, you’re losing money by throwing it away. Choose the option you think will be most realistic for you to eat!
What other easy snacks have you found for busy moms like yourself? Let me(and everyone else reading this for ideas) know in the comments below!
You Might Also Like: