When Hunger Strikes, Strike Back!

You’ve left your house for work, errands, or appointments, but you’ve forgotten about an important part of your day—feeding yourself! You’re out later than planned, or in the carpool line waiting for the kids—and your stomach growls: a reminder that you are not only hungry and without a snack or meal, but more so without anything for your children, who without food, turn into monsters like Gremlins when wet. Any of these scenarios sound like your day to day? Me too. In situations like these, most of us find our hangry selves running to the nearest fast food, coffee joint or convenience store for something quick, easy, and satisfying. But what if I told you there are options? What about something nutritious, within your budget, and simple, without even having to even think about it in your time of need?  Here’s where being prepared with easy, nutrient-dense on-the-go food is critical for adequately fueling yourself, and on top of that, being the snack hero with your children.

Be prepared! Yes, being prepared means you prepare ahead of time, before the time you find yourself eager to scarf down anything you see (see Set Yourself up for Success in the blog). Having things in your car, bag, purse, desk, office, etc. will keep you from becoming an out-of-control inhaler of the nearest object, like eating an entire sleeve of store-bought cookies during the post-lunch dip (guilty—this is me during Girl Scout cookie, especially when I was classroom teaching). Maybe this is an acceptable practice during the Girl Scout Cookie time of year, but an unacceptable consistent habit for all the reasons I probably don’t need to explain to you. Here are a few applicable, doable, positive habits that have worked, and continue to work for me and my family:

• Think: good protein, good fat, fiber, and hydration. Eating good protein, good fats and fiber not only add to your overall health, but eating these components in your food will help keep you fuller longer. Plus, will help keep your blood sugar from spiking, causing a crash shortly thereafter—ain’t nobody got time for a sugar crash! Nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, pistachios and pecans are delicious, and versatile. Seeds, such as pumpkin seeds (aka pepitas) and sunflower seeds, are also nutritious, and full of texture, which adds another level of flavor to mixes. Make a homemade mix of nuts and seeds, and include dried fruit, if you wish. Watch out for dried that is fruit high in sugar and corn syrup. Dried fruit naturally has sugar, but steer clear from “added sugar”, as the amount of sugar added is exceedingly too much and unnecessary. Get creative outside of cranberries and raisins! Try dried blueberries, cherries, apricots and figs! If you’re a chocolate lover, throw a small scoop of chocolate chips in your mix, such as The Good Life unsweetened dark chocolate chips.

• Buy: items in bulk so you can bag your own instead of purchasing pre-packaged. Buying the pre-packaged and pre-portioned snacks like pretzels, nuts, cheese crackers, etc. is absolutely convenient, but absolutely unnecessary. You’ll typically spend more money and have less in the individual bags.

• How to store: for your car, office or desk – consider getting a container specifically for holding your snacks, whether it be a plastic container with a snap-on lid, wood or wire basket, or some sort of bag, having something consistent will become a no brainer when it’s time to refill. We keep our snacks in a variety of bins: plastic, snap-top bins, small wire baskets, and small canvas tote bags. The benefit of plastic snap-top bins are that the snacks will not be crushed, and they’ll stay fresh and organized. The downfall is they can be bulky, not easily fit into bags, backpacks, etc., and they’re plastic, so if buying and/or using plastic isn’t your thing, see table below for my favorite options. If you want more information on eco-friendly packaging and what’s best for food: 5 Eco-friendly food packaging options: glass containers, stainless steel, bamboo, rice husk, gelatin films (www.healthline.com 🡪 nutrition) 

• Ahead of time: Take your time on the weekend (or whenever you prep) to put the food in its space, whether you decide to put snacks in individual containers so everyone has their own, or in larger, bulk containers. You can use small sandwich baggies, to-go or freezer containers you already have, or eco-friendly packaging such as cloth bags, paper bags, and reusable beeswax. Making a bag or filling bulk containers for the week can take up to 30 minutes, but you can even recruit your children to get in on the action, giving them a task to suit their abilities. Make an assembly line and invite your children to help, allowing them to be involved. They will learn something new, be a part in making their own snack (if you’re making snacks for them as well), and contribute to the family chores, if you will. Hear me when I say it will be worth it in the long run. Whether you are using the prepackaged snacks, or the ones you create, you can create a manageable system for everyone. Not only will your children most likely enjoy this because they are helping and spending time with you, you’re teaching them an invaluable lesson on preparation and independence. Another bonus? It could take something off your to-do list. If your children are old enough, make refilling their own containers part of their chores, therefore eliminating it as your task.

Brand	Price	Functionality & Design	Eco Impact / Materials Used	Personal Favorites	Pro	Con
Ikea	Ranging from .99 to about $14.99 depending on size	Many functions, designs, and uses for each product (baskets, containers with lids, containers with flip-top lids, coming in all sizes, shapes, and some different colors	Working hard to change all plastic used to renewable plastic or recycled materials by 2030	Risatorp Wire Basket – $12.99: great for grab and go with a wire basket and wood handle, plus it’s cute! Kuggis Box with lid – $3.99: good size (7 x 10 inch), has lid, and comes in different colors	So many options! Sizes, colors, and function galore, and the prices are fantastic!	Mostly plastic used, and not the highest quality; not all pieces ship and Ikeas aren’t everywhere
IDesign	Ranging from $18.99-38.99 depending on function, size and material	Chic, functional pieces designed specifically for snacks/food in the pantry	Offers plastic, wood, bamboo, and metal options; from what I read on the website, has a passion for “restoring nature’s order” and has sustainability statements within homepage	EcoWood Natural Paulownia wood storage bins with handles (3 sizes) – $27.99 and $29.99 and $34.99 Kitchen Binz Stackable Box (2 sizes) – $18.99 and $19.99	Simple, yet lovely and well-made	Can be pricey, and many of the products I searched were sold out at the time
Tupperware	Ranging from $5.00-$339.00 (an 18-piece set); most pieces from $10-30	Great functionality for storing bulk snacks, many different sizes and varieties	High-quality plastic, environmentally friendly products that come in some colors, with modern look; support national parks and believe in “preserving the planet”	*Modular Mates square 2: $19.00, Modular Mates rectangle 2: $21.00 *the Modular Mates series comes in many shapes and sizes, and can be bought as a set	Quality, environmentally friendly reusable products; with it being a direct sales company, you support someone’s business individually	Cannot be purchased in stores or direct from manufacturer; if plastic isn’t your thing, this may not be your thing

All of the products listed above are shippable! Like many, I am a big fan of anything that can be brought to my door. If you prefer shopping in-person, or something from the more traditional route, hit up the popular Target, Wal-Mart, or stores like Crate & Barrel, The Container Store, and Bed, Bath & Beyond.  

We all know it, but being prepared can be difficult to get a head of, although we love to reap the benefits. Not only will you feel successful, you will most likely feel less stressed. And the best part?!  Your hunger will be satisfied, at least until next time!