Did someone say Road Trip?! Summer half term is about to hit with many of us squashing into the car with kids, luggage, electronic devices and snacks-a-plenty… but how do you avoid eating junk the whole way?
It’s so tempting just to buy mega huge packets of crisps and share-bags of chocolate, but it’s not great for anyone’s health sitting still for hours while filling your face with large amounts of junk. There’s also the motorway service stations to contend with – super expensive and not always the healthiest of options. You stop for a quick wee, only to be drawn into a heated discussion with the kids about why they can’t have a McDonald’s or a hot chocolate with all the trimmings from Costa.
So what healthy snacks ideas are there for surviving long journeys with kids? I’m been asked to share my ideas with you as part of the Organix #NoJunkJourney so here you go….
Healthy snack ideas for long journeys with kids
- Pack each child up with their own set of snacks so you don’t have to keep turning around in your seat.
- Bento Box style containers are great as it’s all contained in one place, but you can have different compartments for different snacks. It’s a really simple way of making sure you’re covering all the food groups too – bit of veg, bit of fruit, bit of protein, bit of complex carbs, bit of calcium PLUS a little treat – booooom!
- My kids are really happy to munch on raw veggies, so I always include some sticks of carrot, cucumber and pepper in their packed lunches.
- Savoury ideas we love on journeys that aren’t boring butties – veggie sausage flatbreads, cheese and pesto wraps, cheese and crackers, home-made sausage rolls, chicken legs, pizza swirls, pesto pasta with peas and broccoli in a flask and mini quiches.
- Prepare fruit so it’s easier for them to eat – chunks of mango, a peeled satsuma or slices of apple sprayed with a little lemon juice so it doesn’t go brown.
- I love putting some frozen berries into yogurt as a little dessert for Sam.
- Organix have a lush new set of snacks that they’ve recently added to their range. Organix Goodies cheesey pea snaps and Organix Goodies cheese and lentil hoops make great dippers for a bit of hummus or tzatziki and are a healthy alternative to crisps.
- There’s also a range of Organix Goodies Fruit & Seed Bites which are quite time consuming to eat – perfect way to kill a bit of time in the car!
Simple Healthy Food Swaps
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN!
What kind of food do you pack for your kids on long journeys? Do you take all your own stuff or buy stuff at the Motorway Services – if so do you feel like there’s a healthy enough selection for your family? Join the debate, share your views, take photos of your car snacks and share them with #FoodYouCanTrust.
What is the Organix No Junk Journey?
Organix is committed to setting standards in its foods, never adding anything unnecessary, and providing parents with peace of mind through the Organix No Junk Promise. From paying close attention to food labelling, to making sure that children have a clear understanding about the food they eat, and of course minimising the amount of junk in their diets. Organix makes weaning and finger foods to help little ones discover new shapes, textures and tastes in the early stages of their development, and a range of Goodies toddler foods that help make exploring all kinds of food fun, safe and enjoyable as children grow up.
You can find out more about why I joined the campaign in my blog post – Why I’ve Joined the Organix No Junk Journey
Disclosure: This is part of a series of partnered posts I’m working on with Organix to promote their No Junk Journey campaign. It’s an issue I feel strongly about and want to share with you here on my blog.
