Forget the Snack Bar: Pack Your Own Healthy Treats for the Pool

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Summer in Jacksonville is made for long days at the beach or the neighborhood pool, and if your kids are like mine, all of that time in the sun and water can make them ravenous.

It’s easy to just throw some juice boxes, sports drinks, chips, and other junk food in your beach bag to satisfy those snack requests, but with just a little extra planning, you can pack a bag full of much healthier options. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

If you’ll be out all day without access to a cooler, you can still pack nutritious snacks.

  • Homemade popcorn– Pop some on the stove the night or morning before, toss it in just a little salt (add garlic powder and paprika if your kids will go for it), and fill a gallon-size sealable bag or several individual-size bags to satisfy your kids’ need for a crunchy treat. Popcorn is a whole grain, and if you make it yourself, it’s much healthier than the microwaveable kind or a bag of chips.
  • Homemade trail mix– Don’t spend your money on trail mix full of chocolate candy and pretzels. Make your own with plain nuts like almonds, walnuts, peanuts, or cashews and dried fruits like raisins, apricots, bananas, or coconut chips.
  • Fruits and vegetables that don’t have to be refrigerated- Whole apples, mandarin oranges, grapes, blueberries, and carrot sticks stand up to the heat fairly well.
  • Nut butter packs– Individual servings of almond butter or peanut butter can pack an extra protein punch and are fun for dipping those carrots in or spreading on apples or pita triangles.
  • Homemade muffins– Homemade blueberry muffins, banana muffins, or other quick breads baked in muffin tins are an easy, sweet treat and will fill up your kids when they’re really hungry.

Pool SnacksIf you want to be able to refrigerate your snacks, grab an insulated cooler bag that you can throw over your shoulder to leave your hands free. Having a cooler opens up many more possibilities for healthy snacks:

  • Freeze your own fruits– The night before, freeze strawberries, watermelon chunks, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, or grapes, then throw them in your cooler before you leave. Your kids can eat them frozen for a cool treat or wait until they thaw, and they’ll act as ice packs while they’re still frozen.
  • Vegetables with hummus– Hummus is a great protein-filled savory dipper and pairs well with carrots, celery, cucumber slices, or cherry tomatoes.
  • Pitas and wraps– For bigger appetites, or if you know you’ll be eating lunch at the pool or beach, make some pita sandwiches or wraps in the morning before you go. Spread hummus on a tortilla or in a pita, then fill with spinach, sliced bell peppers, sliced carrots, sliced cucumbers, or whatever other vegetables you like and finish with a little feta or shredded cheese. You can also spread peanut butter on a tortilla or pita and stuff with fruit slices for a sweet but filling snack.

Pool Snacks

Finally, don’t forget to hydrate! Pack a large bottle of water for each person, or a few if you know you won’t be able to refill throughout the day. Skip the juices and sports drinks—water is a much healthier option and quenches thirst better anyway.

Packing healthy snacks may take a little more prep work than filling your bag with chips and cookies, but it will save you money, and both you and your kids will feel better in the long run.

 

About the Author

Allison SwaimAllison Swain was raised in Warner Robins, Georgia and earned a bachelor’s degree from UGA and a master’s degree from Georgia Southern University before getting married to her husband, David. David’s post-graduate schooling and residency took them to Chicago and Montgomery, AL where Allison taught middle school and high school English. They eventually settled in the Jacksonville area, and Allison taught reading and Language Arts at Pacetti Bay Middle School before becoming a stay at home mom in 2012. Now mother to a four-year-old daughter, a two-year-old son, and another daughter to be born in late July, Allison has found a new passion in creating healthy, mostly plant-based meals for her family. She writes a recipe and nutrition blog, A Happy, Healthy Family.

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