To make snacking on-the-go healthy and easy, follow these tips to ensure fun and nutritious snacks for the whole family.
Creating a snack tackle box (Snackle Box), is a quick, easy way to include your kiddos’ favorite eats while also encouraging good eating habits. For individual options, choose a clean, divided container made of food-grade plastic to easily prepare ahead of time so the food will stay fresh. And you can take it anywhere: to the beach, on the playground, in the car, on a picnic, and beyond. While making your Snackle Box, it is important to remember these things:
- Food Groups
The variety of options you are adding to your Snackle Box can be a major benefit. It is recommended to include three or more food groups in your Snackle Box depending on the size of your container. As a reminder, the five main food groups are fruits, vegetables, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. For example, you could add apples, pretzels, peanut butter, and celery to cover fruits, carbohydrates, fats, and vegetables.
- Food Preparation
When it comes to filling your Snackle Box, it may be easier to slice fruit and other large food items into smaller pieces to fit in your container and help younger kiddos with chewing. If you are on a time crunch, you can always opt for smaller items in-store like raisins, blueberries, or nuts for the older kiddos.
- Food Safety
Make sure to prioritize the temperature of the food you add to your Snackle Box. Keep cold food chilled until you are ready to eat from the Snackle Box. No cut fruit or vegetables or cold items should be left at room temperature for more than two hours. It may be wise to eat these foods first and wait on the non-refrigerated items.