Frugal Friday: Frugal snacks
I have 3 young children who need 3 snacks per day. What do you make for kids snacks and how do you keep them frugal? Are they included in your $35 budget? I would appreciate any ideas and suggestions you might have. Thanks! -KeraKera, yes, our $35/budget does include snacks, though we don't usually have three per day! I often use whatever items I was able to get on sale for snacks. These things might include:
-Apple slices with peanut butter
-Baby carrots
-Peanut butter and honey in a rolled up tortilla
-Shredded cheese melted in a rolled up tortilla
-Yogurt
-Bananas
-Cherry tomatoes
-Sliced cheese and crackers
-Dried fruit
-Cereal and milk
-Freshly made juice
-Smoothies
This week, I was able to get a good deal on cheese, so we've been eating that melted in homemade pita pockets for snacks. We've also eaten the rest of the leftover apple crisp I made on Sunday.
I also often bake things which we can use for snacks, such as:
-Whole-wheat peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
-Carrot apple raisin muffins
-Lazy granola
-Banana chocolate chip muffins
-Homemade bread toasted with butter and honey
-Banana bread
-Homemade waffles from the freezer (we just pop them in the oven for 10 minutes or in the toaster.)
Those are just a few of my ideas. Anyone else want to share some of their favorite frugal snacks?
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posted by Crystal Paine at 9:01 PM
34 Comments:
I put up a link to my new blog with a frugal OG, shampoo source.
Other favorite snacks of ours are:
Cinnamon toast
PB&J on homemade bread
Carrots or apple slices with almond butter (I'm allergic to PB, although the kids love it)
Any leftover muffins
Yogurt with fruit or raisins
We generally only have one snack per day, though, at around 3 PM, right after naptime. This gets us all through till dinner time.
Cathy
Fruit, fruit, fruit...oh, and veggies, too! My kiddos all know that the fruit bowl is full for snacking, and I try really hard to keep veggies chopped and homemade dip made for veggie snacking as well. These snacks take very little prep time on my part, and the kids can get them by themselves if need be. However, this many fruits and veggies can get expensive, which is why I am putting in a large veggie garden, and planting a couple dozen fruit trees this year. I can't wait until we can pick our own apples and carrots!
Almonds and apricots
I only allow one snack per day, around 10 am and I have taught me kids it must be a raw fruit or veggie (most of the time). I keep it simple, a banana or some baby carrots. I also bake breads like banana breads. If daddy will be home later I will allow an afternoon snack which is usually a cup of cereal. Sometimes though daddy likes an evening snack, so I do make sure I have some goodies hanging around for him!
Hi. Here's my comment. I'm considering eliminating all snacks in our home because it is getting out of control (kids snacking all day and not eating meals). Plus I feel like I waste a lot of time getting things out and prepared for snacks as well as making meals.
Great post, I am always looking for new snacks to feed to my boys!
I added a link for the Safeway deals currently running. Right now all of our son's snacks come "direct from Mama", but I snack a lot on whatever's available- lots of fruit, toast, crackers with cheese or leftovers.
A snack we like to make that is frugal and fairly healthy is quick bread like pumpkin and zuchini. I have also made an oatmeal poppy seed bread that was good. If they need a little extra protein you can always spread them with peanut butter. As the mother of 4 boys, I have had to realize that snacks are a needed part of life!
Check out my post i put on the FF for the recipe for pumpkin bread.
I'm 23 and I still need morning and afternoon snacks. ("They" do say that we should eat 5 small meals a day rather than 3 large ones. :) )
Some of my favorites:
trail mixes
cheese (sometimes with crackers)
dry cereal
chocolate milk (I just can't drink it plain)
applesauce
pickles
tuna salad on crackers
chili and rice (We'll make a big pot and I'll eat this for days.)
Fruit, fruit, fruit!
Hope even non-seamstresses can use this tip! Thanks Crystal!
I usually eat fruit or yogurt for a snack - sometimes a bit of granola and honey with the yogurt.
I'm a new visitor, an linked my recipe for homemade baby wipes, which I posted earlier this week. I'm really enjoying your website and all it's resources!
--Merrilee
western warmth: I have done this with my children because I was having the same issues. My little guy though has to get a lot of calories due to his illness, so I just decided it was a great way to get more fruits/veggies into him. But my kids ate so much better when we eliminated snacking, and were less picky too. My other two are older though (12 and 8) so there calorie needs are different that a younger child. But I still think one snack a day is sufficient. We didnt get snacks when we were kids, and if it seems there was a lot less children who were overweight. Hmm could be a coincidence or not! But don't be shocked if they act as thought they are simply dying when you cut out snacks. It just means that they will eat better at the dinner table!
Crystal,
I was wondering, is your lazy granola crunchy or more like oatmeal? It sounds really good, and it was something I wanted to store for future uses. Thanks for your help.
Edwena
Sewing on a Budget Part 2 is up and running now!
Well, I've never participated in this sort of thing before... but after 3 days of reading everything I can find on your blog... I am here to stay. So... to introduce myself, I am Homemaker05 (my DH has some very stringent rules on internet security!) and I am a homemaker and SAHM of my adorable DS (10 months) and a precious UB (unborn baby) at 21 weeks. I love your ministry, and everything I have been learning here. I should send you an email to say everything else (to spare your other readers).
Anyway, I don't know if I did all this right, but I am happy to be participating in your Frugal Friday... thanks for the tips! I'm terrible at planning snack type things... now who is going to explain how to fit snacks inbetween actual meals and nap times? :)
We love fruits and veggies for snacks, too. I haven't read through all the comments so if I repeat other's suggestions, I apoligize in advance! :-) Some other things we like are low-fat popcorn, string cheese, yogurt, homemade fruit popsicles, and crackers with various toppings. I don't think I ever supply 3 snacks a day, though--I'd be in the kitchen constantly then! :-) Usually we have a snack time after naps sometime in the afternoon, and it's size depends on how long it will be until supper. If my husband will be working late, for example.
Welcome, Homemaker05! We're very glad to have you here.
And I always love emails from readers so feel free to drop me a line anytime!
we have scones and tea as the afternoon snack on the days we are home...thanks for the rest of the snack ideas...
~simply stork~
I've been doing smoothies, but saving double by using up pieces of fruit my children don't finish, yogurt they don't finish, etc. I throw it in the freezer until I'm ready to use it, then I have a delicious treat for later.
Thanks Crystal for your help on my post! Now I need to go make sure my Arby's will take the milk shake coupon.
Frugal snacks...hmmmmm...we like no bake granola bars at our house. Along with a bunch of the other things already mentioned. I've also tried a new recipe for bread in a jar and the kids are devouring it at snack time.
Ants on a log: spread PB on a stick of celery, then place raisins on top of the PB. We actually don't eat this around here as my kids won't eat celery!
I've got freezer tips up.
This is my first time posting a link - I'm hosting a pantry clean-out challenge!
I have a $40 budget for just me and my husband. I think it is great to have kids with a lesser budget. You must be very resoureful!
My post today is on the little things that you can do to save money that add up.
I left my tip on uses for extra smelly-good soaps and bath crystals.
About snacks, kids will tell you when they are hungry. Just make sure you are serving healthy snacks with plenty of water and have them sit at the table while they eat. We usually keep eating seperate from play. They don't want to sit and eat all the time. They prefer to be doing something.
Also, the kitchen isn't 'free for all'. Our children must ask before getting into any food (we do this with food they purchased themselves as well).
We love homemade granola bars, fresh fruit, cheese, fresh veggies, homemade bread, etc...
Crystal, I know your daughters are under three, yet you and several commenters have mentioned peanut butter in snacks. Our pediatrician is telling us that the current recommendation is not to introduce peanut products until age three. (When my sisters' kids were younger, it was two.) Is this a concern of yours (with all the peanut allergies these days)? (I know it would be sooo much easier -- and cheaper -- if peanut butter was an option.)
Oh dear, Crystal, you're in trouble. I made a batch of those cookies, and they're horrible. So horrible that DH and I are going to sacrifice and spare the children the agony of eating cookies with all that stuff in them.
It'll be a struggle, but somehow I guess we'll manage. ;-)
(LOLOL - they are FABULOUS!)
We have three small snacks a day. It may sound like a lot to some, but we've discovered we do need it. My girlie (21 mos) eats very well for meals, but just can't make it without a little something in between.
We do schedule our snacks. One at 10, one at 4 (or when she gets up from nap, and one before bed (we discovered the before bed snack is a MUST for her little belly or she just doesn't sleep well at night. That one is usually a 1/2 cup or less of yogurt or a piece of cheese.
For day time snacks,
1/2 piece of fruit
a handful of raisins
a prune
a few crackers (we like to get the little soup crackers, they're like saltines)
a piece of cheese
a homemade muffin
1/2 piece of homemade bread and jelly
a homemade cookie
a cup of cheerios
and leftovers sometimes for snacks. Like a little rice or veggie.
We usually have very small snacks. We save on fresh fruit for her by not wasting. 1/2 a small apple is enough, for example.
Have any extra banana bread laying around? I am quite hungry. HA!
This is my first ever carnival type thingy so not sure if I've added my link in the right place. Hope so. :-)
What wonderful ideas!
Crackers
Fruit of all kinds
carrots
etc.
you all have such great ideas, I am so uncreative. I serve a variety of crackers or string cheese. My daughter has 1 snack a day, in the morning because we have a later lunch since my husband works 2nd shift. When she wakes up from her nap we eat our dinner. Thanks for all the great ideas - very refreshing to feel slightly creative now. :)
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