Snack Staples

Food for the room and On the Go

One thing I have learned while traveling with kids is they are more hungry than they are at home while scavenging the snack drawer. I have also learned finding healthy gluten-free snacks at a resort, hotel, or nearby convenience store is similar to going on a treasure hunt. For these reasons, I have learned to travel with staple items the whole family will enjoy and also add extra food for the kids.

I try to pack a nice variety of snacks, especially for kids since they are notorious for liking one snack on Monday, and then Tuesday, you ruin their day by even the mear suggestion of the same said snack. I also try to find items that can be resealed after open to avoid a Hansel and Grettle trail in the hotel room or food going bad before the trip is over. Fortunatly, most companies are starting to make their bags resealable. You could also buy the individual packets of snacks to accomplish the goal. If the bag is not resealable, I will place the snacks (veggie straws, Goldfish, etc.) in a ziplock bag before packing.

Another thing I look for when buying snacks for a trip is food that will keep everyone full when we are out and about exploring. Being able to grab staple items to keep in my travel bag helps to cut down on the number of stops we make, how much money is being spent, and keeps the meltdowns (adult and children alike) to a minimum. For example, I look for different types of bars (nuts, fruit, breakfast) and various fruits that do not have to stay in a fridge such as oranges and bananas.

Most places we stay have a fridge in the room, which I use to its full advantage. Before we leave for a trip, I search online to see if the surrounding area by the hotel has a grocery store close by, if not I will pack cold items in a cooler to take with us. These items we usually eat between lunch and dinner, are for lunch, or a nice grab and go snack as we are leaving the room for the day. For our beach trips, I will make sure to add items for sandwiches for the kids and husband, cheese, gluten-free crackers, turkey pepperoni, and a nice big container of hummus for everyone. What’s great about this part is you can customize it to fit everyone’s needs and likes.