Five Healthy Snacks for Kids On The Go

We are planning a vacation coming up in a few weeks, and already the errands have increased and the need for snacks in the car has doubled. I've come up with a few healthy snacks that we can take while running around town AND take on the plane when we hit the skies for our vacation.

1. String Cheese and Nuts - now let me start by saying that all these suggestions will likely encourage or include the need of a cold bag to keep the food cool. Bringing healthy snacks usually required it, so let's just go with it. This snack is pretty obvious but I think it gets overlooked far too often for the processed junk instead. Kids will feel better on a protein snack like this and if you can find some naturally sweetened nuts (like honey cashews) then the salty and sweet of this snack will win you fans forever.

2.  Homemade Snack Mix - I discovered that when I could buy my favorite brand of organic cheerio-ish cereal, my favorite natural cheddar snack crackers and my favorite healthy raisins and carob nibs (that the kids will get used to, trust me) I was loving the idea of a "trail mix" kind of a snack. Add in a few almonds or cashews and you've got a really energizing snack.

3.  Green Smoothies - I know this sounds crazy, but I've got my kids hooked. I make green smoothies in the morning and pour them into stainless steel water bottles and they are a HUGE tummy filler and energy boost. My favorite combo for green smoothies is simply: frozen mixed berries, spinach, apple juice, flax seeds, coconut milk, spinach and a dash of raw honey. You can make a million different variations by googling for recipes, so give it a try! They look green but are actually really sweet. Kids love them.

4.  Grapes and Mandarin Oranges - this is just so easy to throw into a few small plastic containers and grab a few forks, I can't tell you how many times the kids have adored this snack. Make sure to find the oranges in their own juices (no syrup!!) and see how the kids enjoy. This is almost like candy for them so watch out! Hand out before the playground time.

5.  Dehydrated Veggie Chips - I'm a big fan of our dehydrator, and couldn't believe when my most picky child ate up this entire snack before we even left the house. I sliced cucumbers super thin and sprinkled with sea salt and dehydrated overnight. Throw into little baggies and it's like bringing chips without the oil and without the white potato but with all the benefits of a raw food! If you don't have a dehydrator you can experiment with this in the oven on a super low setting (google it, I know people do this and I know you'll find it!).

What are some of your tips for healthy snacks on the go?