I don’t even know where to begin right now.
My kids (and their friends and their friends friends and their friends friends siblings) are eating me out of house and home.
I’ve been so good about budgeting for meals. But it isn’t breakfast, lunch or dinner that is throwing a wrench in my budget. IT’S THE SNACKS. The snacks are getting totally out of control. Now here’s the thing. I like snacks. Historically I’ve had the kids pick out two “krinkly” snacks a week…you know, the kind that come from the krinkly packaging that they’ve grown to know and love so much that they come running from the other side of the house when I open a new sponge out of its packaging.
But I also love that our house is the house where kids end up and where they bring the stragglers. I want to show them hospitality…and not my instinctual snack-hoarding tendencies.
So here are a few of my latest strategies to handle the snack issue around here. Some nutritious snacks that don’t break the bank AND that don’t scare the kiddos away 
Granola bars
I make granola bars (often with the kids) several times a month. They are typically less expensive than the prepackaged kind, and more nutritious! Our favorite recipes include the more traditional and cherry coconut almond.
Trail mix
We browse the bulk section and find our favorite nuts, dried fruit, chocolate and cereal. Making our own typically saves us 20-40%.
Carrots
Buying large, unpeeled carrots and peeling/cutting them myself saves a lot over baby carrots. Emma loves to dip her carrots in peanut butter. Of course she does
Pita Chips and Hummus
Here’s our favorite (and easy!) recipe. Making hummus from scratch can be intimidating but don’t fear! It’s really easier than you might think. Also, we make our own chips from whole pitas.
Apples/Banana and Nut Butter
Whether it’s homemade sea salt honey almond butter or peanut butter, pair your favorite nut butter with apples or bananas and you’ll have a crowdpleasing snack!
Applesauce
I get it. Prepackaged applesauce is so much easier to toss into the kids lunchbag. But taking a little time to send it in tupperware will always save you some cash.
Muffins
Often I’ll make a batch of muffins during the week, such as these whole wheat apple muffins, these blackberry peach and these gluten-free raspberry almond muffins.
Homemade granola
Yes, we love us some granola for snacks. And breakfast. Sometimes dinner too. I make a kitchen sink granola and toss in everything I can find in the pantry, but we also LOVE this chocolate coconut granola.
Yogurt
Same deal as the applesauce. I stay away from the prepackaged yogurts and dish out servings from a large tub, sometimes swirling in some honey and granola.
What about you? What are your favorite budget-saving snacks or tips? Do tell.
Happy Snacking!
