As a mom of 2 kids, ages 3 and 6, I feel like I birthed eating machines. They are active girls who love to sing and dance, but I often wonder, “where the heck do they put that food?” I mean, seriously, can they really eat all that food, and then burn all those calories and still end up being skin and bones? Really? Then what the heck happened to my metabolism? Oh, never-mind, that is a whole other article altogether!
So, suffice it to say, if we are out for more than 3 hours, unprepared, I am certain that I will have to spend at least $15 in snacks or whatever I can find, to keep those kids from just falling down in hunger. Have you seen the prices of those “convenience” packaged foods lately? If you have been to the mall, then you know what I am talking about.
Here is a list of some of those items that I refuse to buy, but can offer an at-home prepared version:
Bottled Water- $1.00 to $2.00 per 16 ounce bottle- You know if you buy them a snack, they’ll need something to wash it down with, right? Well, bring your own water bottle filled from home- you can even add lemon slices. If the weather is cooler, keep juice boxes in the trunk- they’ll be nice and cool all the time. Most of the bottled water out there is.....filtered water, same as from your city but 5,000 times more expensive.
Yogurt and Granola - $3.50-$4.00 for an individual serving - WHAT!?! Are they serious? OK, so a 16oz container of plain or vanilla yogurt runs you $2.50-$3.25 (depending on the brand) and granola is anywhere from $4.00-$5.00 for a 16oz bag, half that if you snag a good sale. Guess how many servings you can make with that? 15 to 20. Maybe you won’t have to bring this with you when you go out, but it can be promise for later, if the kids are on good behavior.
Trail Mix- $2.00 for like 1oz? That’s crazy. You can buy all the nuts, M&M’s, raisins and whatever else for less than $10.00 and make your own and put them in baggies. Really, it’s like $0.50 a serving. No time to make your own trail mix? Then bring some breakfast/granola bars. They come 6 to a box, so they are less than $0.50 a serving.
PB&J Sandwiches-$1.95-$2.25- Really what they are selling are the Smuckers Uncrustables- you know those sandwich pockets? Well, bring your own PB or PB&J from home – no matter what the temp is, it’ll be great. And peanut butter is the ultimate cheap food, get it in 5 lb containers.
Fresh Fruit- $0.45 to $0.90 a piece- For a banana or apple? And sometimes they look less than fresh? OK, you know what to do. This is apple season; you can probably get 4 apples for that price! And bananas, they shouldn't cost you more than 20 cents apiece.
Brownies, or any sweets- $2.50 and up- Yes, these look great in the case, and you know the kids will want them, but you can tempt them with the package of Teddy Grahams or Goldfish that you already brought with you at $0.25 to $0.40 a pack.
And so that we can set the example:
Coffee- OK, so maybe you don’t want to bring your coffee from home because you like the frou-frou coffee…so I’ll compromise, bring your own cup and you’ll save $0.10 to $0.50 each time. Get the "coffee of the day" and save a little more. That $4.00 coffee everyday adds up. Like the cold and sweet stuff? Get the Starbucks 4 pack of Frappacino for $5 from the grocery store and keep your costs low.
Be prepared with kids. There are only really expensive when you forget about their insatiable appetites before you leave your house.
