Taking a road trip with the entire family is supposed to be a fun experience, so keeping the "hangry" out of the car is a must. That's why we partnered with Hormel Foods for this post.
While loading up the car with everything you need for your next road trip, create an easy-to-grab tote filled with snacks for your kids, too. Along with taking up hardly any space, this basket is stuffed with protein-filled items that keep your child fueled — and the travel-friendly options are so fun! You might find yourself sneaking a few nibbles too.
1.Frozen Fruit
Along with keeping things cold, frozen fruit is also fun for munching. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes from watermelon or honeydew, and toss them in a plastic bag alongside grapes, blueberries or even strawberries. Freeze overnight then use as a cold pack for other basket items.
2.Strawberry-Oatmeal Muffins
Made with kids in mind, these strawberry-oatmeal muffins have a sweet pop of strawberry but are made with oatmeal, filling hungry tummies. And this is an easy recipe you can enjoy making together.
3.Snack Necklaces
Place small bites with holes in a bowl and invite your child to thread the snacks on a length of cotton twine. And making an edible necklace together gives you a chance to talk about all the wonderful adventures you'll have on your road trip!
4.High-Protein Wrap
And nothing beats a high-protein snack that really takes care of fussy kids while hitting all their cravings like a Hormel REV wrap. Place over the frozen fruits and it's nice and cold when your child is ready to eat.
5.Mini Snack Bar
Head to the dollar store and pick up a weekly medicine container to use for creating a personalized mini snack bar for your child. Fill with nuts, yogurt-covered raisins, even banana chips. Just remember to fill appropriately based on your child's age to avoid any choking hazards.
6.Peanut Butter Cup
Don't toss that empty peanut butter container! Use for housing nibbles that are encased in their own carrying case. Fill the base of the container with peanut butter then add carrot, celery and pretzel sticks. Yum!
Water comprises an estimated 65% of the human body. This percentage is even higher among babies and small children. When you hear statistics like that, it’s easy to understand why it’s recommended we drink a certain amount of water each day. Without it, we’d dry up. As a kid, though, with growing number of options for brightly colored, shiny packaged juices and sodas, why would you want to drink water at all? Well, not that you can reason with your child, but maybe knowing how water can help your child will help you steer them towards a
healthier thirst quencher.
1. Plain and simple – water makes your child’s body work better.
When children are dehydrated, they will feel and act tired and not perform as well.
When they are hydrated, they will be able to run faster, jump higher, climb better. You see, muscles are made out of 79% water, blood is 80% water and bones are 22% water.
2. Water makes your child think and learn better.
The brain is made up of 75% water.
Dehydration makes your child moody and their brain just doesn’t think right.
3. Water makes your body healthier.
Water helps clean out the garbage of the body like the toxins and poop. (Kids find this funny.) Constipation is a sign of dehydration.
4. Water makes your skin healthy and not itchy.
Dehydration causes the skin to be itchy and dry.
5. Water makes you breathe better.
If your child has a cold or fever, their body needs more water. Fever causes water loss. If your child has a cold, water helps the mucus membranes keep the secretions from clogging the airways. It’s the best cough medicine!
6. Water keeps you from overeating.
Dehydration can be confused with hunger.
Suggestions for you and your family:
Having glass or stainless steel water bottles around the house, in your car, at your desk, bed side table, etc. If you prefer cold water, have water bottles in the fridge for you to grab. Flavor your water with lemon wedges, mint, oranges, cucumber, or watermelon and pineapple rinds. Experiment to find your favorite taste.
Keep a LARGE water jug on the kitchen counter so everyone can get their own water. When it is easy to see and get to, it’s likely everyone in your family will drink more.
Serve water-rich foods like watermelon, soups, and fruit filled smoothies.
