Packable Snacks for Kids on the Go

As families begin planning summer camps and outdoor adventures, it’s also a good time to start thinking about snacks that travel well.

Summer camps, zoo days and afternoons at the park all have one thing in common: Kids need snacks. And not just any snacks—foods that can survive a backpack, a hot car or a day in a cubby without refrigeration.

Day camps often ask families to send lunches and snacks that can sit at room temperature for hours. Even with an ice pack tucked into a lunch bag, summer heat can make it tricky to pack foods that stay fresh and appetizing.

The solution is to think portable: baked goods that hold up well, crunchy snack mixes and simple foods that are sturdy enough to travel. Homemade snacks can also be more economical than the individually packaged options at the store—and they often taste better, too.

Here are a few ideas for snacks that pack well and keep kids fueled through a day of camp, exploring or playing outside.

This banana bread packs well. Spread it with peanut butter for a more filling snack.

Banana Bread

• 1 cup whole-wheat or multigrain flour
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup oats
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 ripe bananas
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In another bowl, mash the bananas. Whisk in the sugar, eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Stir into the flour mixture until just combined.
4. Pour into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then remove and cool completely.

Here’s a version of Chex mix for kids. Pack it in place of chips. This makes about 2 ½ cups.

Kids’ Snack Mix

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 ½ cups Cheerios
• ½ cup rice Chex cereal
• ½ cup stick pretzels, broken in half

1. In a large nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, cereal and shredded wheat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until brown.
2. Remove from heat, and allow to cool before adding pretzel sticks. Toss lightly, and transfer to an airtight container.

Apple Snack Cake

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup finely diced apple
• Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the applesauce, buttermilk, melted butter, egg and vanilla.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Fold in diced apple.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake 25–30 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before cutting. Dust lightly with confectioners’ sugar before serving.

Snack Bag Ideas

You can save money by making your own snacks instead of buying the prepackaged bags. Here are a few ideas to fill up a snack bag.

• Pita bread sliced and baked into chips
• Homemade chocolate chip muffin
• Cubed cheese and whole-grain crackers
• Shelled edamame
• Shredded carrots
• Sliced frozen grapes
• Banana bread
• Sunflower butter and sliced strawberries on a bagel

Loui’s Grill and Bar

Kids Eat Free

Some nights, cooking dinner just isn’t in the cards. Luckily, several Tulsa-area restaurants offer kids-eat-free deals throughout the week. Here’s a few spots where families can stretch their dining dollars. You can find even more at tulsakids.com/kids-eat-free-in-tulsa!

Monday

Peppers Grill
1950 Utica Square

Kids 10 and younger eat free all day with purchase of adult entrée. One kids’ meal per adult entrée.

Tuesday

HuHot Mongolian Grill
6746 S. Memorial Drive

Free kids grill meal with adult meal purchase.

Wednesday

Louie’s Grill & Bar
6310 E. 101st St.

Kids eat free with purchase of adult entrée.

Thursday

El Chico
All Tulsa locations

Kids meals are 99 cents all day Thursday with purchase of adult entrée. Dine-in only.

Natalie Mikles is a mom of three and editor of TulsaKids Magazine. She writes about food, sharing recipes for busy families and picky eaters.