Snack Preparation—Enjoy Healthy Treats On the Go

When I combine a full time job, blogging, my Easy store and spending time with my husband sometimes my schedule gets out of hand and I forget to do important things – like eat. I can only imagine how someone who has kids feels!

I’ve learned over time that the best way for me to avoid skipping meals is to pack a wide variety of items that I can toss in my purse or the office fridge, so no matter how crazy the day is I have something ready for a quick grab-and-go snack.

Grab-and-Go Snack Preparation

When I have downtime over the weekend I try to prepare for the week ahead by slicing up anything I want to pre-package and bring along to work. I’ve found that Hickory Farms Summer Sausage and Cheese is a great option that stays fresh all week long.

I like to slice up several types of cheese and wrap each package individually in Saran Wrap. Once packaged into portions I place all the cheese together in a Ziplock baggy.

Summer sausage goes in its own bag, sliced into perfect grab-and-go snack portions. I remove the skin before I start slicing because it ensures there is no mess to clean up when I just need a quick snack on the go.

Apple slices are great options that will round out a meal if all you have time for that day are the snack bags you prepared. Pre-cut apples from the store will save you time, but if you prefer to cut your own, lightly toss the slices in lemon juice immediately after cutting. This will help prevent browning and give you a couple days’ worth of shelf life in the refrigerator.

Some snacks require no preparation at all. Tossing a box of crackers or a package of nuts in your desk drawer can provide something to snack on while reading emails in-between meetings. I have a bad habit of eating an entire box of crackers instead of taking a break, so for me I need to portion out each snack into individual servings. Ziploc snack bags are perfect for creating your own ‘100 calorie’ packs. If you don’t have time to portion out each serving, it helps to take out what you want to eat and put the rest of the package away. This keeps me from mindlessly eating.

You’ll be surprised how full you feel after just a few snacks and you may not need to grab that unhealthy fast food lunch after all. Just like the Lunchables you ate as a kiddo, these grab-and-go snacks can provide a good balance of protein, dairy and fruits if you plan accordingly.

Don’t forget to drink water throughout the day. Often the signs of thirst are confused with those of hunger and having snacks on hand won’t prevent you from becoming dehydrated. I started using a water measure that helps keep me on track for drinking at least two 24ox bottles of water per day.

There’s no substitution for eating a proper meal, but if you don’t have time these quick grab-and-go snack options should help stave off any hangary meetings that may pop up unexpectedly. What are some of your solutions to remembering to eat when you have a busy day? Do you have any other go-to snacks you’d recommend?

Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by Hickory Farms. All opinions, ideas and writing are my own. I was compensated and received a product sample as inspiration for this post.