My mom always made me a giant bag of chex mix for our summer swim meets and I have fond memories of sitting around with my friends, playing cards and picking out all the peanut butter M&Ms. It was such a treat and we all loved it so much, she even took to making separate bags for some of my most insistent friends ;) - good times.
The way I view after game and sports snacks has changed a little now that I know more about food and nutrition - but snack time is still a fun, bonding time for kids and teammates and can be both fun and healthy!
Here are some of my favorite after-game snacks:
Fresh Fruit - bananas, orange slices, apples, etc. Pack a variety and let everyone grab what they like!
Pretzels & Cheese Sticks - my girls love the mini bags of pretzels. Combine the carbs with a little protein in a cheese stick or dippable wedge of Laughing Cow for a fun and balanced snack.
Veggies & Ranch - another favorite….Ranch dressing.
Mini Bagels w/ Cream Cheese - assemble mini bagel sandwiches ahead of time and keep them in a cooler bag for a yummy snack they’ll all love. You could even try a PB&J version if you don’t have any allergies to consider.
Protein Bars - there are so many different kid-friendly options out there now. My personal favorites are the Perfect Bar Kids - keep them chilled for a refreshing snack that will definitely fill their tummies.
Beef Jerky - a little extra protein for their little muscles - look for a jerky without added sugar, like Chomps.
Frozen Yogurt Tubes -like a nutritious popsicle, this is one of our favorites for warm weather sports. Again, I look for a low-sugar options like Siggi’s.
Popcorn - Salty and delicious, this snack will encourage them to down those water bottles and replenish their fluids.
Frozen Grapes - another warm weather treat every kid will love. Combine the sweet frozen grapes with the salty popcorn for a sweet and salty snack.
Trail Mix - probably going to skip the peanut butter m&ms in this one, but try my 5-ingredient mix instead! Just combine cashews, mini chocolate chips, Cinnamon Chex, Dried Cranberries and GF Pretzel Twists in a large bag and toss to combine. Pre-portion it in snack bags for an easy grab-n-go snack between a double-header.
