When you are a busy mama it can be so easy to put everyone else’s needs before your own.
How many times have you been caught out at the park in the late afternoon with 3 jumpers, 2 spare pairs of jeans and a couple of t-shirts for your little one and nothing warm for yourself?
Or worse, stuck in traffic with just enough food for the kids and nothing for you?
Just like the boy scouts, you need to be prepared.
So while you probably never leave home without wipes, nappies, spare outfits, water and snacks for the little people in your life – remember to look after your needs too.
Today we’ve got 10 snacks that are handbag friendly. Many can even be left in there for a few days at a time, which is great when you are on the go.
Healthy snacking is so important when you are trying to lose weight. It keeps your metabolism firing, it gives you energy and it keeps your head straight (meaning you don’t get so hungry that you want to dive head first into a bucket of chicken).
- Cheese and rice crackers. Who says you can’t make yourself a little snack pack to pop in your bag? I’m sure as a mum you have a thousand little plastic boxes that you could use to keep 4 rice crackers and 30g of cheddar cheese (150 calories) on hand for a healthy snack. Just don’t forget they are in there as they won’t taste too good the next day.
- Fruit, glorious fruit. Some fruit travels better than others. Think mandarins (42 calories), apples (45 calories) and oranges (68 calories). Leave the pears and bananas at home as they can take a beating in your bag and get the old keys/phone/wallet a little soggy. You can also package up fruit like 10 grapes (40 calories) or 15 cherries (45 calories) into plastic tubs for a healthy snack.
- Sultanas. Not just for kids, sultanas can be a great way to indulge in something sweet without heading down the lolly aisle. A 50g pack of sultanas will set you back 159 calories. You can probably halve the calories as the kids might pinch some.
- Nuts. Bust out the zip lock bags and prepare yourself a portion controlled snack of healthy nuts. 14 almonds (100 calories); 10 cashews (88 calories); 20 pistachios (66 calories)
- Pretzels. Satisfy the desire for salty, crunchy snacks with some pretzels instead. A 50g pack of pretzels will set you back 195 calories.
- Dried Fruit. These travel really well and can really curb your hunger. Why not try ten dried apricots (130 calories) or 4 dates (87 calories).
- Popcorn. No, not the bright yellow, smothered in butter and salt variety from the cinema. Fresh, home made, air-popped popcorn is super tasty and offers the satisfying crunch that potato chip lovers crave. Spice it up with some chilli flakes or a spritz of olive oil. One cup is just 31 calories.
- Rice Crackers. Not just something to keep the kids quiet while you’re on the phone, rice crackers are great for mums too. 8 plain rice crackers come it at just 60 calories. Best to avoid the flavoured ones if you can as they use a lot of extra salt and additives.
- Roasted Chickpeas. Toss 50g raw chickpeas with some olive oil spray, a pinch of cinnamon and a pinch of brown sugar and then bake in a 200C oven for 20 minutes until crisp. A sweet, crunchy snack for just 110 calories.
- Ryvitas. 2 Ryvitas spread with ¼ of an avocado and a squeeze of lemon juice (125 calories); or you could sandwich them together with 1 slice of cheddar cheese (150 calories).
- PLUS don’t forget your water bottle. Take water everywhere you go and sip sip sip all day long to keep yourself hydrated.
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