We’re all trying to save money on food these days and Back to School time is a smart time to restock the pantry before you start hearing, “Mom, there’s nothing to eat!” As a mom of 4 with a toddler, a tween and two teens, you better believe that a lot of our food budget goes to healthy snack picks that I can feel good about as a mom and that my kids actually like. Because if they won’t eat it, you’ve just wasted your money!
Here’s what I buy on repeat at Costco:
Amara Smoothie Melts: I love these because they have no added sugar and they’re made from organic fruit + coconut milk–that’s it! They are also not messy at all–so they’re perfect for the car. And they come in handy now that Romy’s starting daycare.
Avocados by the bag: True, you do need to use them up within about 5 days, but we love them for making toast, and adding to salads and burritos. And when Romy isn’t into eating anything else, she’ll always eat an avocado.
Chomps Beef Sticks: Leo loves these for grab-and-go protein after school. Each one has 10g protein and zero added sugar.
Clif ZBars: These soft-backed bars are great for school lunches, after school or even as part of breakfast. I like that they’re made with whole grains and offer a good source of fiber with 3g per bar.
Gatorade: True, this does contain sugar, but it’s there for a reason. Not only does it help replace carbohydrates that active kids are burning, you actually need some carbohydrates to properly hydrate. And at our house, 🏀 practice is an everyday thing and water alone doesn’t always cut it.
GoRaw Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds: These are lightly salted and are great for snacking, making granola or or trail mix, and I love them as a muffin topper.
Kirkland Unsalted Mixed Nuts: I love this mix of almonds, cashews, pecans and pistachios from Costco’s in-house brand. They’re excellent for topping yogurt bowls and as after school snacks. One serving provides 2g of fiber and 5g protein.
Morning Summit Cereal: My hubby and I love this and so do the kids! It has big flakes and whole almonds in it and is 😋 And the dried cranberries and cherries are a nice addition. 5g of fiber and 5g protein per 2/3 cup serving.
Nurri: The teens like this as a quick protein-packed snack. With 30g, it helps them fuel up on the run. Also good as a smoothie base if you add fruit to it.
Once Upon a Farm Tractor Wheels: These are individually wrapped, so they’re perfect for 🚗 rides. And their round shape makes them easy for toddler hands to hold onto. These are naturally sweetened with fruit and have no added sugar.
Stonewall Kitchen Coffee Beans: For mom and dad because duh, we need it! They don’t always have this, but when it’s there, I grab 2 bags.
Stonyfield Whole Milk Yogurt Pouches: This isn’t the baby pouch–the whole family can eat these. At just 100 calories, they’re the perfect add-on to any breakfast, plus they offer and they have 5g protein + 15% DV for calcium