Do you have kids playing sports? Your turn to bring snacks is coming soon. But don’t fret! I’ve got the ultimate recipe for making the best kids’ sports snacks!
It’s amazing how much pressure you can feel being in charge of snacks for a sports team full of kids. I mean, they literally eat dirt and glue, so why do we get so worked up about kids’ sports snacks? For me, the pressure comes from wanting to provide a satisfying, healthy-ish snack for the kids but not having the time to devote hours to homemade snack masterpieces.
Good news! You can have it all! We can all nail kids’ sports snacks by following my tested recipe. The kids will love you, the parents won’t judge you, and you won’t be any worse for the wear! Want the magic recipe for bringing the best kids’ sports snacks? Read on!
Kids’ Sports Snacks
Bag
Because my ultimate recipe for kids’ sports snacks includes multiple items, the first thing you need is a bag to put them all in. I’ve found that the best bags are the humble brown paper lunch bags. These bags fit all the snack components comfortably, they’re cheap, and they’re easy to dole out. Don’t overthink this, just use brown paper lunch bags.
Drink
Kids are hungry after a sporting event, sure. But they’re thirsty first, so don’t forget to include a drink when you provide kids’ sports snacks. Opt for a small bottle of water or a small bottle of a sports drink (like Gatorade) to replenish all those electrolytes the kids lost chasing the ball all across the soccer field.
Protein
To address the kids’ hunger after a game, I like to include some source of protein to fill their empty bellies. My favorite protein snacks to include in kids’ sports snack packs are cheese sticks (or Babybel cheese wheels) or meat sticks. Both provide protein in a kid-friendly, easy-to-transport way. You can’t go wrong!
Fruit
Another non-negotiable item in the snack bag for me is fruit. Adding fruit to your kids’ sports snacks kills two birds with one stone. It offers nutrition and hydration, both things your kids will need after they’ve been trying desperately to get the ball in the hoop for an hour and managed only to score 8 points total.
The world of fruit is vast, though, and not all fruit is up to the task of being included in kids’ sports snacks. I like to pick a fruit that packs well and is easy to eat. My usual go-to fruits for this purpose are mandarin oranges, grapes, bananas, and apples.
Something salty
I have found that my kids want something salty after they exert themselves for a sustained amount of time. It makes sense. If they’re sweating, they’re losing salt, so they want to replace it when they’re finished playing. But salty snacks can be tricky after a sporting event. I know I don’t want to eat something salty and greasy like potato chips after I’ve been working out.
To scratch the salty itch without risking a sideline (or car) incident, I pick a healthy-ish salty snack. Some options that I have chosen in the past are individual bags of pretzels, Pirate’s Booty, veggie straws, and Goldfish. Plus, my kids like all these snacks. I can buy the big box at Sam’s for kids’ sports snacks without worrying about what the heck I’m going to do with all the leftovers.
Treat
Finally, I like to add a little treat to the bag. I left this item for last because it’s totally optional. If you don’t want your kids to be scarfing up a treat after they’ve played a sport, I respect that. I have found, though, that adding just a small treat to the bag doesn’t carry big consequences but the kids really appreciate it.
What treat you choose for your kids’ sports snacks can be tricky, though. The key is that you want something that isn’t going to melt. I’ve had success with treats like individual packs of wafer cookies or oreos, fruit snacks, or Rice Krispie treats.
However you choose to pack your kids’ sports snacks using this recipe, please be mindful of any allergies that kids on the team might have. Some common things to avoid are peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame, but please check with the coach or the other parents to make sure you’re being considerate of the kids’ dietary restrictions. It’s easy to just read the labels before you buy, so take that extra second to make sure all the kids feel included when it’s time for the after-game snack.
Other blog posts
Looking for other ways to simply kid things in your life? You might want to check out one of these posts:
I hope this post has helped you fulfil your snack duties. What did you put in your kids’ sports snacks? Share down below or over on Instagram @sarainseason!