WWJD: Summer Snack Trays

I mentioned on Instagram the other day that I had a parenting mentor.  I tossed it out there jokingly, but the more I thought about it, the more it is absolutely true.  Jamie is not only a good friend of mine, but is my parenting mentor.  She has four boys, ranging in age from 2nd grade up to 6th grade, and I basically ask myself, “What would Jamie do” before I make any major parenting decisions.  And even the small ones, too.  She is just one of those people who have the perfect blend of faith, practicality, humor, and lots of love that makes her a wonderful parent.

I thought I would share two of Jamie’s ideas that I have started using this week.  I’ll share today on her snack routine and tomorrow on shopping at Aldi’s.  Which, by the way, received the most EVER feedback I’ve gotten on Instagram when I mentioned I was going to Aldi’s!  You guys were CRAZY about that place!  Tomorrow, I’ll share my Aldi experience…  I’m still processing that mess in my head, y’all.  I can’t tell if I am scarred or in awe!

For today, let’s talk about Jamie’s summer snack routine.  I don’t know about you, but all my kids do all day long is ask for snacks.  I mean, seriously.  It’s all day long.  So, when I saw on Instagram that Jamie had come up with a miraculous solution to this issue, I almost cried.

(I stole these images from her Instagram feed.  You should follow her.)

Jamie put out a platter of snack options for her boys filled with all kinds of snack options.  Some of the snack options were healthy and some were snacks.  The boys could eat whatever they wanted from the snack tray, but once the food was all gone, there would be nothing else.

IS THAT NOT THE MOST BRILLIANT IDEA YOU’VE EVER HEARD?

I don’t have one of those nifty snack trays (though I plan to pick one up when I’m at Old Tyme Pottery soon), so I took a plastic tray and sat a few little serving bowls on it filled with a variety of snack choices.  I also set out these two little plastic cups that I had left over from a party a few weeks ago for bowls for their snacks.

I also had to add the reminder that no one could take all of one thing. You could only get half of each portion. If I didn’t specify, they would purposefully eat whatever the other wanted so they didn’t get any. *eye roll*

I’ve done this for two days now and it has worked SO INCREDIBLY WELL! I don’t put it out until 2:00ish in the afternoon, mostly because mine get the munchies about that time of day. What I love about it is that they automatically go for the snacky items, but I don’t even care because later when they are starving of hunger, they’ll eat the healthy things.

Some ideas for stuffing your snack tray include:

• Veggie straws
• Goldfish
• Cucumber slices
• Baby carrots
• Hummus dip
• Ranch for dipping
• Pretzels
• Popcorn
• Peanuts
• Trail mix
• Yogurt (tubes or cups)
• Cookies
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Grapes (I’m making these fun ones later this week)
• Cheese cubes
• Energy balls (recipe here)
• M&Ms
• Animal crackers
• Sweet peppers
• Dried fruit
• Mini muffins (I buy the $1 Betty Crocker mixes)
• Chips
• Teddy grahams
• Mini marshmallows
• Quarters of quesadillas
• Edamame

I could go on and on, but you get the idea.  Basically, anything that can stay out on the kitchen counter for a few hours and anything my kids like.

This simple and brilliant idea is one of the many, MANY reasons Jamie is my parenting mentor and friend.  She saves my sanity and she’s just downright smart!  Tune in tomorrow for my Aldi adventure…