I need snack ideas that don't need cooked or refridgerated

[CRSunrise]

I'm having a hard time keeping my kids out of the fridge now that summer is in full swing. I need things that I can make that don't need to be kept refridgerated, or anything like that. It would be good if I could somehow sneak the vegetables in without them knowing about it.

They would need to be something cheaply made, preferabbly. 

[betpchem]

What about chips made out of vegetables? Kale chips are popular, but you could use different vegetables like carrots or sweet potatoes. Here's a site I found with directions:

http://www.chowhound.com/food-news/80400/make-your-own-veggie-chips-2/

[Stinkyfish97]

It is going to be difficult to find many snacks that are both healthy, nutritional and not refrigerated. The reason is simply if it is out of the fridge its shelf life is shortened considerably. To combat this spoilage issue the food industry puts in perservatives, sodium, and sugar. While making your own is the healthier choice it still is very limiting. I mean you can make protien bars, trail mixes, chips. Those are fun experiments. Especially protien bars and trail mixes. 

To combat the bad habit of snacking we try to build good habits in our house to prevent the snacking in the first place. Its always a work in progress and we are nowhere near perfect by any stretch. Eating a larger breakfast, a good size lunch and an early dinner are all ways to prevent unwanted snacking. Our 10 year old is out for summer break and everynight it is part of his chores to make his own packed lunch with a beverage usually a water but sometimes gatorade. Even if he is not going anywhere he still sits down for lunch each day and eats lunch. 

While we do not always have time to make a warm breakfast, we always have cereal on hand, gronola bars/protien bars, and fruit, he is expected to eat something for breakfast. Get them in the habit of eating a decent size breakfast. Provide choices as well. Cereal and a fruit at minimum. This will help prevent that snacking between after breakfast and before lunch. Even lunch should be a bit larger meal. 

Many times even adults confuse thirst for hunger. They may even reach for food before water when they are thirsty. Be sure to have plenty of water on hand and reduce the amount of juices and soda's in the house. They may not like this but I have noticed that we snack more when our blood sugars flucuate up and down. For instance if you drink a giant glass of say, soda or juice, about 30min to an hour your blood sugars start coming down off a sugar high and you literally start  to feel drained. Natrually many of us reach for a snack to combat the tiredness we are feeling, or more sugary drink. Try to level out the blood sugars by reducing the amount of sugars they get in a day. 

Sorry I cannot give you to many more snack ideas. Everything I do is to try and combat snacking. Snacking to me is an unplanned habit. If I find myself snacking its either I planned a snack and brought one with me or its likely because I did not eat a big enough breakfast or lunch or I may not have drank enough water throughout the day. The big one for me is drinking water, I always get caught up with something that I forget to grab another bottle of water at work. Children are especially prone to this during the summer. Especially if they are more active. 

[Taurus21]

There are packs of 100 calorie almonds. I love packing nuts like walnuts, pecans, or cashews to have for on the go healthy snacking. Trail mix of nuts and pretzels and dried cranberries and/or raisins is good, too. Also, granola bars such as Nature Valley or Kind Bars or Cliff Bars. If you're alright with fish check out Starkist Tuna Creations packets. Easy to pack and don't need cooking or refrigeration. Hope these suggestions help.  

[MyLabAmber]

My two favorites are almonds (unsalted) and popcorn (lite, no butter or salt).  Special K makes pastry crisps in various flavors that are 100 calories for 2 crisps.  I usually eat just one.  Brown sugar cinnamon is my favorite!  I feel like I'm eating dessert!  

[HelenaFitbit]

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@betpchem wrote:

What about chips made out of vegetables? Kale chips are popular, but you could use different vegetables like carrots or sweet potatoes. Here's a site I found with directions:

http://www.chowhound.com/food-news/80400/make-your-own-veggie-chips-2/

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I second @betpchem and @Taurus21 on this; chips and nuts are the perfect snack-size bites, both healthy and addictive. 

Also @MyLabAmber mentioned popcorn and I say YES! I usually put mashed garlic, pepper, salt and a pinch of olive oil for a huge bowl. I mean huge!

Personally, I'm a fan of cherry tomatoes. I just pop them in with a sprinkle of salt and the sweet/tangy mix is always refreshing. 

[Taz56]

At my desk I keep Planters pre-packaged almonds, and Quest Bars. No fridge needed, easy, quick, good. 

[DerrickS]

@CRSunriseSome of my favorite healthy snacks that don't require a refrigerator include:

-Almonds

-Granola Bars

-Oatmeal

-Chex Mix

-Fruit Snacks

-Beef Jerkey

-Trail Mix

-Dried fruit

Sneaking veggies can be hard (my Mom tries to do this with my Dad all of the time) and some of the more effective ways that I've seen are:

-Egg scrambles in the morning with spinach, potatoes, and/or peppers.

-Sweet potatoes, especially if they are french fried.

-Smoothies. The flavor and color of fruit can easily mask the color and flavor of most veggies.

-Dipping veggies into something, like hummus or ranch dressing.  This works great with baby carrots and broccoli, especially if you time put them out before dinner.

-Even though it's technically a fruit, adding avocados to almost anything makes it better for me personally (and they are in season!)

-It's also really easy to sneak veggies into sauces, soups, casseroles, and chili too.

[WendyB]

@DerrickS Yumm on Avocado it

String Cheese

Greek Yogurt  You can even freeze it and its like Ice Cream Yummmm all kinds of good flavors

Laughing cow Cheese wedges on Celery or any veggie.

[Carorin]

So if its in the freezer is ok?  Frozen berries and cherries are always tasty.  I also eat Chex Vanilla cereal as a snack but I'm guessing that could start bad habits too.  Keeping the kids busy would help too.  Getting them to break that habit will be hard.  Just don't buy what you don't want them to have.