Written By: Jackie McKenzie
Snacks in the car have become a mainstay for many a family on the go. Snacking is not necessarily wrong but whether you decide to offer your child a healthy snack in the car can depend on a variety of factors.
- Safety. Most experts argue that children who are in a car seat should not be offered snacks while the vehicle is moving. If food is going to be eaten in the car, many recommend that the car be parked so the driver can pay attention to the children and decrease risk of choking.
- Length of trip. Children love routine and quickly will start to associate car ride with snack time. If you don’t want to be a traveling snack bag consider the length of the trip and if a snack could be consumed before or after instead of in the vehicle. A consistent snack routine as opposed to grazing throughout the morning or afternoon can help to establish good appetites at meal and snack times. Especially for those picky eaters.
- Travelling. It is inevitable that children (and parents) get hungry on long car rides. While snacks in the car are always an option, consider packing a cooler bag with some healthier choices to stop and stretch on a picnic blanket. If snacking and driving work best for your family, try and provide snacks based on one of the 4 good groups. And remember, bring other things along to do. Snacking can result from boredom on those long rides. There are many websites with fabulous car traveling games and snack ideas to go along with it. I have included a few below for some new ideas.
http://www.momsminivan.com/
http://fun.familyeducation.com/games/travel-games/45743.html
http://www.top-travel-tips.com/support-files/travel-games-children.pdf