My son has been playing sports since he was three years old. Oddly enough, the thing that will send a mom into a panic faster than a goalie missing the ball is being told she in charge of snacks for a game.
Nobody wants to be the bad mom who brought the inappropriate or worse bad snack. The kids' favorite part of the games is the snack time afterwards. This leads to a lot of pressure on the team parent who is in charge of bringing that snack.
My favorite story I have ever heard was when a friend of mine brought bubble gum for her son's soccer team after practice one day. Afterwards, one of the moms approached her and told her next week she would make sure she brought sugar-free gum. Ouch!
Many moms do not want their child to have a lot of sugar and demand healthy snacks. Many kids stick their nose up at healthy snacks. What is the solution? Balance. Take a deep breath and don't stress. Here are a few suggestions that will satisfy the majority for team snacks.
DrinksGatorade-is the top kid's choice. One draw back is more than likely when it comes to baseball players' Gatorade use, the kids have already had one during the game. Too much could lead to bad tummy problems.
Propel-is a good alternative because it is flavored water. Just be prepared for the kids whining because it isn't Gatorade.
Capri Sun Sport-these are new to the sport snack scene. They come with different sports pictured on the side so you can find the sport that you are buying for and buy that flavor. Kids love it and it is a small drink in comparison to the others.
Bottled water-Although the parents will love you, the kids will not.
It is ok for the kids to have some sugar after a game. They have burned a lot of electrolytes playing the game and should rehydrate.
FoodOranges-these are very popular at halftime of soccer games as well as afterwards. When kids are smaller, most parents just bring snack for after, so not to lose their attention to the game. As they grow, halftime snacks can provide some much needed energy.
Granola Bars-These are good for those healthy parents, but you can get the ones with some good flavors for the kids.
Goldfish-Also a great healthy snack that parents and kids love.
Chips-There are Sun Chips or any kind of chips.
Graham Crackers
Fruit-Bananas or apple slices make great on the go snacks.
Crackers-they have peanut butter and cheese crackers that are great snacks. Be aware of peanut butter allergies.
Doughnuts-These are great for those early morning games. The kids love the treat.
These are just a few suggestions. You know what types of food your kids like. Be confident and don't let the other parents get to you. It isn't that big of a deal. One piece of advice-remember to bring enough for siblings. Feel free to add any additional ideas in the comments.
