Easy Snack Ideas for Busy Moms

You’d think that since school is out for summer, my life would have gotten a little less busy. However, that isn’t the case at all. Summer days for me are packed full of work, fun and adventure. You see, not only do I work from home but during the summer I’m also juggling the kids’ entertainment, endless summer camp schedules and of course finding time for myself. It’s a balancing act that I try to perfect each and every day, and while some days are more successful than others, I’ve found that for me, the key to being the best mom I can be is by fueling my days with snacks that I can get excited about and finding ways to work a little me time into the craziness. That’s why I want to share with all you other mamas out there who are on summer break (or getting ready to start summer break) my easy snack ideas for busy moms that are all about Y-O-U!

If you’re like me, right about now you’re probably thinking that you don’t have time to think about snacks for yourself because there are kids at home and you gotta rock this mom thing with them for the next three months. That’s the exact same thought I had the day my kids got out of school (I’m honest about it). But let me tell you a little secret…..if you don’t take care of mama, who’s gonna take care of everyone else? It’s no secret that this year has been a year of self-care discovery for me and through putting myself back in the picture I’ve learned that it’s OK for me to give myself a little time and a little snack each and every day. Did you hear me there mamas? It’s OK to do something for you!!! And oh, am I going to show you how easy it is to fuel your day and give yourself a delicious break whenever you need one!

So, now that we’ve established that you can throw out all that mom guilt that says you must spend every moment this summer tending to the kids and all their wants and whims (PLEASE!), let’s talk about cheese. OK, did I switch things up on you too quickly there? Follow me here for a minute and I think you’ll understand. For me, cheese equals happiness. I seriously just love, love, L-O-V-E my cheese. In my mind it’s kind of a food group and instead of a “deli” drawer in my refrigerator, we have a cheese drawer. The whole fam knows that if they want life to be good, they better not take the last piece of cheese out of the cheese drawer because when I need a break, you can be darn sure it’s going to involve cheese in some form. Knowing this, I always (and I do mean always) peruse my way through the dairy section at Harris Teeter when I’m doing my weekly shopping trip. I stock up on Sargento^® Natural String Cheese and Sargento Colby Jack Stick Cheese on the regular. But recently while I was adding my weekly allowance of cheese to my shopping cart, some new products caught my eye. They had the same Sargento name that I always look for, but they boasted delicious combinations that took my cheese snacking ideas to amazing new levels that my tired mama brain couldn’t reach by itself. Mind blown I tell ya! There was a Sargento Sunrise Balanced Breaks that combined Monterey Jack Natural Cheese with Walnut Oat Granola with Dark Chocolate and Golden Raisins that was just perfect for my mid-morning snack. There were Sargento Balanced Breaks that paired Natural White Cheddar Cheese with Sea-Salted Roasted Almonds and Dried Cranberries that pretty much screamed “I’ll be your afternoon pick-me-up!”. And there were Sargento Sweet Balanced Breaks that mixed together Monterey Jack Natural Cheese with Dried Cranberries, Dark Chocolate Chunks and Banana Chips and was the little indulgence that I need at the end of a long day. Even better, Even better, from 5/29/19-6/25/19, you can save $0.75 on Sargento snacks at your local Harris Teeter. After adding all of these Sargento cheese snacks that are a nutritious, natural source of protein that taste great to my cart (did I mention I love cheese?), I took them home and discovered that this summer, easy snack ideas for moms start with Sargento!

Now, I could just leave you drooling over these delicious snacks and wondering if they could be a part of your balanced day but since I’m all about sharing, I want to tell you how these variety of snacks for all occasions are fueling my busy days and allowing me to have cheese (CHEESE!) pretty much any time I want it. So, let’s look at what a summer day looks like for me and how my now fully stocked cheese drawer helps me make the most of my days while giving me the ability to live a deliciously balanced life! Why don’t we start with morning time?

During the summer, I hit the ground running in the mornings. Usually at least one kid is awake asking to go to the pool or needing me to pack lunch for summer camp the minute I wake up. Truthfully, the first few hours of my morning are generally pretty hectic with me running around while I try to ingest my coffee and bring my mind to fully awake mode. So, when mid-morning hits and I realize that I didn’t get breakfast and really need a snack to keep me going till lunch, I reach for Sargento Sunrise Balanced Breaks. I can pair this simple snack with another cup of coffee and take a deep breath as I savor the Monterey Jack Natural Cheese and the way that it pairs perfectly with the subtle sweetness of the Walnut Oat Granola with Dark Chocolate and Golden Raisins.

It’s such a simple combination but one that tastes delicious while allowing me to feel like I’ve got a mid-morning snack that’s designed specifically for me. As I tune out the craziness of summer days at home and breath in fresh air for just a few minutes while I enjoy my Sargento Sunrise Balanced Breaks, I’m able to recharge and refuel from my busy morning and center and focus myself to take on the next part of the day.

After my mid-morning snack break with Sargento Sunrise Balanced Breaks, the kids are generally either at camp or busy with their summer work so it’s off to my at-home office for a few hours of work. I’m usually able to answer emails and work in peace for a couple of hours until it’s time for my workout. Now, any of you who have followed my year of self-care know that my hike is an essential part of my day. It gives me time to think and helps keep my body strong. But, hiking 8-10 miles a day means that it’s snack time before I head out on the trails. That’s where Sargento Colby Jack String Cheese comes in. With its individually wrapped sticks of tangy and delicious cheese, all I have to do is grab one as I head out the door and enjoy it before my hike so that I have the energy I need.

While a stick of Sargento cheese may not seem like a lot to fuel my hikes, it’s exactly what I need to give me that little boost that keeps me going. Plus, as an added bonus I can eat it and walk, meaning this multi-tasking mama continues to make the most of every minute of the day. Once my hike is over, I’m most likely ready for lunch and to start an afternoon of fun with the kids. While they are eating their sandwiches and fruit, I like to grab a little lettuce, top it with last night’s left-over veggies and add some sandwich meat. After adding a little fruit to my plate, I finish off my lunch with a piece of Sargento Natural String Cheese. It’s a perfect addition to my balanced lunch that gives me the cheesy flavor I want with every meal in a form that fits in with my busy lifestyle.

Now, by this point if you’re thinking “Whew, you pack a lot into your mornings!” you’d be right. I did tell you that summer days were busy for me but really the fun part of my day is just starting. You see, the afternoons are my special time with the kids. We go to the pool. We hit up the park. We play hard for the next few hours. So, by the time afternoons roll around and it’s time for me to set up the sprinkler outside so that they can continue to play while I start to think about dinner, I’m of course hungry again. Once I’ve got the boys entertained with the neighbors or chalk and games in the driveway, I often like to take about ten minutes for a quick afternoon snack. After hours of swimming and running and climbing at the park, Sargento Balanced Breaks are the perfect quick and easy option and they are SO good! With Natural White Cheddar Cheese, Sea-Salted Roasted Almonds, and Dried Cranberries, they are the perfect combination of tangy and salty to satisfy my taste buds and even better, they are just the right size for an afternoon snack that keeps me going.

By taking just ten short minutes to sit down with my Sargento Balanced Breaks, I’m recharged for the final lap of the day…. dinner and bedtime. Once I cook up a good dinner and get everyone fed, it’s time for the bed and bath routine with the kiddos and then finally, my day is done. I’ll be honest and say that once I get to this point in the day, I’m tired but I’m also completely content because I know that I’m making the most of these summer days and finding ways to balance work, parenting and me-time in the most delicious way. So, as a sweet reward to a day well-done, I often reach for Sargento Sweet Balanced Breaks to close out my day. With Monterey Jack Natural Cheese, Dried Cranberries, Dark Chocolate Chunks, and Banana Chips, it’s just the right combination of sweet and savory to end my day with. Truthfully, I often eat my Sargento Sweet Balanced Breaks in bed as I talk with the hubs about all the things that the day brought my way.

Then I’m able to drift off to sleep with the knowledge that tomorrow, I’ll do it all again with help from a variety of Sargento snacks from Harris Teeter.

Now it’s your turn. Whether you’re working this summer, hanging with the kids or balancing it all like me, make sure to fuel your summer days with a variety of wholesome and delicious Sargento snacks that are perfect for any snacking occasion. Start by heading to Harris Teeter from 5/29/19-6/25/19 when you can save ¢75 on Sargento snacks! Then stock up and find ways in your busy days to add a little time for self-care and snacking in the most delicious ways with a variety of Sargento products.

Now tell me, which of these easy snack ideas for busy moms are you most excited to try?