Sure, you pay attention to every morsel your kid eats, but during a jam-packed day of work or running around, it’s all too easy to forget about nourishing yourself. The result? A frenzied trip to the drive-thru or vending machine after you suddenly realize you’re starvation central. “The worst thing you can do is go too long without eating,” says Keri Glassman, RD, a NYC-based dietitian (and mom to a 5-year-old and 17-month-old). “Then not only do you overeat, but you binge on unhealthy foods full of sugar and empty calories.”
“As a general rule, try to eat something every two to four hours. Selecting snacks at about 150 calories or less per serving will keep your hunger at bay without widening your waistline. Since you’re so swamped, we tapped experts for picks that multitask accordingly: Most are kid-friendly and nonperishable, so you can tuck them away in your diaper bag, car, or desk and not think about restocking every morning. Here are some satisfying snacks you can feel good about munching on.”
CEREAL

Divvy up a serving of your favorite flakes into little baggies for a stand-alone crunchy snack. Most cereals are fortified with essential nutrients like folic acid and other vitamins and minerals; your healthiest bets are also low in added sugar, high in fiber, and made with heart-healthy whole grains, like MultiGrain Cheerios, Product 19, Kashi GoLean, Fiber One Honey Clusters, Raisin Bran, and Quaker Oatmeal Squares. Pack your snack with a yummier nutritional punch by tossing in a few nuts for extra flavor (the protein will help stave off hunger longer).
SOY CRISPS

If you can’t eat just one, consider switching from potato or tortilla chips to soy crisps. A huge 140-calorie-ish portion generally packs only 2 grams of fat and as much as 10 grams of healthy soy protein, depending on the brand. So you can munch away and feel like you’re eating a ton without any guilt about the grease factor.
YOGURT SMOOTHIES

If you can’t eat just one, consider switching from potato or tortilla chips to soy crisps. A huge 140-calorie-ish portion generally packs only 2 grams of fat and as much as 10 grams of healthy soy protein, depending on the brand. So you can munch away and feel like you’re eating a ton without any guilt about the grease factor.
100-CALORIE CHOCOLATE

Can’t shake a chocolate craving? No need to deny it. “You’re better off addressing it or else you’ll end up overindulging later on,” says Felicia Stoler, DCN, MS, RD, a nutritionist and exercise physiologist with a New Jersey-based private practice. The key here is to make sure the portion size is small. Consider CocoaVia’s 80- to 150-calorie chocolate bars, which also contain heart-healthy plant extracts and antioxidants. Hershey’s also offers 100-calorie chocolate bars — we love the dark chocolate version.
STRING CHEESE

Your kids love this fun-to-peel snack, but it’s also a healthy choice for you. String cheese can stay out of the fridge a couple of hours, making it an ideal mid-morning nibble. A part-skim stick contains about 50 to 70 calories and 4 to 5 grams of fat, along with calcium for healthy bones and muscles and hunger-quenching protein. Pair it with a few whole-grain crackers to fulfill a crunch craving.
FRUIT

Pretty much a no-brainer, fruit like apples, pears and oranges are a busy-mom snack staple. These don’t spoil easily, so you can toss in your bag or leave at your desk for a few days at least. Medium-sized apples and pears pack about 100 calories each (about 65 for a medium orange) with lots of fiber and essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
WHOLE-GRAIN SNACK BAR

When you’re in rush-rush-rush mode (and don’t even have the time to, say, dunk carrots in hummus), snack bars are the perfect grab-and-go choice. “I leave six different bars in my car, so I know there’s something there to stop me from running into a convenience store when I’m out and hungry,” says Stoler. (And stashing them in the diaper bag is a great way to head off a hungry-toddler tantrum.)
But with hundreds of options out there — many loaded with a surprising amount of calories, sugar, and fat — looking at labels is key to making a healthy choice. Go for brands with less than 15 grams of sugar, at least 4 grams of fiber, and about 150 calories, like Kashi’s TLC Chewy Granola Bars, those from Gnu Foods and those Glassman creates for her clients (now available for sale on her Web site).
Hope these snacks had satisfied your taste bud!