I know that according to the calendar, we technically have a few more days until it’s officially summer, but with the kiddos out of school there is certainly a summer vibe happening. Summer usually means fun times for most of us. And, if you have kids, it also means you need a lot of snacks. Today I want to talk about how I stock my pantry and fridge for summer fun.

Since this is a nutrition-adjacent post, I will start with my usual disclaimer that I am not a nutritionist or dietician. My recommendations are based on what I have found works for my family, kiddo, and his buddies in our neighborhood. As always, tweak these ideas for your own individual circumstances.

Summer Vacay

The obvious place to start is with the biggest fun, and often biggest headache, that summer brings. Vacation packing is always a Thing. Capital T. Especially if you are headed camping or to the beach where it is more likely you will be cooking at least some of your own meals.

For these types of trips, food safety is the biggest issue. And stomach upset is not a fun way to remember vacation. Breakfast is one we almost always make on our own. We are big fans of oatmeal with fruit and peanut butter. Easy to make and super filling. We also like pre-making either breakfast sammies or burritos and freezing them solid. This serves the dual purpose of keeping them fresh and safe longer, but also as extra ice if needed.

Otherwise, my cooler is usually stocked with pre-cut fruit and veggies that don’t necessarily need to be kept cold cold. Carrots, cucumbers, avocado, apples, bananas, grapes, peaches, bell peppers, and berries are favorites. I also always have nuts, trail mix, pretzels, crackers, granola bars, and fruit leathers. For protein, string cheese, BabyBel, or pre frozen yogurt tubes are okay as long as you don’t leave them until the end of the day. Otherwise, tuna or chicken pouches that can stand the temps are a win. Jerky can also be a good bet.

Day Trips

If you are able to pack a small cooler to keep things cold, do it. Anything that your family likes and comes in single serving sizes will work. If you are out walking around somewhere, these can be passed out quickly and easily disposed of, too. Be careful of sodium amounts. Too much can cause a dehydration spiral. Speaking of, don’t forget enough water. If you’ll be out for long periods of time in the sun and/or heat, I’d advise Pedialyte. I prefer it to Gatorade or Powerade, although those will also work. Stick to the traditional format that has electrolytes and no caffeine. I like Pedialyte because you can purchase single serving powder mixes, which means each person can have their favorite flavor on demand. Liquid IV is another similar option.

Day to Day

Here’s the real mess of the summer stock up. There isn’t a parent alive that doesn’t know the frustration of a half dozen neighborhood kids barreling into the house demanding snacks. Of course they all want something different and a drink to match. Oh, and they’ll ask every hour on the hour, too. I solved this issue by creating a snack station that I keep in our garage.

I purchased a medium sized drink tub (the kind you fill with ice and then bury soda in for a cook out) that has sturdy handles. I keep a variety of single serving snacks in the tub, along with some drinks and old plastic grocery bags for trash. This bin lives on a shelf in our garage that the kiddos can reach. They can pull it down and cart it around the yard and grab what they like. They don’t need to come charging through the house, so the dirt stays out and the air conditioning stays in.

Juicy Juice 100% juice boxes or the 100% juice Capri Suns are wins for drinks. The kids like applesauce pouches, fruit strips, Goldfish, Veggie Straws, granola bars, animal crackers, mini Oreos, popcorn, and pretzels. We have several families in the ‘hood that follow cultural dietary rules, so I try to keep at least one snack at all times that fits those. I do also keep popsicles in the freezer for really hot days.

Night Time Fun

Evening provides the best time for fun in the summer. The previously mentioned single serving sized snacks and drinks are great for backyard or drive in movie parties. But what is summer without ice cream? I’m actually a big fan of the boring flavors; it’s much easier to create a spontaneous sundae bar with vanilla, chocolate, and a bunch of toppings. These also serve to make floats quicker.

Oh, and don’t forget s’mores stuff. And nothing against the original version, but have you tried peanut butter cup s’mores? Or cinnamon grahams with dark chocolate? Reminds me, I gotta ask the hubs to prep the fire pit…

What is your favorite summer time food? Tell us in the comments!