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Last summer, I realized I was either going to spend a fortune at snack bars or spend my entire summer listening to, “Mom, I’m hungry.”
I spent the best money EVER on 2 snackle boxes. My first and most simple thought was that I could use one box for each of my daughters and pack them for all of our summer adventures– from the pool to the beach and the backyard to boat trips.
When that Amazon box first arrived, I had no idea these snackle boxes would be a top 5 purchase from Amazon– ever.
We use these snackle boxes all year long, but especially from April to October when we are out and about. I have saved hundreds of dollars at snack bars and put stops –and saved us from eating pure junk all summer.
The Best Summer Purchase I Almost Returned
Even though I knew they could be useful, I felt frivolous spending money on 2 of them. I thought about returning 1 and thought better of it.
I have absolutely zero regrets about ordering 2 boxes. They’re incredibly versatile. Sometimes I pack one box for each child– life if we are going to the beach for dinner, for example. Sometimes I use one box for fruits, vegetables, and other refrigerated snacks and keep that closest to the ice packs in the cooler. The other box gets filled with all non-perishable, usually single-serve snacks. This system is also helpful when my daughters are looking for a particular snack. They can be independent and know where everything is.
The snackle box has lengthened our pool, beach, and boat days. With simple, accessible, refreshing snacks in the cooler, we don’t have to stop at the snack bar or go home early to feed hungry kids.
The Snack Bar Trap
It has saved my sanity as a mom home during the summer solo parenting while my husband has his busy overtime season and works a second job. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard whining kids at the pool asking, “Can I have a snaaaaaack?”. I watch parents get up from their lounge chairs, collect all of their kids and dry them off, dig for their wallets, head to the snack bar, and sit for about 30 minutes while their kids eat.
Since I pack our own snacks, I really didn’t pay attention to how much the snack bar food costs. It wasn’t until family ice cream night when we dropped $40 on a few small bowls of soft serve that I thought, this is crazy.
I’m all for a special treat, but I seriously don’t know how parents can spend upwards of $40 a day at the snack bar all summer. I know I can’t swing that on a teacher and first responder salary combo with other major living expenses. Between pool days, beach days, playground trips, boat rides, and summer camps, it’s easy to spend $20–$40 without even thinking about it. A few drinks, an ice cream, a basket of fries, and suddenly you’ve spent what feels like a grocery trip–and you still have to go home and make dinner for hungry swimmers!
The Snackle Box Is Buying Me Time Right Now
I packed these snackle boxes every single summer night. When I took them out at the pool, so many people asked me where they were from and commented that they were brilliant. I have to say, the baskets of fried snack bar food smelled delish, but the vibrant, fresh snackle box colors beat the grease every time. The easy snacks kept my kids fueled and calm rather than sugared up or feeling tired from the heavy food.
As a matter of fact, the snackle box is buying me the time to write this post right now. My daughters are outside sharing one while they play in the yard. Instead of hearing “Mom, can I have a snack?” every ten minutes, they’re helping themselves and carrying on with their adventures.
It’s a small thing, but that’s exactly why I love these boxes. They give me a few extra minutes of breathing room in a season of life that rarely has any.
It’s Not About the Snackle Box
Something else shifted when I bought these snackle boxes–I started to actually think: What do I need for the pool tomorrow?
I often forget or don’t have the energy to pack what I need, which leaves me out and about with two well-cared for children and my stomach growling, my patience waning, and my energy depleted.
Last summer after some health concerns, I cut most gluten and dairy from my diet. With prepped snackle boxes full of fruits and vegetables, I had options and spent a little more time caring for myself. My daughters also saw me eating whole foods and practicing what I preach, which encouraged them to do the same.
It’s not about the snackle box. It’s about intention, self-care, modeling healthy habits, and starting fresh each day.
When the Snackle Box Was Empty, It Was Empty
By the end of the summer, they knew that they could get a snack whenever they wanted as long as they asked–and when the snackle box was empty, it was empty. They learned to save special treats for the walk or drive home. When they were really hungry, they reached for yogurt pouches I froze the night before or cheese and fruit.
Kids are kids–of course they asked for snack stuff, but it was within my control and they didn’t mind one bit. When we did get ice cream or pizza for a special treat, it was exactly that: special. I firmly believe when kids get the “special” all the time, the joy is diluted and ultimately the good goes unappreciated through no fault of their own.
Our Favorite Snackle Box Fillers
My goal for this summer is to put together a shopping list/snack list of sorts for the snackle boxes so I don’t have to think. I can just prep and pack and get on with life’s adventures.
Some of our favorites in the rotation:
Proteins
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Cheese cubes
- Yogurt pouches
Fruits
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Melon
Vegetables
- Cucumbers
- Peppers
- Cherry tomatoes
Crunchy Favorites
- Crackers
- Pretzels
- Chips
The Art of the Snackle Box
The art of the snackle box isn’t really about snacks.
It’s about anticipating tomorrow before tomorrow arrives. It’s about spending ten minutes tonight so that everyone is happier tomorrow. It’s about creating a little more freedom, a little less spending, and a lot less scrambling when life is already busy enough–and the precious moments with little kids snacking poolside flying by.
More Summer Systems for Busy Moms
If pool mornings feel chaotic…
Teacher Mom’s Pool-to-Bedtime Routine
The exact system I use to get two young kids packed, fed, sunscreened, entertained, and home again without feeling completely frazzled.
If you’re constantly buying things for summer…
The $200 Shopping Trip That Saved My Teacher-Mom Summer
The handful of purchases that eliminated friction all season long and earned a permanent spot in our summer routine.
If you’re packing for the pool tomorrow…
What I Pack the Night Before Pool Days
The simple checklist that helps me avoid forgetting towels, goggles, snacks, and everything else that somehow gets left behind.
If you’re trying to stretch your budget…
5 Items I’m Restocking This Summer Instead of Overspending on Convenience
The products I buy again and again because they save time, money, and frustration all summer long.
If your weekends feel like recovery mode…
The few things I do every weekend that make weekday mornings dramatically easier.
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