Thank you to JOLLY TIME Pop Corn for sponsoring this post!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned since becoming a mom, it’s how to eat with one hand. Our daughter, Riese, loves being held, so Matt and I have gotten very used to holding her in one arm (or in my case, feeding her with one arm) and eating meals and snacks with the other! Since I know I have a lot of readers who are also parents, I thought it would be helpful today to round up some of my favorite easy snacks that you can eat with one hand – because staying fueled is especially important when you have little ones to keep up with! Even if you can’t sit down to a mindful meal, you can always grab something with one hand, right?!
So, without further ado, here are some of my favorite really easy and one-hand friendly snacks, perfect for parents or for anyone who is on the go!
1) Popcorn!
I’ve always been a popcorn fan, but I especially love it now because it’s so easy to eat (and to make) with one hand! JOLLY TIME Pop Corn sent me some of their new microwave popcorn, Simply Popped, and it has been PERFECT to snack on while snuggling with the babe. It’s delicious – it tastes like stove-top, homemade popcorn, but is way more convenient to make while holding a baby since you just make it in the microwave.
The ingredient list is great, too – just butter, sea salt, non-GMO popcorn, and oil. Popcorn is rich in fiber, too, which is good news for keeping you full longer! JOLLY TIME has been in business for over 100 years, so clearly they are doing something right! Riese is clearly impressed.
2) Spoonful of nut butter straight from the jar
No shame. Sometimes you only have a few minutes and just need something NOW. Do it.
3) Crackers with hummus or guacamole
Always a classic combo, and a great mix of carbs (crackers) and protein (hummus) or fat (guac) to keep you fueled through the day! For a bonus, add some veggies to the mix, too – just chop them beforehand (when not holding a baby) so you can easily grab them when it’s snack time!
4) Dried edamame or roasted chickpeas
I always keep some store-bought dried edamame and roasted chickpeas on hand for when I want something crunchy but that also has some protein in the mix. Super satisfying and very portable, too!
5) Hard or soft boiled egg
Enjoy the eggs on their own, or pair with some fruit and/or a baked good if you like! And yes, boiled eggs do require planning ahead a bit and actually boiling the eggs – or you can keep it really simple and just buy some pre-hard boiled eggs. You pay for the convenience but sometimes it’s worth it!
Sidenote – Matt thinks store bought pre-boiled eggs are gross, so I especially like eating these when he is around just to creep him out. 😉 This is one of my favorite gas station snacks that’s actually healthy/filling, too, so I buy them a lot on road trips. And if you think grocery store hard boiled eggs gross Matt out, you should see how grossed out he is by gas station hard boiled eggs. #sorrynotsorry
6) Whole milk latte
Because as a parent, caffeine is life – and if you make it with whole milk, you get some protein and fat staying power in the mix, too.
7) Fruit with yogurt or cottage cheese
Love the combo of protein (yogurt/cottage cheese) and fiber (fruit)! The fruit is nice and hydrating, too, which is helpful because breastfeeding makes me really thirsty all the time. This also makes a great filling and quick breakfast – just add some granola or raw oats and seeds to the mix to amp up the volume a bit if you’re having it as a meal!
8) Smoked salmon
You can eat this with crackers or just snack on it as-is! This is one of my favorite savory, protein-rich, and easy to grab options. Another one is canned tuna – just mix it with guac or hummus and have it with crackers!
9) A baked good
Last but not least, baked goods are an awesome one-handed snack!
If you’re tight on time and a brand new parent who is lucky enough to have people bringing you food, request a baked good like my Oatmeal Banana Coconut Cookies, Red Lentil Granola Bars, or Peanut Butter Power Cookies! They are all a great mix of fiber, protein, and fat to keep you going, and make great middle of the night snacks as well as daytime snacks!
I will close out this post with a funny photo of what happened when we came inside after the outdoor popcorn photo shoot at the start of the post… Riese was like, “nope, it’s time for me to eat now, not you!” Lol #reallife Luckily popcorn is also easy to eat with one hand while breastfeeding!
What are your favorite easy one-handed snacks?
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