We are going to have an especially busy week with lots of running. With that running and busy week often means meals on the run and sometimes eating out… definitely not frugal.

Well, this afternoon when I was making my daughter’s snacks and deciding what I was going to make for her dinner on the run I realized that my habit taking 5 minutes or so to prepare her snacks and meals actually saves us money and I thought I would just share some tips for those of you who maybe aren’t quite to toddlerhood yet.

I am a firm believer that kids know things by the example you set for them (good or bad) and they come to expect certain things from you based on the example you set. So, say you buy your kid a toy every time you go to the store… they expect a toy everywhere they go… you get the picture.

For my daughter, the thing she has come to expect from me is food. Yup, you read that right, she expects healthy, nutritious food from good ol’ mommy anytime we go out anywhere, no matter the length of the trip. No kids menu or pricey on the go snacks for my kid. She turns her nose up at chicken nuggets. She prefers homemade pasta, veggies and anything else that mommy makes. It’s just what she is used to.

I initially got into the “habit” of toting around my daughter’s food everywhere I went when I made her baby food. I would carry little ice cubes of homemade baby food with us when we traveled. Now that she’s two I carry anything from the toddler standard Cheerios or Goldfish to diced fresh fruit, turkey cubes and pasta… anything she would eat at home I am willing to take on the road.

If you start your child out by making at least their snacks when you travel, you can save a bunch. Here are a few tips on how to keep it frugal:

Take and Toss Items: Stock-up on some Take and Toss items. That’s what you see in my daughter’s lunch box above. They are pretty inexpensive, so you aren’t crushed it you lose one or if you need to “toss” one (they can be recycled). We have used the little bowls and spoons since we were making baby food. We do try to keep ours for a bit and not “toss” them because they are nice and handy. They are more fun than a plastic baggie, more versatile, things won’t get smooshed and they can be microwaved, washed in the dishwasher and are reusable.

Lunch Box: We have a small child’s size lunch box that’s a pretty floral for her stuff. We ordered ours free from LL Bean (we had earned a gift card). But, it’s hers exclusively and she knows it. We just put in an hot/cold pack if we need to keep things hotter or colder than it keeps things. It’s small enough to fit into a tote bag or sometimes I just carry it.

Buy Items In Bulk: Try to stay away from smaller pre-packed convenience size items and buy larger sizes, unless the smaller size is a better value. It only takes a second to divide into smaller portions and will save you money. Like I said though, watch your per ounce pricing. an example is that it’s less expensive for us to buy the smaller boxes of raisins than a large bag.

Fresh Fruits and Veggies: Buy seasonal veggies in order to save. Wash and pre-cut them when you bring them home.

Buy A Crinkle Cutter: If your child is making the switch from store bought to homemade, consider a crinkle cutter to make the food fun. I saw one for under $3 at Marshall’s the other day.

Think Outside The Box: If we eat it at home, we eat it on the road. Yogurt, pasta, peas, applesauce…. you name it.

Make The Time: I think the thing is you just have to make the 5 minutes that it takes, just like anything else in life worth doing.

I will admit I do get the occasional look from other parents out there when we sit down at a restaurant and I have a little meal prepared for my daughter. I have also had friends kids munching on my daughter’s snacks because they are hungry. It’s amazing how much more well behaved kids are when they have food at a restaurant! I always pack extra when we are going out with friends so we can share. It’s a habit, something I am used to and it literally takes me 5 minutes and saves us hundreds of dollars. Not to mention the added benefit of knowing what our child is eating!