Car Rider Line Survival + Our Top 5 On-The-Go Snacks

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Besides our too early morning wake ups, the thing I'm least looking forward to about my big boy starting kindergarten is the ever so long car rider line in the mornings and in the afternoons. Now, if it was just me, I would be happy listening to a book, making my to-do list, jamming out to a good song, BUT I will also have a 3-year-old with me most of the time and every day may get a little difficult. Pick up is right before his typical naptime, so I'm positive this will be an adjustment for all of us. 

One thing I learned from our not-nearly-as-long pickup line in preschool was to be prepared. I was always grabbing last minute snacks and to-go drinks out of the fridge. Ezra would load up with a basket of toys and it was worth it to have a snack for Ezra and then a drink and small snack for Jonah since he was getting out of preschool just before lunch, but this year it will be around 2 pm when I pick him so I am thinking he'll be ready for a hefty snack after a long day at school. 

So, here is a little peek at my Car Rider Line Survival Kit and my Top 5 Afternoon Snacks that work well for being on-the-go with my boys. 

1. A DRINKABLE SNACK We invested in stainless steel insulated cups for the boys at the beginning of the summer and they have been great for being on the go! These work well for yogurt smoothies as well as treats like frozen lemonade and of course I can fill them with water too. 

2. SOMETHING CRUNCHY like RITZ Filled Sandwich Crackers. I found my RITZ crackers at my local Kroger. Find your local Kroger/Kroger Family of Stores to get your RITZ crackers here. 

We found them on the snack aisle, where you find things like juice boxes and I grabbed Peanut Butter for Ezra and Cheese for Jonah (and myself). These are so perfect for anytime on-the-go and the package fits right in the boy's cup holders, so they can easily access them without too many spills. 

3. DRIED FRUIT (like raisins or dehydrated apples) is something we always pick up at Kroger too. My boys love this option. It's easy and sweet but not candy! 

4. A MIX OF GRANOLA, SEEDS, OR NUTS. A favorite snack of my soon to be six year old. His latest favorite is a mix of pumpkin and sunflower seeds. We add these to a snack bag and they keep pretty well over a couple of days. 

5. THE SNACK FOR WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS... CANDY. (age appropriate) Suckers and candy in the car make me a little nervous, but I have been known to keep a safety sucker or two stashed away "incase of an emergency." This, of course, is not a suggestion for each and every day, but you know that day when nothing is good enough for the toddler. You can say or do anything right. A sweet treat tends to win them back over from the dark side long enough to get through a long line. 

Other items I have included in our Car Rider Line Survival Kit include:

• Books, magazines, and activity books
• Pen/pencil
• Wipes
• Hand purifier
• Bag to gather trash

I am sure some of these items will change throughout the year, but I hope our survival kit with our top 5 snacks will keep us from meltdowns while on-the-go! What would you include in your survival kit?