Avoiding “Hangry Mom Syndrome”

*NOTE: I wrote this post a couple months back before our little Alice girl arrived and these snacks are still pretty perfect for this postpartum time :).
When you’re a parent, the phrase “meal time” takes on a very different meaning than it had in the pre-children days. Of course our children receive well-balanced, perfectly thought out meals and snacks, but if you’re anything like me (and most parents I know) then you often end up realizing once you’ve made that meal that you’ve completely forgotten to make something for yourself. Am I alone on this one? I am so notoriously bad about this. Often when we head out for an outing during the day I’ll make sure to pack a lunch for my kids, only to realize once we’re at the zoo or the park that I’m totally starving and my only available options are goldfish cracker crumbs or PB&J sandwich crusts pilfered from my kids (not that I haven’t done this one a few – or 20 – occasions). 
God bless snacking, because most times by the time I’ve realized that I haven’t made myself a meal I’ve already put all the food-making supplies away and have approximately zero motivation to pull everything out again.If it weren’t for snacks, I would probably die, since it’s not that I’m no longer hungry, but I just really hate food prep and cooking and thinking about what to eat. If you were to ask me what my love language is I would tell you that it’s food that I don’t have to cook. No joke, the best part about having a new baby (aside from the actual new baby) is all the friends and family who sign up for our meal train to bring us food. I’m pretty sure that part is what is going to get me through the painful natural birth part whenever Baby #3 decides to arrive in the coming month…the food I don’t have to cook at the end of the tunnel (and this is absolutely not an over exaggeration).
The problem with snacking though (even more so when you’re a pregnant lady with cravings and who can go from zero to hangry in 60 seconds flat) is that when I do it, I often end up making not great choices. “What do you mean those pop tarts aren’t healthy? They totally say organic on the box and there aren’t even any sprinkles!” I try not to buy junk food very often, but (especially) during pregnancy, my will power at the grocery store is only so strong. If I’m even remotely hungry when I leave the house to do our shopping, there’s no telling what I’m going to come home with.
Recently though, I discovered these super delicious Nabisco GOOD THiNS crackers and they have quickly become my go-to snack. I appreciate that they are baked with real ingredients and without artificial flavors or colors or extra junk. They have eight flavors, but I’m pretty partial to the spinach & garlic variety, because 1) Who doesn’t love garlic? and 2) I’m supposed to eat more “leafy greens” per midwive’s orders, so this feels much more virtuous than a handful of tortilla chips. It’s easy to just grab a handful of GOOD THiNS and add them to a plate with some fruit and cheese and feel like I’m eating something resembling more of an actual meal than just a toaster pastry. They’re also great for keeping in the car to help combat “hangry mom” situations. The bonus is that unlike some of the protein bars I’ve stashed in my car in the past, the crackers won’t melt and make a huge mess. Definitely a mom win in my book.
Avoiding "Hangry Mom Syndrome" // via The Little Things We Do
Avoiding "Hangry Mom Syndrome" // via The Little Things We Do
What are your go-to snacks to combat your inner “hangry mom”? I’m always looking for delicious (but most importantly easy) things to eat when I’m on-the-go or having a busy day (read: pretty much always)!

Kids are honest in a way that adults rarely are (just ask my 4-year- old who “lovingly” refers to my pregnant belly as a chubby belly). They’re also difficult to please (hello picky eaters and type-A tots like mine), which is why they make great go-to food critics.

Love,
Lauren
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by GOOD THiNS through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about GOOD THiNS, all opinions are my own.

 

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