Hack the Hangry for Busy Parents

This post has been sponsored by Jack Link’s in partnership with Ahalogy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Anyone else overwhelmed when it comes to kids and their activities {raises hand high in the sky} ?. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love that my kids are active, it’s one of the fondest memories from my childhood I have and being able to try all different sorts of sports to find “the one.”  I also want them to live a healthy lifestyle and not resort to electronics all day long which is so easy to do these days.  So activity after activity it is and honestly, they love it.

The life of a parent is busy but one of the ways I have found to conquer that busy is to be prepared when hanger strikes.  With all of the running around we do, it’s easy to forget the snacks or heaven forbid the water bottles and then meltdowns ensue.  Feed my kids snacks and they’re happy campers.

A way I have found to the hack the hangry is to stock up on high protein snacks such as Jack Links.  I love Jack Links and always have.  When I was a little girl, when my dad would run uptown to the store, he’d always let my sister and I pick out a treat.  I was that kid who picked up a Jack Link’s All American Beef & Cheese Stick.  I’d pick that beef stick over candy any day.  To this day, it’s still my go to when I need a little afternoon snack and I’ve accidentally forgotten to “stock the car.”

What I really love about Jack Links is how easy it is to head into your local Kroger, check out the store locator here, stock up on a large variety of flavors and store them in your car, gym bag, sports bag, purse or if you are like me, all of the above.  Every time I notice our supply dwindling, I march into Kroger and grab at least 3 bags to place in every situation to make sure hanger doesn’t happen in the car, house or when we’re out and about.

I personally love the turkey and my husband loves pepper flavor, which he keeps a bag of it in his desk at work. For my kids, my daughter loves the hickory smoked and son loves the original.  There’s a bag for everyone.  It’s a win all around!

My favorite place to store them is in the car.  I always have a bag in my center console because I don’t always remember to grab a bag when I’m heading out the door.  Then, while I’m waiting for my son to get out of day camp, I can snack on lean, protein packed Turkey Jerky.

And he’s lucky he’s cute because I don’t mind sharing my Turkey Jerky.

You see, my Monday goes like this:

8:00 Day camp drop off

9:45-10:45 Daughter swim lessons

11:30 lunch

1:00-3:30 run as many errands as possible while I only have 1 in tow.

3:45 pick son up from day camp

5:15-6:15 Son T-ball.

I literally live in my car on Mondays, hence while I stock up on easy, transferable, high protein snacks.  This mama doesn’t have any time for hangry moments.

I am always on the hunt for high protein, low-fat, sugar and low carb snacks and Jack Links are all of the above.  They couldn’t satisfy my family more and that makes for one happy mama. It’s so easy these days to grab a high sugar candy bar when you’re in a pinch.   It’s hot outside and when my kids are running around having a good time, they get cranky and a boost in protein is just the thing they need to get back on track and fuel them up for rest of the afternoon’s activities.

By keeping a bag of Jack Links in all possible areas of my life, I’m hacking the hungry after day camp, T-ball, swim lessons, gymnastics, school lunches (perfect lunch box size), after school, etc.…I’ve got all my bases covered.  And truth is I’m hangry too after being a taxi driver all day and having almost zero time out of the car.

My advice to you, grab a couple of bags of Jack Links at Kroger, they’re cheap too ($3.99/bag) and have your family try the flavors.  I don’t think you’ll be surprised at how much they love them.  They’re a delicious and nutritious way to hack the hangry before it strikes!

How do you plan to Hack the Hangry this back to school season?  Share on social media with #HangryHacks  I can’t wait to see your ideas!