halfways healthy grocery store convenience/ready-to-eat foods?

[caedmyn]

I'm not the greatest planner, and there have been several times lately when we've been out and about and everyone is hungry. Usually we're near a grocery store, and I usually end up buying organic tortilla chips...but I'm sure there are better ready-to-eat grocery store "convenience" foods I could get instead, if only I could think of some! Any suggestions? Must be dairy-free as both of my LOs have problems with dairy.

[elleystar]

Um, I know that our Wal-Mart carries Tillamook individually wrapped hunks of their sharp cheddar (unpasteurized!) and it's called Till-A-Moos. Around $2.80 for a bag of them. Sometimes I'll get a bag, open it and let DS eat one while I shop. I like having them at home too since I can toss a few in the diaper bag if I think we'll be out long enough to want a snack.

Oh crap, you said dairy free.

Well sometimes I will buy these packages of Hormel Natural Choice deli meats-particularly the uncured salami. No MSG, nitrates, etc. They are sliced paper thin so I use them sometimes to add interest to the sandwiches DH takes every day for lunch. They're good for snacking on too.

Other than that, all I can think of are those little ready to go packages of cut up veggies or fruits that often come with some horrendous dip. Or you could buy a bunch of bananas...

[dachshundqueen]

Hummus
Salsa
Guacamole
Yogurt cups
Granola bars
Dried or fresh fruit
Veggie sticks
Applesauce cups
Peanut butter
Rice crisps

Liz

[leila1213]

Originally Posted by elleystar

Well sometimes I will buy these packages of Hormel Natural Choice deli meats-particularly the uncured salami. No MSG, nitrates, etc. They are sliced paper thin so I use them sometimes to add interest to the sandwiches DH takes every day for lunch. They're good for snacking on too.

Good to know! I was just thinking how I would love to find decent pepperoni or salami, as I used to (still do) LUUUUURVE the Subway spicy italian subs with TONS of mayo, but I'm pregnant, and...duh.

Anyway, my cousin turned me on to Larabars. They aren't cheap--my TJ's sells them for $1.29 but most places they are $1.69 each. But they seriously have like 3 to 5 ingredients. And since they're mostly nuts, I feel like it's a healthy, filling snack for DD. Instead of all carbs that will just make her hungrier. Relying on them way too often due to pregnancy laziness.

[lil_earthmomma]

For us, it would be:

Gluten free turkey pepperoni stix
those prepared fruit/veggie trays that they have in the deli section
nuts

For a quick dinner I'd grab one of those cooked chickens!

We live in a tiny village sans grocery store, but I used to love being able to grab a whole chicken and whip up some gravy with the drippings! Dinner in 15 min!

[elleystar]

Originally Posted by leila1213

Good to know! I was just thinking how I would love to find decent pepperoni or salami, as I used to (still do) LUUUUURVE the Subway spicy italian subs with TONS of mayo, but I'm pregnant, and...duh.

Anyway, my cousin turned me on to Larabars. They aren't cheap--my TJ's sells them for $1.29 but most places they are $1.69 each. But they seriously have like 3 to 5 ingredients. And since they're mostly nuts, I feel like it's a healthy, filling snack for DD. Instead of all carbs that will just make her hungrier. Relying on them way too often due to pregnancy laziness.

It's really good, I think you'll like it! I don't buy it too often but since I won't go near salami or pepperoni otherwise, it's nice to have now and then.

I don't know if you have Safeway where you're at. But right now, for us it's displayed right by the deli, they have these sausages in for the holidays. They've got wine in them so there's chianti and rose and one other flavor. But the best part is they don't have any of the usual nitrates or soy or whatever else narsty that often gets put into sausage!! They're all packaged so nicely, rolled up in paper. I bought one to taste and it was heavenly. The box set of three is $18 so I'm trying to hold out till after Christmas when I bet they will mark them down cheaper.

[greenmom4]

How 'bout olives? Nuts? Celery and almond butter? Fruit leather? Popcorn? Beef/salmon/whatever jerky?

[425lisamarie]

Today we were in the same boat. I took the kids out and made an unplanned long visit somewhere on the way home near a nicer market. I let them each pick out a yogurt, there are so many from regular/goat's milk, coconut yogurts....then I bought some apples and asked the produce guy if I could wash in their sink in the back. I often buy just a couple slices of the good quality lunch meat or cheese, and a box of healthy crackers or a small loaf of good bread, it's not like it will go bad we will eat it at home, too. If it's like a nicer grocery with somewhere to sit down you can just buy a bunch of stuff and fix a plate there, that's what we do if needed.

I also sometimes grab a bunch of bananas, and a baggie of each a dried fruit and some kind of nuts from the bulk bins.