Snacks have a way of taking over a household. And as parents, we know kids need them, but how do we prevent every event from becoming all about the snack food? Daddy Clay and Daddy Brad suggest some healthy snacks for children as alternatives, including organic snacks, carrots, raisins, pretzels, and others. DadLabs Ep. 333 The Lab. Brought to you by Boon.

DADDY CLAY: Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’re a part of almost every parents every day.

DADDY BRAD: Snacks!

DADDY BRAD: You know, snacks get a bad rap.

DADDY CLAY: This subject makes me hungry. Daddy
Brad, can I have a snack?

DADDY BRAD: But snacks are not inherently bad.

DADDY CLAY: I said I’m really hungry, can I have snack?

DADDY BRAD: Okay, that’s annoying, but snacks, done right, are important for kids. They have little stomachs, and need nutrition between meals.

DADDY CLAY: Please, please, please.

DADDY BRAD: Even the American Academy of Pediatrics says that two to three snacks a day in addition to three meals are best.

DADDY CLAY: Can I please have a snack.

DADDY BRAD: Yes, get a damn snack!

DADDY CLAY: A fruit snack?

DADDY BRAD: Yes, whatever. So annoying.

DADDY CLAY: This week’s episode -- brought to you by Boon -- is about managing snacks.

DADDY BRAD: Obviously the object with snacks is to go healthy -- fresh or whole foods. Here are some of our favorites.

DADDY CLAY: Two problems with healthy snacks. The kids like the crap better, and the crap comes in more convenient packaging.

DADDY BRAD: But look here’s a lot of the healthy stuff in easy packaging. Why the double standard? Why do people tolerate less healthy snacks than meals?

DADDY CLAY: When you’ve got school age kids, maybe you are packing lunches as well, it’s just tough to prep snacks, too. But my parent guilt kicks in, imagining the stay-at-home parent lovingly preparing the organic, home grown carrots and mint yoghurt dipping sauce while I’m shoving the Cheese-itz in the backpacks.

DADDY BRAD: If packaging is the problem, check out the snack ball from Boon. Put anything in here, good serving size, keeps the crackers from getting reduced to powder. Kids think it’s cool.

DADDY CLAY: My oldest would take a bat to that instantly.

DADDY BRAD: I think it’s for younger kids.

DADDY CLAY: Okay, couple of other snack techniques that helped us limit whining. We put the kids on snack schedule. Ten and three. And we made snack areas in the closet and fridge that we stock, and they choose. Much less whining that way.

DADDY BRAD: One thing that bums me out. At a certain point, everything becomes about the snacks.

DADDY CLAY: Every special event -- circus, ballgame, trip to the beach, everything becomes about the damn snacks.

DADDY BRAD: I don’t fight it.

DADDY CLAY: Me neither. It’s a special occasion. I just get the snacks out of the way, first thing, so we can enjoy the experience.

DADDY BRAD: And movies!

DADDY CLAY: Don’t get me started.

DADDY BRAD: You got snacks, gotta have juice. Check back on Thursday to get the Gear Daddy scoop in juice.

DADDY CLAY: One last complaint about snacks: I love them. Kills me.

DADDY BRAD: Before we had kids, there’s like one lemon in the fridge, now this stuff is EVERYWHERE.

DADDY CLAY: I don’t need snacks. You don’t need snacks.

DADDY BRAD: It’s one of the things they don’t warn you about.

DADDY CLAY: Anyway, if you have a technique for keeping snacks from taking over your life, or ideas for healthy snacks. Drop us a comment, join us at the DadLabs.com community ad you’ll automatically be registered for your weekly giveaway.

DADDY BRAD: This week we’ve got a great pack of feeding product from Boon -- innovations for modern parents, Boon.

DADDY CLAY: That’s all for us, this week in the lab. I’m fat because of fish crackers.