If you’re just joining us, this is Part 2 of the ‘Survival Guide for The Busy Sports Parents’.  In Part 1 The Letterman Co.’s newest guest blogger and Texas newbie mom Brittany helped us navigate the fashion side of collegiate sports and how to slay it!  You can read that HERE.

PART 2: Snack Ideas that Hit It Out of the Park

Now that your butts are comfortable and fashionable thanks to The Letterman Co., and all the other parents have started to give you that slow nod of approval, let me help you out with keeping you and your kids’ bellies full during all these games and running around.

I know some teams ask the parents to take turns bringing snacks for the entire team. Enter the ol’ panic attack. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! This brings me back to organization and time management. All these snacks are pretty much pre-packaged, so you don’t have to worry! But, if you are feeling adventurous, you could always create a customized sandwich baggie with each kids name on it.

Snack Pack Idea Level 1: Orange slices, pretzels and/or chocolate covered pretzels served with apple juice or water.

Orange slices have been given out at sports events for decades because they provide carbohydrates and water and help lower your risk of getting tired and dehydration. And pretzels are a simple carb and help you maintain electrolytes that are lost through sweat. 

Snack Pack Idea Level 2: Chocolate covered raisins, pretzels and/or chocolate covered pretzels (for those kids who don’t like raisins) and apple juice. I know what you’re probably thinking, raisins??

Raisins are actually a great source of potassium and iron and are known to boost exercise performance and endurance.  And chocolate? Well, who doesn’t love chocolate.

Snack Pack Idea Level 3: Don’t be a jerk, give the kids jerky! Jerky is a high-protein snack that also has high levels of zinc which can help with muscle strength and recovery. Serve the jerky up alongside sliced apples, a handful of pretzels and wash it down with thirst quenching Gatorade. 

Parent Snack Pack Idea: Hot Toddy, Spiked Hot Chocolate or if you’re boring, Gatorade or water. I’m kidding! Kind of. But in all seriousness, basically eat what the kids eat! That way you don’t have to worry about making yourself a snack and all the options are healthy! Win win for everyone!

But what happens when your kid has a late-night game you ask? You don’t need to always fall back on take out or pizza. My personal favorite easy meal is Linguine and Clam Sauce. It’s so quick to make but tastes like you spent hours on it! All you need is a few cans of chopped clams, my personal favorite is Snow’s. Start out with a half a stick of butter in a pan, melt that down with about 8 cloves of chopped garlic and sauté until soft. Then add in the clams WITH the clam juice. I like to add in a little extra garlic powder – it’s a good measure for keeping those other parents away from you! Cook for about 15 minutes, all the while, cooking your linguine at the same time. Once the pasta is cooked, toss the pasta into the  pan with the clams and sauce and cook for a few minutes so that the pasta can absorb the juices. Top it off with fresh parsley and enjoy!

I added below easy, one-pan dinner options from the Queen herself, Teigen from Half-Baked Harvest. If you don’t know her, get to know her – her food is simple and delicious! These are some of my favorites of hers that are easy to make.

One Pan Autumn Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

One Skillet Cheesy Broccoli Cheddar Orzo Bake

15 Minute Soy Sauce Butter Fried Rice

Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Salmon with Caesar Roasted Potatoes

Sheet Pan Sticky Ginger Soy Chicken and Broccoli

Fashion, check! Snacks, check! Dinner, check! Moms and dads, you’ve got this! Take a step back, take deep breaths and think, WWRGD (What Would Regina George Do?). Before you know it, your custom varsity jackets, and pennants, along with your top-notch snacks are going to get you noticed by the soccer moms of the group and you’ll be drinking spiked coffee right alongside with the best of them and you can add “soccer mom” to your resume.