4 Mason Jar On-The-Go Kid Snacks and Treats

I know I’m not alone in my love of the affordable, accessible, reusable and pretty mason jar. I use mason jars as cups, as storage containers, as food containers, as vases, to package food gifts, for crafts… You name it, and you can probably find a way to include a mason jar.

With the handy dandy lid, mason jars make great snack containers, especially when you need to grab and go. Here are four ideas for super snacks your kids will love packaged in mason jars.

STRIPED MASON JAR SNACK

This snack-on-the go doubles as food art when you layer the snacks in colorful stripes. Use any dried fruits, nuts, crackers, cereal or snacks you like.

Shown here are dried cranberries, dried strawberries, dried apricots, goldfish crackers, Kix cereal, dried peas, dried edamame, and raisins. Just layer about ½ inch of each in a mason jar, fill to the brim and close with a lid. Let kids munch down the rainbow to the bottom.

FIND THE BERRY! KIX MASON JAR GAME

A blueberry, a strawberry, a dried apricot, a Berry Kix, a pretzel, a goldfish cracker… Hide just one piece of any snack you like in a mason jar full of Kix, leave a bit of space at the top for shuffling, close tightly with a lid and challenge kids to find what’s hiding inside. Gently roll the mason jar around until the hidden morsel shows itself.

To make the game (or, um, snack), fill up the jar with Kix halfway. Add a berry or other edible. Top with Kix to about 1 inch to 2 inches from very top rim of jar. The more filled the jar, the more difficult the game. Close with the lid. Add a tag, if desired.

RED AND PINK PARFAIT

Make something special for Valentine’s Day morning, or even as dessert. This beautiful ombre yogurt parfait features gradations of red to pink. Top with Kix right before serving.

For the red layer on the bottom, stir drops of red food coloring (I suggest “Red Red” Americolor Soft Gel Paste), into vanilla yogurt. TIP: If you do not wish to use food coloring, substitute strawberries for the bottom layer, or, use different fruit flavors and tones of pink yogurts.

Use a spoon to lower the yogurt into the jar, and be careful not to touch the sides. Each yogurt layer should be about 1 inch tall. Layer the red yogurt, then any flavor of pink yogurt, then a layer of vanilla yogurt.

Pour Kix cereal on top right before serving.

JUST ADD MILK! KIX BREAKFAST-TO-GO

I think every parent knows the morning rush. And the midday rush. And the afternoon rush. And that evening rush. So for breakfast on the go, layer fruit on the bottom of a mason jar, top with Kix, and fill the jar to about two-thirds full. Top with a lid.

If you like, attach a spoon to the side of the jar with a label. When hunger hits, fill with milk and eat right from the jar. If you’d like to package these in advance, use dried fruit instead of fresh fruit. You can also use a mix of cereals, too.

Meaghan Mountford, author of Sugarlicious: 50 Cute and Clever Treats for Every Occasion, has been creating crafty sweets for 15 years. She is especially fond of decorating cookies, marshmallows and putting sweets on sticks. See more on her blog, the decorated cookie.