Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle feeding, chasing after a toddler, managing school-aged kids, or guiding your grown-up ones –– every mom needs a fast snack they can count on.
Suffice it to say –– all moms are busy and juggling multiple roles at one time. Amen?
From cook to cleaning lady, principal to teacher, referee to added team player, and counselor to friend, you never stop moving and never stop “doing” on any given day. Whether you’re working part-time or full-time, at home or in an office, have a budding side hustle, staying at home with littles, or volunteering while your big kids are at school, every mom is trying their best to take care of their family and themselves.
You may even be reading this as:
- You hold a baby on your hip and monitor a “hangry” toddler at your feet.
- You scroll your phone with one hand and breastfeed with the other. (Bravo by the way!)
- You feed a little one beginner solids and your two older kids make a mess of their lunch while you’re not looking.
- Your older kids complain of schoolwork and get in your personal space while you try to finish up your very long to-do list, or
- You struggle emotionally to help your grown-up kids with their adult decisions.
If this is you, bravo mama! You’re doing great.
Whatever stage of “mom life” you’re in, we all need a quick, wholesome snack that’s easy to make ahead of time, and helps us “keep up” with the busy lives we lead. We chose these recipes because they can go with you while you love and lead the little and big people in your life.
This list of snacks are all to be:
- Eaten using only one hand
- Served with no added utensils
- Quickly made during naptime or free time, and
- Stored away in the freezer or fridge for when you need them most
From energy balls to homemade granola bars and “real” food-filled cookies to flavor-bursting muffins, you will be sure to find fast, eat-with-one-hand, on-the-go snacks that move with you in your fast-paced life.
Are these easy to make?
Yes! Almost all of these recipes can be made within 30 minutes or less and simply require you to mix the ingredients and bake!
How do I freeze them?
If you want to make them for the fridge, follow the first recipe link given by some of our amazing recipe partners. If you want to make them for the freezer, click the links to “Our Freezer Friendly Version” so you can get step-by-step instructions on how to freeze them.
But the key for freezing these snacks lies here: Flash freezing –– this means freezing your snacks into individual portions rather than all together.
How do you flash freeze?
- Bake: Follow the cooking or baking instructions as given per the recipe.
- Cool: Let them cool completely to room temperature (This prevents freezer burn!)
- Flash Freeze: Once cool, place all your single baked items on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper and then place them in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour until frozen solid. Once frozen, place them all in a glass freezer container or plastic freezer bag.
Why do this?
This allows your snacks not to stick together so you can just grab one at a time!
Alright, mamas –– it’s time to get started!
65 One-Handed, Utensil Free, Make Ahead, Freezer Friendly Snacks for the Busy Mom
Balls
- Banana Bread Balls by Real Everything | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Chocolate Chia Coconut Energy Bites by The Lemon Bowl | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Protein Ball by Confessions on an Overworked Mom | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Chocolate Chip Banana Energy Bites by Sustainable Cooks | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Energy Balls by Sarah Gold Nutrition | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Chocolate Protein Balls by Busy Mommy Media | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Cranberry Almond Energy Bites by So Very Blessed | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Easy Energy Balls by Easy Real Food | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Gluten-Free Peanut Butter and Oat Granola Bites by Sweet Pea’s Kitchen| Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Healthy Chocolate Coconut Energy Balls by Kicking it with Kelly | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Honey Dates and Walnut Bites by Little Figgy | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Key Lime Coconut Energy Bites by Spoonful of Flavor | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Mexican Hot Chocolate Lara Bars by Sustainable Cooks | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Oatmeal Power Bites by TIDBITS | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Paleo Power Balls by Once A Month Meals
- Paleo Pumpkin Bites by Once A Month Meals
- Peanut Butter and Bacon Gluten-Free Energy Balls by Confessions of an Overworked Mom | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Peanut Butter and Oat Granola Bites by Sweet Pea’s Kitchen | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Peppermint Espresso Protein Balls by The Healthy Home Cook | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Pina Colada Energy Balls by Wholistic Woman | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Pumpkin Energy Balls by Easy Real Food | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Raw Cookie Dough Protein Balls by Rockie Mountain Bliss | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Strawberry Fudge Energy Date Balls by Sustainable Cooks | Our Freezer Friendly Version
Bars
- Chewy Cherry Almond Granola Bars by Iowa Girl Eats | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Cranberry Coconut Chocolate Chip Granola Bars by Eating Bird Food | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Date and Fig Bars by Little Figgy | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Frozen Yogurt Trail Mix Bars by The Lean Green Bean | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Fruity Granola Bars by Once A Month Meals
- Holiday Lara Bars by Civilized Caveman Cooking| Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Homemade Chocolate Chip Larabars by The Laundry Moms | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Paleo Apricot Snack Bars by Plaid and Paleo | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Paleo Energy Bars by Mark’s Daily Apple | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Maple Pecan Bars by Restless Palate | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Peanut Butter Banana Bars by Confessions of an Overworked Mom | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Peanut Butter Granola Bars by How Sweet It Is | Our Freezer Friendly Version
Cookies
- Carrot Cake Cookies by Civilized Caveman Cooking | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Cookies by Half Scratched | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- N’ Oatmeal Cookies by Real Everything | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Real Food Chewy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies by Once A Month Meals
Muffins
- Apple Carrot Muffins by Once A Month Meals
- Banana Muffins with Coconut Streusel Topping by Natural Fit Foodie | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Blackberry Banana Muffins by Civilized Caveman Cooking | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Carrot Cake Power Scruffins by Oh She Glows | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Carrot Pumpkin Spice Muffins by Balanced Bites| Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Chunky Monkey Muffins by Real Everything | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins by Once A Month Meals
- Grain-Free Cardamom Currant Muffins by Honest Body | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Grain-Free Cinnamon Muffins by Life Made Full | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Grain-Free Lemon Cranberry Muffins by Honest Body | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Healthy Pumpkin Muffins by Kitchen Stewardship | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins by Civilized Caveman Cooking | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Mini Banana Power Muffins by Once A Month Meals
- Paleo Cranberry Muffins by Easy Peazy | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Paleo Cranberry Orange Muffins by Cook Eat Paleo | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Paleo Vanilla Poppyseed Muffins by Cassidy’s Craveable Creations | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal Muffins by A Mind Full Mom | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Pear Streusel Muffins by Once A Month Meals
- Pumpkin Pie Blender Muffins by Once A Month Meals
- Pumpkin Pie Muffins by Civilized Caveman Cooking | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Pumpkin Raisin Flaxseed Muffins by Helpfully Healthy| Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Pumpkin Raisin Muffins by Honest Body | Our Freezer Friendly Version
- Raspberry Beet Muffins by Once A Month Meals
- Strawberry Banana Muffins by Once A Month Meals
- Strawberry Rhubarb Walnut Muffins by Once A Month Meals
- Whole Wheat Muffins by 100 Days of Real Food | Our Freezer Friendly Version
So whether you’re the mom that is:
- Breastfeeding every 2-4 hours
- Bottle feeding constantly
- Feeding and keeping 4 kids alive
- Holding a wiggly toddler
- Helping school-aged kids with the balance of online and in-person changes
- Advising older kids as they simply navigate life
–– This list is for you.
We wanted everyone to find something that helps them eat well even in the midst of chaotic feeding schedules, non-stop carpooling, and emotionally draining days where the last thing you have time for is eating. With that in mind, we can’t help but give you some added resources!
More Mom + Kid-Friendly Recipes
For the kids:
- 25 Kid-Friendly Gluten Free Recipes
- Ultimate Kid-Friendly Lunch Recipes List
- Freezer Friendly On-the-Go Kids Snacks!
- Freezer Friendly Back To School Recipes
- How to Pack School Lunches with Freezer Meals
- 25 Lunch Box Freezer Recipes
- 50 Easy Back-to-School Breakfast Recipes
For the mom and fellow parents:
- 35 Freezer Meals to Give to a New Mom
- A Freezer Cooking Testimony from a Working Mom
- 101 Slow Cooker Freezer Meals
- 20 Budget-Friendly Freezer Meals
- 10 Practical Tips for Saving Money When You’re Meal Planning
- 101 4&5 Ingredients Freezer Recipes
- 10 Tips for Organizing Your Freezer
To Learn More About Making Freezer Meals
Do you know if your meal planning method is really working?
- Are you still scrambling at 6 PM every day?
- Are you struggling to make healthy meals?
- Is it hard to stick to your diet when life gets hectic?
- Are convenient food choices costing you?
- Is your grocery budget constantly out of control?
- Do you feel like daily cooking is a chore?
At Once A Month Meals, our mission is to provide resources and meal plans for families and teach them how to freeze meals ahead of time so that they never have to plan daily meals ever again. To that end, we have developed the leading meal planning software for batching and freezing your food that makes this process the fastest it’s ever been.
For over 13 years we have helped over 80,000 thousand families make freezer meals fast, effectively, and safely. Our hope is that every family will spend less time in the kitchen and more time doing what matters most to them.
As you establish making freezer meals as a habit, you will naturally want to start building a library of go-to freezer-friendly meals that you know your family will love. You’ll want them to be equally as easy, fast, efficient, budget-conscious, and family-friendly, right?
However, each family has unique food requirements and preferences, and finding recipes that are compliant, family-friendly, freeze well, and are delicious becomes challenging. Simply put, Once A Month Meals removes that challenge.
We make it incredibly convenient to find and choose recipes that fit your family’s food needs. With over 50+ ways to filter 13,500+ freezable recipes, including special diets and allergens, there is a 100% chance you will find tons of recipes approved by our on-staff registered dietitian. Each recipe has also been individually tested by our dedicated group of test cooks for ease and complete freezability.
With all this at your fingertips, Once A Month Meals helps you break into the iron triangle of eating –– convenient, healthy, cost-effective meals –– for the long-term.
Try a free membership, or learn how to make a custom plan that fits all your family’s needs.
Create a no-credit-card-needed OAMM membership account to explore and see if OAMM is the right fit for YOU!
You’ll be able to:
- search the 13,500+ freezer recipe database with hundreds of filters available.
- build and save for later use up to 3 meal plans of 5 recipes each.
- favorite recipes you find and want to try later or have cooked and love.
- view nutritional data of each recipe.
*For more information on paid vs free membership check this out.