THE MEAL & SNACK SURVIVAL GUIDE
Healthy meals little kids will actually eat…
(and you have time to make!)
Throw-together recipes, nutrition shortcuts & better convenience foods to help you survive the never-ending cycle of meals and snacks!
Little mouths are always hungry
The daily demands of preparing meals and snacks for your little ones, with all their different preferences and needs, is a LOT. It’s overwhelming. And it can feel like a relentless cycle of planning, shopping, cooking, and cleaning—often with little (or zero) appreciation from your little ones.
Planning, shopping, cooking, cleaning up, and being a human snack dispenser can feel like too much.
And let’s not even talk about how yesterday’s favorite meal is suddenly off-limits today! It’s enough to make you consider fast food every night—at least fries come with a side of peace!
But deep down, you care about what they eat. So alone and unthanked, you venture back to the store and start the cycle over again. Or at least that’s what you did until now!
INTRODUCING…
This guide is your secret weapon against mealtime struggles – whether it’s chaos, exhaustion, apathy, or confusion.
The internet makes you think that you have to just keep working harder – but that’s not actually the path to better eating.
This guide is packed with throw-together recipes, nutrition shortcuts, and better convenience foods designed to help you feel good about what you’re serving with the never-ending cycle of meals and snacks.
Why you need this guide:
Quick & Easy Meals
Discover low and no-prep meals that can be assembled in minutes—perfect for those chaotic mornings or last-minute dinners.
Picky-Eater Friendly
Learn how to mix and match simple ingredients that even the pickiest eaters will enjoy. No more food battles—just happy, well-fed kids!
Smart Convenience Foods
Easily swap in nutritious versions of your kids’ favorite snacks and meals without the confusion about what products are best.
No Label-Reading Required!
I provide photos of the exact products you need to save you time and brain space. Know exactly what to feed them without guessing or buying the wrong items!
What’s inside:
- Breakfast: quick & healthy filling meals to start the day meltdown-free, plus all the quick answers you need to questions like, “how much milk?” and “how do I boost their protein?”
- Lunch: low-prep lunches for home, daycare, and school, and the exact products I buy that picky kids will eat in their lunches to maximize their nutrition.
- Dinner: the easiest meals that are ready in minutes, and which shortcuts can you rely on that are both kid-friendly and good for them, too!
- Snacks: Packaged snacks and at-home snacks for your toddler or kid that will keep them full more than 10 seconds, with protein, fiber, and low added sugar.
- Sweets: No sugar crash with these picks!
Meet Kacie Barnes, MCN, RDN
I’m Kacie, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and mom of two. I created this guide because when you need to feed little ones, it has to be simple! It’s going to instantly boost how well your little ones are eating, without extra work on your part.
Testimonials from happy moms
“This guide is so encouraging.”
This guide eases so much mom guilt and really simplifies feeding kids. Meals don’t have to be elaborate or fancy or even beautiful! It only takes a couple of key components to put together a well balanced, nutritious and satisfying meal, it has been so encouraging for me to use this!
Amanda W., Kentucky
“I appreciate the easy recipes for busy families.
Katie A., Massachusetts
This guide has really helped me make balanced meals for my family. The product suggestions are high quality. I appreciate the easy recipes for busy families. I love it all!“
“Such a big time saver!”
MKN guides help simplify my meal planning and grocery shopping for my family – they are such a big time saver!
Morgan K., New Jersey
The Meal & Snack Survival Guide covers all aspects of feeding your family:
Breakfast
- How To Build A Balanced Breakfast
- Guide to Yogurt, Milk & Breakfast Meats
- Healthy, Grab & Go Breakfasts
- Kid-Friendly Egg Ideas
- Kacie’s Favorite Brands: Cereal, Oatmeal, Pancakes, Bread, Bars & More
- Mix & Match Smoothie Formula + Recipes
- Low-Prep Breakfast Ideas
Lunch
- Lunch Building Blocks Cheat Sheet
- Budget-Friendly Lunch Picks
- Easy, At-Home Lunch Ideas and Packed Lunches
- Guide To Lunch Meats & Sandwich Fillers
- 1-Week of Packed Lunches in 15 Minutes
- Best Grab & Go Lunch Foods
- Kacie’s Favorite Go-To Lunches
Dinner
- How To Build A Balanced Plate
- Pictures of Plated Kid-Friendly Dinners
- 29 Throw-Together Meals for Busy Weeknights
- “Heat & Eat” Dinner Ideas
- Kacie’s Favorite Brands: Nuggets, Hot Dogs, Fries, Frozen Pizza & More
Snacks and Treats
- Snacking and Treats Quick Tips
- Grab-and-Go Storebought Snack Picks
- Nut-Free Snack Ideas
- Easy At-Home Snacks
- Less Sweet Treat Recommendations
Sneak A Peek Inside The Guide!
Get Tons of Throw-Together Meals Like These:
Get the Meal & Snack Survival Guide!
Only $35 $20!
testimonial
“My favorite part is the product guide!”
“I really like seeing what specific products are recommended (and the WHY behind it). It helps save me time from looking at all the ingredients on things I buy, especially snacks, and just makes my life so much easier. It also helps give me peace of mind that the snacks I am giving aren’t just a total waste of calories.”
Stefanie L., Michigan
This Guide is perfect if you…
- Have a young kid to cook for
- Want to feed your kids well
- Are health-conscious but want a break
- Can’t spend all day in the kitchen
- Don’t want complicated cookbook recipes
- Wish someone could just TELL YOU what to buy and make!
- Are tired of making the same things
- Have picky eaters
- Don’t want to read labels at the store
- Need some new meal and snack ideas
- Are vegetarian (we include options!)
- Live in the U.S. (I share American brands)
“Maaaamaaa!! Can I have a snaaack?!”
(AND OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
The meals are kid-friendly, but still meant to be satisfying to an adult as well. It’s also PERFECT for times that there’s just one parent eating at home, or grandparents or a babysitter is taking care of meals. The snacks are more kid-focused.
You will get plenty of ideas, but you will still need to check products to ensure they are free of any allergens you must avoid. Manufacturing changes prevents us from keeping an up-to-date list of allergy-friendly products.
Always double-check your products, I can’t guarantee all the ones I recommend are nut-free, but you should be able to make all of the recipes in the guide.
Only if you want to. The majority of the ideas I suggest don’t involve any cooking! If you can heat things up, chop a few things, and put food on a plate – you can do all of this easily (and quickly).
The specific products I recommend likely will not be available outside the US. It may be frustrating to see all these things that you can’t get in your store.
The guide does include convenience foods (like some frozen or packaged options) but I picked the healthiest choices for you! It’s mainly a mix of fresh, frozen, and convenience items in the meal plan.
I review the combination of taste, nutrition, and convenience in each category to find my top recommendations for you. My goal is to help you boost their nutrition each day while still getting foods that they will like, and you have time to prepare.
Yes! It’s not 100% vegetarian, but there are LOTS of meat-free options here. (And, the meat options can be substituted for vegetarian, like a veggie burger in place of chicken, for example.)
This is primarily meant for children 1+. If you are starting solids, check out my free Simply Solids Guide!
Yes, this is a digital resource! The Meal & Snack Survival Guide was designed to be easily accessed on a computer or mobile device. The guide includes an index that allows you to easily navigate back and forth through the guide.
If you prefer to print the guide, instructions on how to print are included, along with a recommended printing service if you prefer to order a copy from a printer. There is also a print-optimized black and white copy available with your purchase.
Get the Guide Now!
Only $35 $20
