Most of our grocery budgets set aside some funds for the in-between meals — snacks, treats or on-the-go extras. Due to their convenience and ability to quickly and easily solve problems of intermittent hunger, families of all sizes prefer to have such items on hand. From snack bars to pastries, these items can provide a tiding over until meal time or help keep kids happy when dinner can’t be served right away.
Despite their convenience, snacks can add a heavy load to the monthly grocery bill. Snack foods are often overpriced, come with layers of packaging (creating the problem of excess trash while traveling), and often contain unnatural ingredients.
For a healthy alternative that’s easier on the budget, consider 
Bars, breads, mixes and more can all be made in a single afternoon and can last for weeks to come. Simply find your favorite recipes, stock up on ingredients, and get to mixing.
For reusable and more environmentally-friendly packaging of trail mixes and such, consider the use of Mason jars. Clean out your spaghetti sauce jars, and there you have it! Or you can pick up plastic containers on sale. For times when disposable bags are a must, stock up on plastic baggies from the dollar store. They may not be as sturdy as the name brand, but you can buy 100 baggies for only $1.
As for supplies, head to the bulk store to purchase nuts, dried fruit, cereal and more. These stores offer a larger quantity of the ingredients you need at a cheaper price for an added boost of savings to your grocery budget.
No matter your shopping preferences, creating your own snacks is a great way to save on all your in-between meals. Check out this Allyou.com article for cheap, easy, healthy snack recipes.