I know it鈥檚 coming. No matter where we are or what we鈥檙e doing, no matter how recently they鈥檝e eaten, I have 15 minutes, tops, until I hear, 鈥�Mooommm, I鈥檓 hungry!鈥� My kids, ages four and seven, are, shall we say, extremely food motivated on our frequent hikes, boat trips, and nordic ski sessions in our home state of Montana. Woe to the parent who forgets to pack snacks for such outings.

It鈥檚 not just food to remember. They say that she who fails to prepare prepares to fail, and nowhere is that more true than on a backcountry adventure with kids in tow. Packing the right stuff, from clothing to bandages to bug spray, can be the difference between a fun family outing and a tear-soaked sufferfest. Trust me, I鈥檝e been on both sides. You already know about the ten essentials鈥攃onsider this your addendum to that list, family edition.

Snacks (and More Snacks)

The single most important ingredient for success on our family trips? Having enough fuel on hand鈥攁nd not just any fuel. You want your kids to love the outdoors, so bring snacks they love. Forgetting this simple truth has resulted in my children sobbing, screaming, and refusing to continue down the trail more times than I鈥檇 like to admit. But doling out a steady supply of tasty snacks will keep them going鈥攈appily! And I鈥檓 not above using the promise of food to entice them up those final steps to the summit or back to the car.

One snack that has stood the test of time for us over the past few years: , which come in six flavors, including apple cinnamon, blueberry, and our favorite, raspberry. They鈥檙e made with whole grains and real fruit and are delicious enough to satisfy a kid鈥檚 palate, and their soft-baked texture means no melting, freezing, or crumbling when shoved into a backpack in any weather. , with their real fruit and cookie-like flavor, paired with whole-grain oatmeal, are also big hits with my kids. also offers brownies in double chocolate and salted caramel flavors, made from whole grains, real cocoa, and dates. Bonus: All of the above are vegan, dairy-free, and nut-free, so they鈥檙e great for slipping into my daughter鈥檚 lunchbox at her allergen-free preschool.

Oh, and when you鈥檙e packing? Start with how much you think your kids will eat, then double it.

Water Bottles

The second most frequently whined about topic on our trips: thirst. Hey, I get it鈥攚ater is essential for keeping kiddos hydrated and healthy, particularly on hot days. Each of my kids has a reusable stainless-steel water bottle, because these vessels are durable, sustainable, and easy to clean. Mermaids, princesses, and personalized sticker art are highly encouraged. (I swear it helps them drink more.)

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Extra Layers

Of course you want a midlayer or jacket for each little in case the temperature dips or the wind picks up, but don鈥檛 stop there. Take it from a mom who once had to cut a sledding trip short because her son managed to a) find the only source of running water for miles, and b) break through the ice on top, completely soaking his boots and socks. It鈥檚 not overkill to bring multiple pairs of extra socks and even footwear. Now we pack another pair of secondhand winter boots for each kid on cold-weather excursions, just in case, along with spare mittens. If you have very little ones, also consider a whole spare outfit, even on summer trips. (Pee happens, right?)

First-Aid Kit

We have a lightweight first-aid kit in a durable zippered pouch, and of course we pack it on every trip. Except the one time I didn鈥檛, and my daughter sliced her finger open on a tree branch. (Luckily, another hiker had first-aid supplies on hand.) You can buy convenient packaged kits or build your own. Be sure to include tweezers for removing splinters or ticks, gauze for bleeding, antibiotic ointment, blister treatment, children鈥檚 pain reliever and antihistamine, antiseptic wipes, and lots of bandages.

Sun and Bug Protection

Sunblock is a must, all year round. We reach for a water-resistant, reef-safe type with an SPF of at least 30. My kids squirm through an application of the typical goop styles, but those last much, much longer than spray-on brands. Tip: Try a face stick for easier application. Lightweight long-sleeve shirts also provide tons of coverage, no squirming required. Add a wide-brimmed sun hat and child-size shades on the sunniest days.

Most of us will also need bug spray, particularly in the wettest parts of the season. Picaridin and lower concentrations of DEET are considered safe for children, and both are effective in our experience. (Pediatricians recommend on kids under age two.) Many parents are tempted by 鈥渁ll-natural鈥� formulas, but generally, these just don鈥檛 work very well. One that does: oil of lemon eucalyptus products, but note that they鈥檙e not considered safe for children under age three.

Toys and Books

Yes, rocks and sticks serve perfectly well as playthings. But just like with adults, special treasures can go a long way. A friend of ours always packs a stuffed animal on hikes; she repeatedly runs ahead and hides it along the trail, then the children have to find it. (They forget they鈥檙e even hiking.) Legos and Magna-Tiles on the picnic table have distracted my kids long enough to let me cook camp dinner in peace. And soon after my son learned to read, he loved packing a book to read in the tent.

I can鈥檛 promise that following all these hard-won tips will guarantee you a whine-free outing. But I can say that packing thoughtfully will put you in a strong position for making those quality family memories happen. And that鈥檚 about as good as it gets with parenting, right?

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It鈥檚 time I admit something: The granola aisle at my local grocery store is detrimental to my wallet and my soul. Granola is one of my favorite things to put on my after a morning run, and I don鈥檛 use just a sprinkle鈥擨 dump it on. I like my granola piled high.听

But between inflation and granola brands fine-tuning their recipes to meet specific nutritional needs鈥攎ore protein, less sugar, added healthy fats鈥攑rices are rising. For example, my favorite granola, Purely Elizabeth, has everything I want in a post-run snack. In 鈪� cup it has 18 grams of carbs, 2 grams of fiber, and 3 grams of added sugar. But this 8-ounce bag costs $7.29, or $0.91 per ounce, making it one of my most expensive grocery items. By comparison, my favorite cereal, , is $4.49 for 10.6 ounces ($0.42 per ounce) and my go-to trail mix, is $5.49 for 14 ounces ($0.39 per ounce.)

I wondered, as I scoured my Kroger apps for granola coupons one day, if making my own would be more cost-efficient than buying it. For some help, I consulted , who also considers granola a staple in her kitchen.听

鈥�Nuts and seeds and their respective butters are expensive ingredients these days,鈥� Cuff says. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 those ingredients that are usually in granola. So any good-quality granola that actually puts decent amounts of nuts and seeds and uses non-seed oil (such as coconut or olive oil) is absolutely going to be more expensive.鈥�

For this reason, Cuff makes her own granola in large batches.听

鈥淚t can definitely be cheaper, especially if you can buy the ingredients in bulk, like I do,鈥� she explains. 鈥淩olled oats are cheap, and you can get nuts and seeds and butters from Costco.鈥�

MS RDN, dietitian and nutrition consultant says the price of high-quality granola makes sense, as many brands spend money on organic ingredients. Plus, many higher-end granola brands make small batches to maintain freshness, which can increase manufacturing costs per unit.听

鈥淪ome healthy granola products undergo testing and certification processes to ensure they meet specific health or dietary standards,鈥� McIntyre says. 鈥淭hese certifications can be costly to obtain and maintain. Plus, you may also see the pricier granola have a higher concentration of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits to provide more nutrients and flavor, which can be costly compared to grain-based ingredients.鈥�

To test whether or not making homemade granola was going to be delicious and cost-efficient, I decided to try it myself.

How to Make Great Quality Granola From Scratch

Granola is simple enough to put together鈥攐r so I thought. The granola I eat has to meet my nutritional needs as a runner: The sugars should be natural, and the carbs should be high, at least 50 grams. Protein is nice as well, but the yogurt I pair my granola with usually covers that.

To meet my specifications, McIntyre suggests the basics: whole grains as a base (oats, buckwheat, or quinoa), nuts (almonds, peanuts, walnuts), seeds (pepitas, sunflower), dried fruits (cranberry, cherries, apricots), and a sweetener (honey, maple syrup).听

Cuff offered up her favorite basic granola recipe for me to test. While the price of granola varies based on what鈥檚 in it, this one was the most similar to what I鈥檓 used to piling on my yogurt. Shopping list in hand, I hit up Kroger and Costco.

My grand total for all the ingredients, calculating in tax and my Kroger discount, came out to be $76. This number startled me at first, because鈥� Come on! Almost $76 for granola ingredients?! But I had to remind myself that I was buying some things in bulk, and that the test was to see if homemade was less expensive, ounce for ounce. Once I unloaded my groceries, I got to work baking.听

Cuff鈥檚 granola was delicious, and I felt good knowing every single ingredient that went into it. Nutritionally, the homemade version had the amount of carbs I required鈥攖hat鈥檚 in contrast to needing three servings of Purely Elizabeth granola to get the same amount. See the breakdown below:.听

Cuff鈥檚 Classic Granola Nutritional Content: 陆 cup serving

46 grams carbs, 10 grams protein, 18 grams fat, 8 grams sugar

Purely Elizabeth Chocolate Sea Salt Probiotic Ancient Grain Granola Nutritional Content: 鈪� cup serving

19 grams carbs, 3 grams protein, 6 grams fat, 7 grams sugar

Is Homemade Granola Cheaper?

Initially, you鈥檒l have to spend more money on homemade granola than store-bought. However, over the long run (depending on your recipe) you鈥檒l most likely spend less on making your own granola.听

Cuff鈥檚 granola recipe makes 12 servings, 陆 cup a serving. Each serving weighed approximately 2 ounces. This is where it gets mathy. Hold onto your hats.听

Adding up the cost of each ingredient price per ounce, the total came to $15.66 for 12 servings, or 48 ounces of granola 鈥� $0.65 per ounce. For Purely Elizabeth, the price per ounce is $0.91. If I wanted the same amount as a batch of homemade, I鈥檇 have to buy six bags at $43.74. This means I would spend $28.08 more for Purely Elizabeth.听

Plus, everything I bought could safely make at least two total batches of granola before running out of dried cherries, three batches before running out of hemp hearts, 12 batches before running out of oats, and 15 batches before running out of almonds.

Prices may fluctuate depending on where you鈥檙e located or the kind of granola you like, but in my case, making my own was less expensive than buying it. All that said, I鈥檓 not sure if it was all the math, the time it took to bake the granola, or the hassle of kitchen cleanup, but I started to think buying my granola, although potentially costlier, had its benefits.听

There are, of course, important advantages to making your own. First and foremost, you get to control exactly what goes into your snack, which is especially helpful if you鈥檙e sensitive to specific ingredients. It鈥檚 also, in my opinion, tastier. There鈥檚 something about warm granola coming out of the oven.听

If you eat granola as much as I do and have the time, it may be beneficial to spend the money upfront to buy all the ingredients you need for large (and future) batches. (Just make sure to store nuts and seeds in the freezer so they don鈥檛 go rancid.)听

If you do buy granola, there are certain things you should consider. McIntyre says to look for whole, recognizable ingredients, and to be wary of high-protein, low-calorie varieties. 听

鈥淲hey protein used in high-protein granolas can be a hidden source of dairy,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd non-nutritive sweeteners used in low-calorie granolas may cause digestive upset in large amounts.鈥澨�

A runner herself, McIntyre鈥檚 favorite store-bought granola is听

鈥淚t鈥檚 made with quality ingredients, including certified gluten-free oats, which is important for my family, and is made in small batches,鈥� she says. 鈥淭ry as I might, I can鈥檛 replicate the delicious flavor with my homemade variety, so this is the one I stick to when buying off the shelf at Target!鈥澨�

All this to say that I won鈥檛 tell people to buy or make their own granola, because there are too many factors to consider (time being one of them). However, I will say one thing, if you鈥檙e not piling your Greek yogurt high with the stuff, you鈥檙e seriously missing out.听

Cuff鈥檚 Classic Granola

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