Whether you’re gearing up for nights hauling your kids to evening activities or planning a summer full of adventuring, one thing is for sure: It is SO much less expensive to pack the snacks and meals than try to buy them on the go. We’re entering nice weather, solo-parenting season on the farm, and lots of kiddos season. For the sake of time and energy, here’s a short and sweet round-up of our tried-and-true summer favorites for being on-the-go!

Also…notice I said favorite. NOT necessary. We could get by with our glass containers, over-the-shoulder coolers, and any other resources lying around. Don’t ever feel like you have to buy extras! But if you are looking for things that can make life easier, I hope you find value here!

Summer Meals: WeeSprout 18/8 Stainless Steel Bento Boxes

During the fall, we usually spend one day a week at an AH-MAZING apple orchard, pumpkin patch, and play space. One of the other moms who attends recommended these stainless steel bento boxes, and we fell in love! We purchased three as Easter basket items a few years ago, and recently bought a fourth for our littlest love. They’re dishwasher safe (just remove the silicone covering), stack super well, and also come with a small dip container. We usually stuff the dip container full of pickles, watermelon, or other “juicy” foods!

Drink Containers: WeeSprout 2-in-1 Drinking Cups

These little cups were originally purchased to introduce water to a little one. Now, we use the closed lids to haul milk around for meals. Then we can just switch the lids to the straw for any kids who isn’t quite ready to drink from an open cup. Again, they’re stainless steel so the cups themselves are top-rack dishwasher safe, which is always a win!

Summer Workhorse: Igloo Backpack Cooler

The one thing I never have enough of when we go out on adventures? Hands. So we invested in a backpack cooler to haul around our food, and also double as a diaper bag. Which is important, because the last time someone wasn’t in diapers or pull-ups was 8 years ago before we had kids. There are tons of options, but we went with the 30-can Igloo backpack cooler. Our color is sold out, but I’ve linked a neutral gray one! This fits all of our food, ice packs, drinks, diapers, wipes, extra outfits, and spare water for re-fills. This is one of the summer favorites because it can go anywhere! Think zoo trips, long park days, hikes, and also tagging along on vacation!

On-the-Go Water bottle: Stanley IceFlow Tumbler

These were also Easter basket gifts a few years ago, and have been 100% worth the investment! They stand up to dings, scratches, stickers, and being dropped or thrown on the ground. The carry handle makes them perfect for kids. And being able to close the straw to prevent leaks is a life-saver for when they need thrown in the car, cooler, or wagon. They keep ice for hours, so the kids always have cold water. This is a big reason these make the summer favorites list, even though they’re a year-round product!

Kid-hauler: Wonderfold W4 Wagon

In 2021, we were in the stage of having three kids 3-and-under. This wagon was our big Christmas/Black Friday purchase that year! We knew we’d have at least three kids (obviously) and just wanted something that would last. While it doesn’t do super great on our type of gravel roads even with the “all-terrain tires,” it has been a lifesaver for going to parks, walks in town, and outings like the zoo! The removable seats are great for us. The older kids can walk farther now. We use the bottom of the wagon for storage or to let the youngest just cruise around like a playpen. Ours came with a storage basket and sun shade, and we purchased a universal stroller organizer separately!

There you have it! Some of the summer favorites that you’ll rarely see us out and about without. Do you have any of these items? Is there something I’m missing for a big family who likes to go out but keep it simple? Let me know in the comments, or head over to my Instagram page and send me a message!

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