🥪 Kids Pack-It-Yourself Summer Recipes for Camp, Pool, or Backyard Fun

Four easy snack ideas to boost confidence, build skills, and make prep way more fun

Small Bites: This August, we’re getting our kids in the kitchen—not just to "help," but to actually do. Check out the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse from our friend Katie Kimball. Request a free sample lesson of the “Kids Cook Solo” program, so you can see if it’s a good fit for you and your family!

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Snack Independence for Summer Adventures

August is here, and while we’re usually catching up with chefs, bakers, and food friends in our Order Up! interview series, this month we’re taking a little breather. Everyone’s soaking up the last stretch of summer, so we’re shifting gears too. This month, we’re going to be sharing family-focused food activities you can do together, at your own pace, in your own kitchen.

This week, it’s all about giving your kids a little extra independence with our Pack-It-Yourself Snack Kit. Whether they’re off to day camp, headed to the pool, or just running barefoot through the backyard, these easy recipes are a great way to let them take the lead.

At One Potato, we believe mealtime isn’t just about what lands on the plate; it’s about helping kids feel connected, curious, and capable in the kitchen. And when kids get to choose, mix, build, and pack their own meals, they’re way more excited about what they’re eating (and, bonus: way more likely to eat it).

Each of these recipes—from DIY Trail Mix to Roll-Up Sammies—can be prepped with just a little grown-up help or completely solo for older kids. It’s the perfect low-pressure way to introduce real kitchen skills, foster food independence, and build confidence one snack bag at a time.

Plus, if you’ve been loving our partnership with Kids Cook Real Food and founder Katie Kimball, this is exactly the kind of hands-on learning moment they champion. If you haven’t explored their full course yet, this is a great starting point. (Spoiler: Your kids are probably capable of way more than you think.)

All our recipes include bullet points for Meal Prep, Time Savers, and Substitutions and Dietary Considerations (vegetarian? GF? Dairy-free?). Bonus Holiday Recipes and Activities are exclusively for our paid subscribers. For access to this recipe activity and all our Bonus Content, upgrade your subscription: