10 Healthy Snacks for the Kiddos

When I moved from Utah, I was surprised when I had to provide a snack for my kids at school. In Missouri I had to send a snack once a month for the whole class. I didn't mind that. Here in Michigan I have to send a daily snack for my kids. That takes a little more thinking and creativity. I'm getting better at it but I hit Pinterest for ideas along with my own to create this list.

1. Muffins

These make an easy portion controlled snack. You can make a bunch and freeze a dozen or so for later. I love being able to take a couple out the night before and have them ready to go in the morning. You can also make these as healthy as you want adding applesauce instead of oil and mixing in whatever fruits and veggies you want.

Erica and I have made a lot of muffins right here on our own little blog.

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

Healthy Chocolate Muffins

Zuchinni Chocolate Chip Muffins

Cranberry Lemon Muffins

You can find more of our Muffins HERE.

2. Granola

Granola is easy and also very adaptable. Make it as healthy as you want. There are tons of recipes out there. This is the one I make and love.

Tasty Granola

3. Granola Bars

I was so excited when I made my first granola bars. I love how easy they came together and I knew every ingredient in them. I love that.

Granola Bars

Just do a search on Pinterest for Granola Bars. There are hundreds. :)

4. Fresh Veggies and Hummus

We love Hummus at our house. It's such a tasty treat with fresh carrots sticks or Pita chips. It's so easy to blend up too. You can make hummus very complicated or very easy. There are many many recipes out there.

Here is a basic recipe from Allrecipes.com. You can adjust the ingredients to your taste. I never really follow a recipe but basically use these ingredients. Find it HERE.

Photo also from Allrecipes.com.

5. Fruit and Crackers

I loved this when I saw it on Pinterest. (I have yet to try it.) But it's such a cute way to make snacktime fun. Plus, it's an easy one to throw together if the pins are already made.

This is from Jugglingwithkids.com. Cute, right?

6. Healthy Breakfast Cookies

I like the idea of these. Maggie doesn't love granola bars, but I think she would go for this.

These cookies pictured seem to have a lot of "fancy" ingredients. You can find the recipe HERE. You can also find a good list on Allrecipes.com HERE.

What kinda fits in this category are these Energy Bites. I've made them a couple of time. Most of us like them. Maggie is just picky. :)

Find them HERE!

7. Boiled Eggs

Nothing like opening a baggie with a boiled egg inside! Smells gross but tastes pretty awesome. I loved this photo I saw on Pinterest. Now Maggie would really get a kick out of these and would gobble them up!

This is another good snack resource. Super Healthy Kids.

8. Peanut Butter with...

A lot of schools have restrictions with Peanut Butter so be in the know about your childs' schools policy on this. My kids can take PB, so it works for us. They love it too!! Of course you can pair PB with lots of things. We make our PB but I love the Jiffy single serving cups too.

Super Healthy Kids

9. Fruit (You Can't go Wrong!)

Whether you send fresh or dried, it's a good choice. Erica makes a yummy fruit leather that kiddos love. It's easy to make a fruit dip or an occasional caramel to go with a fruit cup too.

Strawberry Fruit Leather

10. Popcorn

Mmmm. I love popcorn. There are so many variations to make popcorn tasty and healthy too. It doesn't have to always be butter or caramel to make it amazing.

Photo Credits Here.

Here is a whole list from Allrecipes.com. Yum!

Okay, that's it! I hope I've given you some ideas and recipes to send the kiddos off to school with yummy snack. Have a great day!!!

Love,

Monica

Tasty Granola

Last Summer on our vacation to Yellowstone, my sister-in-law brought a delicious granola. I have always loved granola and probably had a bowl or two or three. It was pretty tasty. She was nice enough to pass on the recipe and now I'm passing it on to you.

What I love about granola is the fact that it is so versatile. You can really add whatever nut and dried fruits you want. Plus, you can always add a little chocolate (wink, wink) to give make it even better.

Tasty Granola
8 cups rolled oats

1 1/2 cups wheat germ
1 1/2 cups oat bran
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup honey
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups raisins or sweetened dried cranberries

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment or aluminum foil.

Combine the oats, wheat germ, oat bran, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, and walnuts in a large bowl.

Stir together the salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to coat. Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheets.

Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and toasted, about 30 minutes. Stir once halfway through. Make sure you keep an eye on your granola. It can go from perfectly toasted to burnt pretty quickly. Don't say, call your sister and forget all about it. Ahem. Mine got a little toasty, but the hubs said it was perfect, so all is good. Cool, then stir in the raisins or cranberries before storing in an airtight container.
 

 
In reading the reviews for the recipe, there were a lot of great ideas to make it low-fat or lower the sugar content. I loved the idea to swap 1/2 cup oil for applesauce. I didn't feel like the granola was greasy or heavy but I may try this next time.
 
Source: All recipes
 
Hope you are having a great week! Mine has been nuts! Ha Ha! No pun intended. :) Happy Wednesday!
 
Love, Monica

Good Ole' Energy Balls

Try to eat just one.  TRY!  I told myself before I got these out to try that I would only have one.  Tuh!  Yeah right!  These are just yummy, and some what healthy.  I didn't mind my kids having a few either.  They loved them.  They were gone pretty quick.  I will be making them often for snacks.

Energy Balls

1 c. old fashioned oatmeal

1/2 c. peanut butter

1/3 c. honey

1 c. shredded coconut

1/2 c. ground flax seed

1/2 c. mini chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything in a bowl, and then refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.  Roll into little balls.  Should make about 18-20.  Put them in a baggy in the fridge to store up to 1 week.

You can probably make these healthier by omitting the chocolate chips, using a fat free peanut butter or a different kind of nut butter, sugar free coconut, or adding cranberries or raisins.  Yum!  I bet they would make great granola bars too.  Use your imagination.  

Source-Smashed Peas and Carrots

Have a happy Happy Thursday!

Cinnabun Popcorn

I went to see a good friend awhile back and she gave me a bag of this delicious popcorn.  She probably thought I was a pig, because while visiting with her, I think I ate more than half of the bag she gave me.  I had to have the recipe.  It's a melt in your mouth kind of yumminess.  :o)  Does that make sense?!  It was awesome!  I made some just last week, and my family gobbled it up!

 

Cinnabun Popcorn

12 c. popped popcorn (1/2 c. kernels)
1 c. chopped pecans
1 c. brown sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 c. karo syrup
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
4 oz almond bark

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Pop your popcorn and place it and your chopped pecans in a large bowl and set aside. 

In a 2 liter microwave safe bowl combine brown sugar, and cinnamon.  Mix it together.  Then add buter cut up into chunks and place on top of brown sugar mix, pour corn syrup over the top of everything.  Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir to combine.  Microwave again for 2 minutes.  Remove and stir and then microwave for 2 minutes more.  Remove from microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda.  Stir to combine.  The baking soda should make it foam. Pour caramel mix over popcorn and pecans and stir it good to coat everything.  Place in a foil lined cookie sheet.  And bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and spread the popcorn out onto a large piece of parchment paper.  Or if you don't have parchment wax paper or foil work just fine.

Melt almond bark according to package directions and drizzle it over the top of the popcorn.  Let it cool until bark has hardened.  Break into chunks and try to keep yourself from eating the entire batch yourself.

Source-OurBestBites

Our little family is off on vacation today.  I can't wait to get away from my cave for a day or two.  And when I come back next week it will be August!  Can you believe it?  It's almost fair time and school time.  YAY!  :o)  Yes, i'm one of those moms that can't wait for the school year to start.  Anyhoo...see you for Menu Monday and hopefully Monica will be back to blogging soon.  I sure miss her!!

Night Owl S'More Treats

I love to make treats that are easy to throw together and that the kids...and me will love. These were just down that alley.  They were easy and OH SO YUMMY!  Thanks to my friend Kelsey at A Spice a Day I am now addicted to this stuff.  I had to send half the pan home with another friend just so I wouldn't eat it all.  I have no self control when it comes to sweet things.  :o)  These tasted just like S'Mores.  And if your children are already bored with their summer, get them in the kitchen to help out with this treat.  Please tell me I'm not the only Mom that has a kid that says I'm bored about 50 times a day?  She is getting better because I threatened more chores if she said it again.  Bahahahahahahaa!  Anyway...try this!  TODAY!

Night Owl S'more Treats
9 c. Golden Graham Cereal (I used the Malt O Meal brand)
3/4 c. light corn syrup
3 Tbsp. butter
11.5 oz bag of milk chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla
3 c. mini marshmallows

Measure your cereal into a large bowl.  Butter a big cookie sheet.  In a medium saucepan put your corn syrup, butter, and chocolate chips in and on med heat melt them all together stirring constantly.  When it's all smooth take it off the heat and stir in your vanilla.  Pour over top of cereal and stir it to coat the cereal with the chocolate.  Pour in marshmallows and stir all together.  Pour mix onto buttered cookie sheet and press down with your hand.  Now enjoy it and try not to eat the whole pan.  :o)

Source-A Spice a Day

Have a happy Wednesday!!!

Granola Bars

For the most part my lil' boy is a pretty healthy eater. Nine times out of ten he'll choose fruit over a sweet or fries. He loves vegetables and I have no problem getting him to eat a healthy snack. One of his favorite quick go-to's are granola bars. I've been wanting to make my own at home and finally got around to it. Tasty? Yes. Cost Efficient? Probably not. Making these or not would really depend on if you would rather save money or know exactly what is going into your kids' bodies. Unfortunately that really is a toss up for many of us.

Anyhoo, these really were quick to throw together and fun for the kids to help too. One bit of advice, keep an eye on your oat/nut mixture while toasting. Mine got a little darker than I would have preferred. Enjoy!

Granola Bars
3/4 cup honey (divided)
2 Tbls. butter
3 cups dry oatmeal
1 1/3 cup slivered almonds (or other nut)
pinch of salt (optional)
1 cup dried fruit (I used raisins, dried apricots, and craisins)
1/3 cup creamy nut butter (I used peanut butter)
1/4 cup light brown sugar

Preheat oven to 325. In a small saucepan heat 1/4 cup honey and butter over low. Cook, stirring until butter melts.

In a large bowl, combine oats, almonds, and pinch of salt. Drizzle honey mixture over oat mixture and stir to combine. Wipe saucepan clean for later use. Spread mixture evenly on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, stirring occasionally. About 15 minutes. Let cool completely on sheet. Return to large bowl and add dried fruit. Stir to combine.

Lightly butter an 8 inch square baking dish. In saucepan, combine 1/2 cup honey, peanut butter, and brown sugar. Heat on medium, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a boil and sugar dissolves about 10 minutes. Drizzle over oat mixture and stir till combined. Transfer to the baking dish and press firmly with a spatula. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour, then cut into 16 bars or squares. These store up to 5 days in an airtight container.

Source: Emeril :)

In other news...we have a new designer over at JessicaSprague.com. Her name is Jodie Lee formerly Gypsy Chick. She has a vintage old world style that I love. Can't wait to play with her products. Check her out!

Have a Happy Tuesday!!

Giant Pretzels...And a Winner!!

First of all I need to announce our winner of the Shutterfly Book!  So exciting.  We appreciate all the entries, and can't wait for another giveaway.  They are so fun!  So with Random.org the winner is....drum roll, please....Whitney Blaisdell!!!  Congrats!  You need to e-mail Monica to claim your prize at cholita41 at yahoo dot com. 

Now the Pretzels...

...you know...like the ones in the mall!?  Oh baby!  Every time I do go to the mall, which isn't very often, I have to stop by Pretzel Maker and get me one.  I was craving one so bad one day when I was pregnant with my 2nd baby, that I had to make some, because I wasn't driving an hour to get one.  I found the perfect recipe.  These taste even better than the ones you can buy.  I've been making them since, and my family and I gobble them up.  Jason likes his dipped in pizza sauce, I like mine dipped in butter...lots and LOTS of butter.  They are best fresh out of the oven, but are also good the day after microwaved.  I would have one for breakfast if there were any left.  :o)  These are so simple to throw together.  Give them a try, and i'm sure you will be so happy you did...or mad at me, because they are so amazing that you can't stop at 1.

Giant Pretzels
2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast, or 1 packet
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2 c. warm water, about 110 degrees F (make sure it's not too cold and not too hot.  It's gotta be just right to get that yeast growing.)
3 c. flour
1 c. bread flour
2 c. warm water
2 Tbsp baking soda
3 Tbsp melted butter
Coarse Kosher Salt

In your mixing bowl add yeast, brown sugar and salt.  Pour in water and give it a quick stir.  Leave it alone until you start seeing that yeast bubble up and grow, about 5-10 minutes.  Then add your flour and with your hook start mixing it until it's smooth and elasticy.  (Is that a word?)  If you don't have mixer with a hook then you'll need to knead the dough about 8 minutes until it's smooth and elasticy.  Pour a little veggie oil in a big bowl and plop your dough in there and move it around to get that oil all over the dough.  Cover and let raise for about an hour or until double in size. 

Combine your 2 c. warm water and baking soda in a pie pan or 8 inch casserole dish.

When the dough is done seperate dough into 12 parts.  Roll your pieces out into 3 foot ropes, (Roll it out about half way and set aside, and when your done rolling out your last one go back to your first and it will be easier to roll it out into a 3 foot rope.)  Shape them into pretzels, and dip them in your baking soda solution and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Let rise 15-20 minutes.

Bake at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until a golden brown.  Remove from oven and brush on melted butter and sprinkle with salt.  These are also good with parmasean cheese, cinnamon sugar, garlic salt, or whatever else you would want to experiment with. 

Hope you are having a wonderful week!  Have a happy Wednesday!!!

Brown Sugar Fruit Dip

Oh Scrumdiddly!  My sis in law made something similar for a Christmas party and ever since I've been wanting it again.  I was just getting over the stomach bug, so I couldn't really eat a whole lot of it.  LAME!  So, I thought i'd make it for an after school snack and it got eaten right up.  Goes great with apples, and i'm sure lots of other fruits, but that is all I had on hand.

Brown Sugar Fruit Dip
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients until well combined.  I whipped it for quite awhile until it wasn't so granually from the sugar.  Is that even a word?  You catch my drift, right?

Might not be the healthiest of dips, but HEY!...you are getting your fruit intake!  ;o)