Archive for Snacks

Tortillas I LOVE

March 28, 2012 · Filed under Kid Tip, kids, Products I can't live without, Snacks · Tagged , , , , , , ,

Ok, I promised to tell you about these little gems…I LOVE these tortillas!  Yes they are processed, but as far as processed foods go these are kind of little rock stars!  First,  I love that they are small, or basically the “right” size, so you can fill them with all kinds of yummy, healthy things and still be in the calorie range of a “reasonable snack”!  Second, they are whole wheat, and each cute, adorable, little tortilla only has 80 calories, nice!  But this last fact, number 3 if you will, is what won me over!!!  ONE, JUST one, of these tortillas has 10 GRAMS OF DIETARY FIBER! 

Seriously, think on that for a second.  If your child eats one of these tortillas they have just consumed 10 grams of fiber and are one third of the way to their daily recommended fiber intake (depending on age probably around 30 grams per day)!!!  Added bonus they get 3 grams of protein, 4% (or 40 mg of calcium) all for 80 calories!  That is a jam-packed snack.  Again, processed, and there is 1g of saturated fat, and 200 mg of sodium, so by no means a “health” food but in the arena of processed foods this one is doing way more things right, than wrong!

I was really surprised, given the 10 grams of fiber, they also taste REALLY good!  Whatever tortilla your family enjoys I think they are a great way to help kids help themselves when it comes to snack!

What is it they say “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today.  Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”.  We are trying really hard to include the kids in not only making healthy choices, but preparing them!  Tortillas give kids an easy platform to create a healthy snack, all on their own!

This is one my Son likes to make after school:

Peanut Butter Banana Chia Seed Roll Up

Peanut Butter Banana Chia Seed Roll Up
Ingredients:

Serves One

1 whole wheat tortilla

1 ½ tbsp. peanut butter

1 banana

½ tbsp. chia seeds
 
 

Not bad kid!

Easy!  Now his Sister is not a fan of the banana!  So we made up little “tortilla PB&J sushi rolls”!  So far everyone is a fan of these!

Get creative!  Anything will work!  I had one this afternoon with diced apples, hummus and a sprinkle of cheese!  Delish!

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No-Bake Energy Bites

March 6, 2012 · Filed under Breakfast, Kid Tip, kids, Snacks · Tagged , , ,

No-Bake Energy Bites = lots of kid fun

after school fun

You guys have no IDEA how many healthy-ISH dishes I whip up and never share because my kids make faces and run screaming!  Oh, the joys of having me as a Mommy!  But these were total winners and so SIMPLE to make!  I even passed these off as breakfast one morning and they were thrilled…guess who else was thrilled?  Easy peasy!

We have made these a bunch of times now!  The last time my nieces (also huge fans of these little power cookies now) were over so we made it a project.  The kids helped me read the recipe, choose the right size measuring cups, find each ingredient, and we set it all up on this large piece of paper.  It was fun for the big kids to help the little kids see what was what!  It was fun for me to see them get so excited about helping, contributing, and trying to not eat all the chocolate chips when I wasn’t looking!

Then they took turns dumping and mixing!

Emmy, the youngest, getting the peanut butter out all on her own! No easy task!

Smashing the pretzels, which was later voted the "most fun" job

I found these on Smashed Peas & Carrots Blogspot!  I made a bit of a different version, but that is what is so great about these…I don’t think you can screw them up!

 
 
 

No-Bake Energy Bites

(makes 18-20 bites)

 Ingredients:
  • 1 cup oatmeal
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)  I used chocolate Almond Butter the 1st time, also very good
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup coconut flakes
  • 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
  • 1/2 smashed up pretzels
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1/2 dried fruit (we usually use a mix of dates and dried cranberries or cherries) 
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 Tbs Chia Seeds (when I have them I throw them in as well)
Directions:
  • Mix all ingredients together
  • place bowl in fridge for 20 to 30 minutes (or in a ziplock if you will be finishing them later)
  • using a tablespoon or melon-baller scoop small balls into your hand and then squish/mush/roll until you get a ball.  Trust me, they stay together.  If for some reason they are not, add more honey, or peanut butter. 
 
There is no end to the fun you can have with these!  My Daughter likes to make pyramids when we are all done!
   
 
I love how I can have all the ingredients ready when they walk in the door and then they get to have all the fun making them! 
 
 
Store them in the fridge or freezer to enjoy anytime! 
 
 
 

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Apple Sandwich

January 28, 2012 · Filed under Kid Tip, kids, Snacks, Sweet Treats · Tagged , , , , , , ,

Above is an apple corer.  If you do not have one, you need one.  You can get them at Safeway, or any kitchen store.  If I was handed one more wet, slopped-on, slurped-on apple core “Here Mom, I am done with this” I think my head would have exploded.  My husband brought this home a couple of months ago and it is my new favorite kitchen accessory!

So the apple corer, led to the apple sandwich, the new “Favorite” snack at our house!

1)  Core and slice apples, not too thin

2) Add peanut butter, or whatever nut butter your kids like

3) Add toppings (dried cherries, cranberries, jelly, chocolate chips, granola, sunflower seeds, whatever they will eat) I added some chocolate syrup on this one.  Listen…health food?  No.  But you have to keep it real, and fun.  A serving of chocolate syrup is 1 tbl, there is not even 1/2 a tablespoon used here…I can live with that, and it makes them feel like they got an extra somethin’ somethin’!

4) Add the top and serve

Another fun, healthy snack we all can live with!

Now that, is Good Stuff!

Chocolate Hazelnut

 

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Added Bonus…I get to say Rappleberry!

November 11, 2011 · Filed under Brands I Love, Eat this - Not that, grains, Kid Tip, kids, Organics, Products I can't live without, Snacks, Vegetarian · Tagged , , , ,

Not much of a bagel fan.  Never have been.  400 calories of enriched flour settling into my blood stream just makes me tired!  But my family LOVES bagels!!!  My Husband is from New York and he makes it his mission to locate the best bagel no matter where in the world we may be.  He and the kids go to bagels every Saturday morning, a tradition they all look forward to. 

About a month ago I stumbled onto a pretty reddish/pink bag in the bread aisle at the PCC that said “Rappleberry” on it!  Intrigued to see they were actually bagels I brought them home and served them (sprouted and all) to the pickiest bagel eaters I know and wouldn’t you know it…they LOVED THEM!

I love them because I can get a fabulous, fiber-filled, hi-protein breakfast into my kids in a hurry on school days and know they will make it to lunch without crashing and burning into a sleepy funk.  It is hard to believe these bagels are THIS good, given they are full of healthy stuff and really they are Sprouted Wheat, but TRUST me, they are DELISH!  I do wish they came sliced, but I just slice them when I buy them, place them back in the bag and keep them in the freezer.  They go straight into the toaster and do not get chewy or stale tasting like a regular bagel can.

I have to say all these fabulous new products sure do make clean eating a whole lot easier, and a whole lot more fun!  Who isn’t going to love saying “Rappleberry”?

Rappleberry Bagel

Noah’s Plain Bagel

260 Calories

350 Calories

Total Fat 1.5g

Total Fat 1g

Cholesterol 0mg

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 290mg

Sodium 700mg

Total Carbs 49g

Total Carbs 77g

Sugar 13g (naturally occuring from fruit)

Sugar 5g

Protein 15g

Protein 12g

Fiber 10g

Fiber 2g

Potassium 270mg

Potassium 0mg

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mason jars, the perfect container

September 6, 2011 · Filed under Kid Tip, kids, Products I can't live without, Snacks · Tagged

I LOVE mason jars.  I love to put flowers in them, serve iced tea in them, use them for pens, pencils and paint brushes.  This summer I started using them to store snacks in.  Here’s why:

I am a visual person and I eat what I see.  One of the easiest things I did in cleaning up my eating was getting the JUNK out of my house.  I was never the type of unhealthy eater that walked around thinking about what kind of crud I was going to inflict bodily harm upon myself with next.  However when I was hungry and I opened that pantry door…if I SAW it, I ATE it!

I know I have said it a million times and I will not stop preaching that preparation is 99% of the arsenal you need to win the battle against junk-food!  It is when we surround ourselves with garbage, or venture out into the world hungry that almost all of the damage is done.

So I noticed this to be true with my kids.  Neither of them have any weight issues to date.  So far they know and use food as fuel, energy that keeps them going.  But what I was finding was when they were rummaging through the pantry I had no idea how much of the food in there they were eating at a time.  It wasn’t until they would hand me an empty bag or box that I knew an item was gone.  I also realized early on that when a child is hungry and you provide the snack they eat it, even if EXTREMELY healthy!  However if you tell them to help themselves they will choose the easy, fast options…crackers, bars, goldfish.

I can’t always be standing by to prepare a healthy snack.  And honestly at the rate these two eat (all day long) I don’t even want to try…I would do nothing else.  So I have taken to placing the options I am happy with in Mason jars on the counter.  Here they get choices, I get an idea of how much they are eating, and all the snacks stay fresh!  Plus I know when I need to buy more, verses finding the empty package on the floor of the pantry when I go to make lunches!

When I can make it I do.

When I can’t they can help themselves!

WHY MASON JARS?
1. Dishwasher safe
2. Re-usable
3. Not plastic (though hard to break)
4. Clear
5. Stain-proof
6. Make food look delicious
7. Stackable and packable
8. Lids and jars can be purchased separately
9. Help control portions
10. Inexpensive

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Tuna Pops.

August 3, 2011 · Filed under Appetizers, Brands I Love, Snacks · Tagged , , , ,

Ok, I know…sounds HORIRBLE!  But listen this is my new favorite lunch!  YUMMERS!  Hear me out!

Take 11 Pop Chips (1/2 a serving by the way…that’s right, a serving is 22 Pop Chips)!

All Natural Pop Chips – Salt and Pepper, 0.5 bag (About 11 Chips) 50 calories        

all natural. no trans fats. no saturated fats. no cholesterol. no preservatives

Add Sweet N Spicy Tuna

Starkist Tuna Creations – Sweet N Spicy Tuna Pouch, 5 oz 175 calories        

Use the whole pouch, not just a serving…the WHOLE thing people!

And you get a DELISHIOUS snack, and pretty darn healthy too!

Here is the 411 on my Tuna Pops: Calories 225/ fat 3g/ carbs 18g/ sugar 9g/ Protein 29g

Added bonus…I made mine and everyone ELSE ate them!  So now I have a new easy appetizer and a yummy snack!  Win:Win.

I love this because it is under 300 calories.  High in protein so I am not starving 30 minutes later.  And I get a little salt, a little crunch.  A little somethin’ somthin’!

Might need a new name though:)

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Snack 101

May 11, 2011 · Filed under 411, Brands I Love, Costco, Kid Tip, kids, Snacks, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods · Tagged , , ,

A friend of mine was in desperate search of new snack ideas for her kid’s lunches!  She put the call out to her friends on Facebook and I loved seeing all the replies.  We can always learn new tricks and new ideas…not to mention it gets you thinking!

Some of these are mine, so you have seen them before, but lots of new ones and all in one place!

Thanks Tracy!  Keeping us healthy and accountable, I LOVE it!  Plus such a great way to end the year…keeping it FRESH!!!

  

Snack 101

Hummus & Pita

Hummus & Veggies

(Costco sells hummus snack packs)

Ants on a log

(celery & cream cheese or peanut butter topped with raisins)

What about ladybugs on a log?  Cream cheese & celery topped with craisins or dried cherries

 

Rice cakes or mini rice cakes topped with cream cheese, almond butter or peanut butter

popcorn

cucumber slices with lemon pepper

trail mix (suck up a few M&M’s and get lots of healthy protein in them)

granola

Late July brand crackers/snacks

Stretch Island Fruit Leather counts as 1/2 serving of fruit

Trader Joe’s Organic  fruit wrap

grapes & cashews

grapes & pumpkin seeds

Justin’s peanut butter squeeze packs

 (kids get to knead & squeeze, still a processed food, but lots of fun and a great source of protein)

Trader Joe’s “Just A Handful of Almonds”

small oranges peeled, and separated for them

Cliff Kid Organic Twist Fruit (1 serving of fruit)

Asian Pear Crisps

(Costco, dried fruit with no added sugar/preservatives)

Food Should Taste Good brand Cheddar chips 

(healthy version of a Doritos, 9 chips has 3g fiber & 3g protein)

SomerSaults Chocolate Flavor

(Whole Foods, PCC, Met Market)

Strawberries, blackberries,  blueberries or raspberries

(Use Pottery Barn snack containers and nothing gets mushy or crushed plus designed to fit in your lunchbox)

FAGE Greek Yogurt

(flavor comes on the side for kids to add and has 1/4 to 1/2 the sugar most flavored yogurts have)

Lettuce wraps

(anything you would put on bread wrapped in Trader Joe’s “Just Leaves”)

Dried Fruits from Whole Foods (again watch for added sugar)

Cold Pasta Salad add diced turkey and a bit of Italian dressing

Protein on a stick: cubed turkey/ham/cheese/grapes/cherry tomatoes

Fruit on a stick with some yogurt for dipping

Organic Z Bar by Cliff Kid

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Who doesn’t love to dip?

February 27, 2011 · Filed under Kid Tip, kids, Snacks · Tagged , ,

Thanks to Brenda, a fellow Tweeter, for sharing this Good Stuff!!!

ADA Article

TIP OF THE DAY
Dip into Nutrition
Do you enjoy snacks that you can dip into unique blends of flavor? Check out these ideas for healthful snacks that you can dip into:

Dip baby carrots and cherry tomatoes in low-fat ranch dressing.
Dip strawberries or apple slices in low-fat yogurt.
Dip pretzels in mustard.
Dip pita chips in hummus.
Dip graham crackers in applesauce.
Dip baked tortilla chips in bean dip.
Dip animal crackers in low-fat pudding.
Dip bread sticks in salsa.
Dip a granola bar in low-fat yogurt.
Dip mini-toaster waffles in cinnamon applesauce.
For more information on nutritional snacks for the whole family, visit www.kidseatright.org.

Produced by ADA’s Strategic Communications Team

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Clementines? Tangerines? Mandarins?

October 17, 2010 · Filed under Fruit, kids, Snacks · Tagged , , ,

Fall Again.  Originally posted 10/21/2009

I always know Fall has arrived when I start seeing bags of small “oranges” lining the aisles of the grocery stores!  Clementines?  Tangerines? Mandarins?  Who knows and who cares!  They all taste GREAT and are GREAT for you!  The best thing about these little gems is that kids ADORE them and can even peel many of them all by themselves!  I always have a bowl of these little yummers on my kitchen counter and they don’t last long!

I also love that because they have a skin I do not have to worry about whether or not they are organic, nor do I have to wash them!  I can buy them in bulk at Costco and keep them handy at all times (it is not rare to see them rolling around my car or find one in the bottom of my purse).

Nutritional info (give or take depending on type)

calories: 53/Fat: 0/Sodium: 2mg/Total Carbs: 13g (fiber 2g/Sugars 11g) Protein: 1g Vitamin A = 13%   Vitamin C = 44%  Calcium 3%

If you really want the 411 on all the differences here you go:

Clementines: the clementine is a seedless mandarin.
Kumquats: the kumquat is like a citrus fruit and has an edible skin. It is the most well known of the sort fortunella which is closely related to Citrus.
Mandarins: type of small orange with loose skin. The mandarin got its name because it was exploited by high-ranking government officials in China (mandarins).
Minneolas: are a crossing between a tangerine and a grapefruit and can be recognized by 
“the little nose”. Can be peeled manually. Is a type of Tangelo, a minneola is a specifically marketed tangelo.
Oranges: There are different types of oranges: navel oranges, Valencia oranges and blood oranges are the most cultivated races.
Tangelos: a tangelo is a crossing between a tangerine, a grapefruit and an orange. A specific kind of tangelo is the Ugli which is described further on this page.
Satsuma: is a very special seedling from Japan. Its skin is a bit tighter than the clementine and it doesn’t have seeds as well.
Tangerines:  a tangerine is an orange-red mandarin with a particular citrus taste. Can be peeled manually.
Uglis:  a specific kind of tangelo, easier to peel.  A crossing between a tangerine, a grapefruit and an orange. Can be peeled manually.

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So Yummy, hard to believe it is healthy too!

October 11, 2010 · Filed under Brands I Love, Breakfast, kids, Snacks · Tagged , ,

 

I love Greek Yogurt!  I have been loyal to The Greek Gods, but I have a new fav now and I am in LOVE with Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt.  I buy the fat-free, though I still have to check the label because nothing this creamy and rich should be fat-free, but it is!!!!

So an easy, yummy, perfect breakfast for me is another 1, 2, 3!

Step 1   Place 1 cup of Oikos in a bowl

Step 2  Place 1/2 cup frozen blueberries (or fresh if in season) on the yogurt

Step 3 Add 1 Tablespoon walnuts 

Delish!!!!

 The 411 on the Oikos:  130 calories, 23g Protein, 350mg Potassium, 30% Calcium

Adding the 1/2 Cup blueberries adds 80 calories, 4g of Fiber, and 1 more gram of protein

Adding Walnuts (brings in the healthy fats) 5g, and about 40 more calories

So a 250 calorie breakfast/snack PACKED full of all the good stuff you need to start your day!  I have also been known to do a smaller version of this and call it dessert!  The cold, flavorful blueberries, mixed with the rich, creamy yogurt make it a real treat!

I love the tartness of the plain yogurt, but if you just can’t do it try the vanilla!  You are adding more sugar, but still, a pretty healthy snack!

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