Tasteful Tuesday - "Snack Time"

Happy Tuesday all you Beauties!  As a spin off to my post yesterday on Momma Monday, I am sharing with you today...Homemade snacks that you will approve of for your little ones (who am I kidding, and your big ones, I LOVE these snacks too)!  I hope you enjoy these cook free snacks that will feel your kiddos up with goodness, and will make them smile too. 
-XOXO, B

Bag O' Teddies:

Ingredients

• 1  single-serving-size bag  bear-shape graham snack cookies or animal crackers
• 1/4  cup  vanilla or fruit-flavor low-fat yogurt*
• 1/4  cup  sliced fresh fruit or berries (strawberries, mandarin orange segments, blueberries, bananas)

Directions

1. Use scissors to cut open bag of cookies along one of the short ends. Spoon yogurt over cookies in bag. Top with fruit. Serve from the bag with a spoon. Makes 1 serving.
3. *Note: If desired, use vanilla or chocolate low-fat pudding instead of yogurt.  (Our fav is graham or chocolate bears, with strawberry Greek yogurt and bananas or sliced strawberries).

Carrot Crinkle Fries: **We eat these when we grill burgers too.  YUM!

Ingredients

• 1  pound  carrots
• 1  tablespoon  olive oil
• 1/4  teaspoon  dried thyme
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt

Directions 1. Slice carrots into 1/2-inch-wide sticks using a crinkle cutter. Toss with olive oil, dried thyme, and salt. Bake at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until soft, on a parchment paper–lined pan.

Fruit Kabobs:

Ingredients

• 4    cantaloupe or honeydew melon slices
• 2  oz.  reduced-fat cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese slices
• 4    fresh blackberries
• 4    whole fresh strawberries

Directions

1. Use 1- to 1-1/2-inch cookie cutters cutter to cut shapes out of cantaloupe and honeydew slices and cheese. Thread fruit and cheese onto 4 small skewers. (CUT OFF SHARP ENDS!) Place in a flat storage container and chill until serving time (or up to 24 hours). Serves 2.

Safari Snacks: A fun twist on Ants on a Log

Ingredients

• 1/2  of an 8-ounce package  reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel), softened
• 1/2  cup  creamy peanut butter
• 2  to 3 tablespoons  milk
• 2  teaspoons  honey
•   Celery sticks, animal crackers, and/or assorted dippers such as peeled jicama sticks, carrot sticks, apple wedges, pear wedges, or graham cracker sticks

Directions 1. For dip, in a small mixing bowl beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in peanut butter, milk, and honey until well combined and smooth. If desired, chill before serving.
2. To serve, spread dip in celery sticks and garnish with animal crackers and cut-up fresh fruit. Or, serve with assorted dippers. Makes twenty 1-tablespoon servings (1-1/4 cups).

Momma Monday - "Mom approved on the go Snacks"

It's Monday!  Did anybody Else's weekend just fly by?  Wow!  Here is to another week.   So now that school is back in session I wanted to share  two of our favorite on the go snacks that mom actually approves of. I'm talking snacks that are full of goodness that get us through busy school days.  The first one is Kids Cliff Bars.  My boys devour these bars of wholesome nutrition, and I am left feeling satisfied they are getting protein, vitamins and organic grains in their little bodies.   Their favorite is the Chocolate Brownie and the Chocolate Chip.  Costco sells them in bulk (LOVE Costco) and I pack them everyday in the boys backpack.  They are loaded with fiber, have a chocolate gooey taste and they are all natural.  Need I say more?  Plus they are Delish!  My hubs even eats them before he hits the gym for a quick energy boost!  Secondly The Go squeeze applesauce packs (also at Costco) are a lifesaver!  I have these stashed in the kids lunch everyday, and I even tote at least 3 at a time in my purse (aka my lifeline).  These are squeezable fun in a pouch that needs no spoon!  Again these are all natural applesauce packs that have no added or refined sugar, no artificial anything, and they are chalk full of vitamin C, A and fiber.  They count as a fruit serving and are the most convenient snack around!  Now my on the go snack of choice was introduced to me from my bff.  The Luna bar.   Oh My.  The lemon zest flavor is too die for.  They are made especially for women with folic acid, calcium, fiber, and all the vitamins we need.  They are high in protein and low in calories.  I also stash these in my car and purse and eat them everyday between meals.  They are great for prego mamma's as well, being high in folic acid.  Mommas need energy too during the school year!!!  On another note I picked up some adorable pirate themed lunch containers in the dollar section at target.  They are so cute, and I also scored some cupcake holders shaped as a cupcake.  I packed the boys cupcakes in their lunch for dessert the second day of school in these just so I could use them!  I adore cute lunch containers and it just seems to make the kiddos lunch a little more fun.  One last thing... Please always include a note in your kiddos backpack, on their snack, or in their lunch.  Pottery Barn kids has the cutest premade notes with riddles on them that kids can share with their friends at lunch.  Genius!  Enjoy your Monday Loves! 
XOXO - B

VIA

PBK

VIA

Mr. HappyPants

Captain Character

Momma Monday - "Let your Kids be Kids"

Happy Monday my fellow Mommys!  I came across this Article (click for article) the other day and I really took it to heart.  Play time for kids equals learning.  When kids get to be themselves they are given the opportunity to enjoy "their" world not moms or dads, or friends.  It is important to let kiddos have down time to be themselves and play and explore, especially during the school year when schedules and studying can be very tiresome.  I really enjoyed this reading and I hope you do too.  On another note, I also came across this great recipe.  This is perfect for a quick breakfast with a side of whole wheat toast or a bran muffin.  This would be again be great for the lunchbox with a side of turkey on whole wheat crackers and would also be fabulous for an after school snack with a side of graham crackers.  Enjoy your day Loves!
XOXO - B

Fresh Fruit with Orange Yogurt Dunk:

This recipe ups the fun factor when it comes to eating fruit, and adds a little calcium and protein to boot.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup low-fat Greek-style yogurt
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed orange juice
• 1 1/2 cups fresh fruit, cut into cubes

Preparation

• Combine the yogurt, vanilla, maple syrup and orange juice in a small bowl and stir well. Serve with fresh fruit on the side.

Makes 2 Servings

Momma Monday - "It's all about the sandwich"

It's back to school time and that means sack lunches!  My kids do not like to buy school lunch unless it is pizza or chicken nuggets, so I almost always pack their lunch.  My boys are also picky eaters as I have mentioned before so I like to pack "mommy's lunch" anyhow so I make sure they are getting food they WILL eat to keep them fueled all day.  Below I have posted some fun ideas to make sack lunch sandwiches a little more fun. 
Sandwich Tips:

• Try and always use 100% natural Peanut butter, and make your own low sugar strawberry jam so it is preservative free (and takes soooo much yummier)
•   Load up sandwich goods on Aspen Valley whole grain bread with omega 3 and flax (Find it at Costco in bulk, I always freeze bulk loaves and defrost in fridge when needed)  
• Use cookie cutters or sandwich cutters to make lunch exciting and put a smile on your kiddos face.  I own sandwich cutters which are sized to fit a bread slice perfectly so there is no waste of food.  They are adorable.  We own the dinosaur, and heart shaped one.  You can purchase your own HERE, compliments of Pottery Barn Kids.
• Cut sandwiches into stripes and name them sandwich fingers.  Add a dipping sauce such as ranch for turkey, honey for PB&J, and honey mustard for Ham and cheese.  Kids will love dunking these fingers!  My boys gobble them up.
• Don't forget a note from Mom or Dad or a sibling.  A simple note makes homesickness go away!
• Always pack a little something sweet, We all need a little sweetness! I often add a Hershey kiss, or a Hershey's miniature candy bar.

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This Sandwich on a stick is adorable.  Click here for the Recipe

All kids love crackers.  Pack some whole wheat crackers and lots of toppings so kiddos can create their own!  VIA

PBK

This is almost to cute to eat!  Make this with a Nutella and sliced banana filling add teddy grahams on the sideVIA

Love this!  It's beyond precious, and delish!  I adore croissants, and so do my boys. VIA

Momma Monday - SIgning Off

Happy Monday!  Today my Momma Monday post is not a post... I know that is a little ironic "how can a post, not be a post"?  Let me explain... Today I will be home all day with my loves.  It's a play day, it's literally  momma Monday.   We will be baking, making play dough, watching movies, and making forts today.  With that said, I am signing off the computer and going to enjoy my kiddos.  I hope you also have a chance soon to sign off for the day and enjoy your lovies.   Come bake tomorrow for a delish recipe featured on Tasteful Tuesday. 
-XOXO

"Momma Monday" - Job Chart

It is never too early for kiddos to learn the trait of hard work and the great feeling of accomplishment.  My boys adore their chore chart.  They look forward to each evening when they can check off their jobs that were done and see their progress!  I personally do a money reward system because my soon to be nine year old has a lengthy toy and video game list that he is always saving for; and my six year old likes to save his money for Hot Wheels Tracks.  I also like using money because it teaches the boys to save and how good it feels to work toward something.  Plus I always have the boys set aside a certain percent of their earnings toward paying a church tithing.  This also teaches the boys the law of sacrifice and helping others (as often that church money goes to helping the less fortunate).  I adore the online job chart website that allows my kids to clock in their jobs well done via the computer.  There is no papers to keep track off and my boys love being on the computer. Click HERE to get your FREE online Job chart.  It's really a neat website.  You can customize the rewards to fit your families specific needs, and more than one child can be on your account.  Have fun with your sweeties!