Snacks on the Go

I try really hard to get my girls to eat healthy foods.  It is of course more of a challenge with my 3 year old as I am trying to teach her to make healthy choices.  Overall both girls are awesome eaters.  I find snack time to be a challenge and often redundant. I am always looking for new ideas, especially for on the go!  It is really easy to choose processed snacks filled with added sugars and little health benefits.  I am always grabbing granola bars and cheddar bunnies to stick in my bag because it is effortless.  And just because it says organic doesn't mean it is good for you.  The best thing you can do is avoid processed foods as much as possible.  I am trying really hard to instead choose real, nutritious food.  I have created a list of some of our easy favorites as well as some that take a little time and planning, but it's worth it.  Cutting up fruits and veggies on Sunday night to have for the week is a great way stock your fridge with healthy snacks for the on the go.  Homemade granola bars are easy to make and kids love to help make them! I will include a recipe for those at the end of the post. Please comment with any other ideas! 

Snack Ideas:

*Organic string cheese or better yet, cut up cheese squares

*Apples

*Bananas

*Orange slices 

*Grapes

*Mixed berries

* Cubed melon (especially this time of year)

*Cucumber slices

*Red pepper sticks

*Carrot sticks

*Hummus

*Yogurt pouches (be careful of sugar!)

*Applesauce pouches

*Chia Pouches, by Mama Chia (Ella loves these!)

*Mixed nuts, I always have a jar of a homemade mix (peanuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios, etc)

*Homemade muffins

*Homemade granola bars (see recipe below)

*Raisins, Craisins, or our new favorite Golden Berries

*Dried mango slices 

*Chickpeas

Flexible Granola Bar Recipe:

I found this recipe on Pinterest and have adapted it.  The base of the recipe is oats, butter, honey (or maple syrup) and brown sugar.  After that, you can really add whatever you like. The key to these granola bars is waiting about 2 hours before cutting so the bars can firm up.  You can add chocolate chips, dried fruit, pumpkin seeds or nuts.  I always like to add chia seeds or flax seeds as well. 

You will need:

* 2 1/2 c old fashioned rolled oats (I like to use organic that I buy in bulk for our local market)

*1/2 c chopped almonds

*1/3 c honey or maple syrup

1/4 c butter cut into small cubes

1/4 c brown sugar, packed

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1/2 c dried cranberries or raisins

1/4 c mini chocolate chips (why not?)

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees and line a small baking sheet with foil.  Lightly spray or coat with melted butter.
2. Add oats and nuts to small baking sheet and bake for about 8 minutes to lightly toast (stir about halfway) then add to a large bowl.
3. Combine butter, honey or maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla extract and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Cook on medium-low until butter melts and sugar dissolves. .
4. Add mixture to bowl with oats and almonds.  Mix well and let cool about 5 minutes.  Once mixture is cool add cranberries or raisins and chocolate chips.  Stir to combine.  The chocolate chips will melt a little which is fine. 
5. Transfer mixture to your lined pan and use rubber spatula to press down mixture.  Press hard so bars will stay together once cooled and cut.
6. Sprinkle a couple tablespoons of chocolate chips over mixture and press firmly again.  Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. 
7. Once mixture is set, remove from foil and cut into 12 bars.

These bars will store in an airtight container for about a week.  You can leave out or refrigerate.