March 28, 2022

We are always on the hunt for healthy snacks that our kids love. These are some tried and true recipes!

Apple Wraps With Dip

Ingredients:

-Apples, quartered. Make the slices size appropriate for your child.

-Cheddar cheese. Sliced into the same number of pieces as the apple.

-Lunch meat sliced into 1 inch strips. We have used all types! Ham, turkey, you name it!

-Optional: plain yogurt for dipping

Place a piece of cheese on each apple slice. Then wrap your lunch meat strip around each piece. They are ready to serve! Add yogurt dip for a little extra!

Apple Chips

Ingredients:

- 1 apple

- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

-Pinch of salt

Wash apple

Slice apples thinly. No larger than 1/8 inch. A mandolin is perfect if you have one, but it isn't necessary. To cook them evenly, try to make the slices as even as possible.

Remove seeds and stem and pat dry. The drier the apples, the crispier they will be!

Put apple slices in a large bowl and toss with cinnamon and salt.

Air Fryer Method

• Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Put half of the apple slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer. (Depending on the size of your air fryer you may have to adjust the number of slices you add.)
• Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, turning and flattening the apples every 3-4 minutes.
• Transfer the apples onto a wire rack to cool and crisp up, about 10 to 20 minutes.
• Repeat the process for the remaining apple slices.

Oven Method

• Preheat the oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Arrange the apple slices on a metal baking sheet in a single layer.
• Bake for 45 to 60 minutes or until the apples are dried, and the edges curled up.
• Transfer the apples onto a wire rack to cool and crisp up, about 10 to 20 minutes.

Peanut Butter Energy Bites

Ingredients:

-2 cups oats

-3/4 cup peanut butter

-4 tablespoons honey or agave

-1/4 cup ground flax seed

-1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

-1 tablespoon chia seeds

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Make 1 inch balls using your hands or a 1 inch cookie scoop. Place energy bites on a parchment lined cookie sheet and place in the freezer for 1 hour. Place into a container and then store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Optional additions:

Chopped up nuts, protein powder, shredded coconut, hemp seeds, cocoa powder, or cranberries.

Cereal Bars

Ingredients:

-3 1/2 cups of Cheerios or similar cereal

-1/2 cup nut butter or sun butter

1/2 cup honey

*Due to the honey in this recipe, it is not safe for those under 1!

Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper.

Mix honey and nut/sun butter together in a large heat safe bowl. Microwave the mixture for 20-30 seconds to make it easier to stir. Stir in cereal.

Scoop mixture into the pan. Press it in firmly. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes. After the mixture is chilled, remove from fridge and remove it from the pan using the parchment paper. Cut into bars. Store in an air tight container and place back in the refrigerator.

Mom Hack! Prior to refrigerating place mixture in a muffin tin (regular or mini) for child size pieces!

Roasted Chickpeas with Cheese

Ingredients:

- 2 15-ounce cans of chickpeas. Drained and rinsed

-3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese

-2 tablespoons of olive oil

-1/2 teaspoon of salt

-1 tablespoon of chopped rosemary

Preheat oven to 400 F and line a rimmed pizza pan or or baking sheet with a high rim with foil.

Pat chickpeas dry and place in a bowl. Drizzle olive oil and salt onto the chickpeas. Toss gently to coat the chickpeas. Spread them on the pan and back for 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and shake them up a bit. Bake for another 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and sprinkle rosemary over the chickpeas and back for another 8-10 minutes, or until they are crunchy.

Once they are crunchy, sprinkle the cheese over the chickpeas while they are still hot. Toss to make sure they are coated in cheese.

Let them cool and then store in an air tight container.

Banana Bites

Ingredients:

-1 banana

-2 tablespoons of nut butter or sun butter

-1 whole wheat tortilla

Spread nut/sun butter on the tortilla. Place the banana near the edge of the tortilla and roll it up. Slice into rounds.