Healthy Snacks

I am the parent-helper in my youngest son's preschool class tomorrow (whaaat?  my youngest is in preschool??).  One of the duties of the parent-helper is to provide the snack for the class.  I found and modified a cute recipe for some little round "energy bites."  They are both healthy and tasty. 

No-Bake Energy Bites
adapted from Smashed Peas and Carrots

1 cup oatmeal
1/2 sunbutter (this is sunflower seed butter, which is nut free, but feel free to sub peanut butta!)
1/3 honey (use liquid honey, not creamed honey)
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup roasted ground flaxseed
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

Mix ingredients together and let chill in your fridge for half and hour.  Roll into balls and keep refridgerated until serving.  Makes about 2 dozen.


Here is a list of other popular snacks with my kids:
- apple slices with nut butter for dipping
- apple slices with peanut butter
- whole grain crackers or bread with nut butter and banana slices
- other fresh fruit
- frozen fruit smoothies
- whole grain crackers with cream cheese and pepper jelly; or with sliced cheese and apples
- veggies, pita bread triangles and hummus or greek yogurt dip (like tzaziki)
- dried mango; other dried fruits
- tamari almonds or other nuts
- pretzels
- homemade granola bars, muffins, quick breads
- yogurt and granola with fresh or frozen berries

Often my kids' lunch is made up of a smoothie and a combination of some of these healthy "snacks."  I am always looking for new snack ideas.  What do your kids snack on??  Let me know in the comments!

Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats (Slow Cooker Recipe!)

I guess I am kind of risking it, seeing as these are in my slow cooker right now (for the morning) and I haven't really sampled them yet. This recipe comes highly recommeded from a friend whose daughter saw a teacher eating them at her school and it looked so good she asked for the recipe (hope I got that story right Michelle!).  So, although I am not sure of the original author of this recipe, nor am I sure what they taste like, I am also sure they will be good!  I am also sure my friends daughter will grow up to be a foodie if she isn't already - I definately would have been the kind of student to run after a deliciously aromatic bowl of food too!

Since I am still using up my pumpkins, this is a perfect one for me to make!  Funny story about my pumpkins...those of you who know me well have likely heard this because I think it's hilarious - last year, we planted one pumpkin plant in the garden, and yielded one pumpkin, which had grown under our fence and into the neighbour's yard.  It grew very large, and we had no idea it was even there until my neighbour hit it with his lawn mower last October!  This year, I planted one pumpkin plant again, and got about 30 pumpkins!  Crazy!  From one in the neighbours yard to 30 taking over my whole garden!  Good thing we loooove pumpkin.....


Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats (Slow Cooker)

3 cups cubed raw pumpkin (you could also likely use 1 can of pumpkin puree)
1.5 cups steel cut oats
6 cups water
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

Put in your slow cooker for 8 hours.

Did I mention this recipe contains NO sugar?  Just honey!  LOVE it!