Frozen blueberries are an ingredient I make sure to never run out of. Honestly, there is usually a pile of bags taking up most of the space in my freezer. This is because in my weekly grocery shopping blitz, the one where I spend 20 minutes trying to throw everything I need into the cart before…
overnight chia seed pudding with berries
CHIA SEED PUDDING IS JUST ABOUT THE PERFECT MAKE-AHEAD BREAKFAST, particularly for sunny weather. But I didn’t always know this. The first time I made chia seed pudding, the whole concept was so foreign to me that I actually thought you HAD to use coconut milk. As though it wouldn’t work with other liquid. Like regular milk. Since then…
4 Ingredient Protein-Packed Peach Smoothies
SMOOTHIES. AN EASY SNACK FOR KIDS. A healthy snack for kids. What’s not to love? Plus, smoothies are so versatile. If you want something refreshing that won’t ruin the kids’ appetites before dinner, blend up this combination: 1 banana 2 cups frozen fruit, in this case peaches 1 cup milk 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup…
Avocado Toast
THAT’S RIGHT. No jam, but a thick smear of fresh avocado instead. Squeeze a little fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle salt and breakfast (or snack) is done faster than you can say, “My kids will NEVER eat that”. I know because I didn’t think mine would either. But because we’re always gluttons for punishment…
bell pepper sailboats
WHEN IT COMES TO CUTE FOOD SOMETIMES PARENTS GRUMBLE, “But then they’ll ask for something special every day!” I imagine my brood like little emperors reclining on fluffy pillows with pipes perched in the corners of their jam-smeared mouths. In come the demands: “Bring me my grape caterpillars!” “You call that a spider sandwich?” “WHEEEERE is my…
strawberry chia seed pudding pops
NOT EVERY KID IS A CHIA SEED PUDDING LOVER. I know. I have four small kids now and they’re all doing this thing where they’re developing their OWN tastes. It reminds me of this great post from Facebook, “I want my children to be independent headstrong people. Just not while I’m raising them.” But when a mother’s…
apple & grape turtles
PERFECT FOR AN AT-HOME SNACK or even an “UN-BAKE SALE” (you know, a more nutritious option for fundraising than cakes and cookies), we’ve been dying to make these turtles for a while now. Here’s the review: They’re pretty awesome. They took about 1 minute each. The kids squealed. Difficulty level (1-5): 2 the teeny tiny eyes…
Lemon Yogurt Cakes with Blueberries
THERE’S A SECRET TO MAKING A CAKE MOIST. Add yogurt. This time, it was vanilla and the result was delicious. I learned about yogurt cake when we lived in Italy. Estelle was about a month old when we took a weekend trip to Umbria and did all sorts of things I can’t imagine doing now. Hikes (which…
No-Bake Chocolate, Fruit & Nut Bars
WE’VE MADE A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THESE. Homemade Lara Bars, DIY Kind Bars, Oat & Chocolate Balls and more…but these are the easiest. And the least expensive. They’re also the lowest in sugar, without any sweetener at all. One more thing. They’re the yummiest too. The formula for these healthy no-bake bars is simple: 2 cups…
A Heart-Shaped Strawberries, Cheese & Crackers Board 3 (Easy) Ways: Healthy Valentine’s Day Snacks for Kids
I WARNED YOU. If you follow Foodlets on Facebook (and I hope you do), you’ll see that I posted a strawberry, cheese & crackers board for Valentine’s Day…and vowed to do it again. Here’s the first one. But first, one quick note about the ups and downs of fresh strawberries. It’s not strawberry season in…
Say It with Strawberries (and Cheese): A Fresh Valentine’s Day Treat for Kids
YOU COULD SAY IT WITH CHOCOLATE. Or smoothies. Even tiny cream puffs would be sweet. But today’s treat is a little healthier, a lot heartier and a great choice to bring to school as well. We used Mini Triscuits which I learned a while ago have two ingredients: wheat and salt. (Ditto for regular Triscuits, of…
strawberry hearts: a healthy valentine’s day snack for kids
IT’S EASY TO IMPRESS THE RASCALS. And if you have an extra 15 seconds, you too can ta da your way to the cutest little meal with these strawberry hearts. It’s already time for Florida strawberries here in North Carolina but I’m betting you can get your hands on a few California beauties just about anywhere. And…
Cinnamon Apple Slices
DIY “Kind” Bars
CONFESSION: SOMETIMES I HIDE THE GOOD STUFF FROM MY KIDS. No, I don’t mean the chocolate. Because that’s OBVIOUS. My stash is in the freezer where I can get to it the moment nap time begins. No, I mean those delightful but expensive Kind bars. Usually I buy granola bars for the kids and I stick…
Slow Cooker Apple Butter (No Sugar Added)
HOMEMADE APPLE BUTTER IS one of those things Paul and I remember loving as kids. Both of our moms made it. In fact, apple butter has been shipped to our kids by two different grandmothers to two different countries, only to be devoured in one week flat. That’s because it’s delicious. But with four small kids, I…
Christmas Tree Grapes & Cheese Platter
IS THERE A KIDS’ HOLIDAY PARTY GOING ON near you? Our kindergartener’s class is hosting a holiday party at the end of the week. When our Room Parent emailed everyone asking about a healthy, low-sugar snack, this Christmas tree platter made of grapes and cheese immediately came to mind. Storing grapes properly is one of the important…
easy-to-make owl crackers
MAKING DINNER WITH ANTSY KIDS UNDER FOOT is hard enough. But making Thanksgiving dinner with kids playing chase through the kitchen? That’s the kind of stress me and my pre-ordered, free-range, organic turkey just don’t need. What we need is wine a simple kid’s activity. If you’re looking for a keep ’em busy project that also doubles…
simple sweet potato walnut muffins
When it comes to sweet potato recipes for kids, these muffins are elbowing their way to the top for two reasons: You don’t have to bake the sweet potatoes ahead of time, and they’re full of protein-rich nuts. Easy and nutritious? Two of my favorite things. Throw in a specially shaped pan and how can…
spider sandwiches
IN KEEPING WITH OUR EASY HALLOWEEN FOOD IDEAS theme, today’s spider sandwich is so simple and surprisingly sturdy that they make great snacks or lunches on the go. I know this because George, my two-year-old, reached up and grabbed the container ours were stored in no less than five times before we got out the…
how to make green grape caterpillars
THESE CREEPY CRAWLY CATERPILLARS aren’t just a healthy Halloween treat, they’re also great for parties or lunch boxes any time of the year. I think I know three little people who are going to squeal when they see these on the table at snack time today… WHAT YOU NEED: Extra long toothpicks (I got mine…