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Written by Contributing Writer, Kari at Living Strong, Health & Wellness
Snack time!
Personally, I’m not a big “snacker”. I can go meal to meal without needing any extra food to keep me going. Although, having a family, I need to have a plan on hand for our meals and snacks and then I need to make sure they are ready and available to eat!
My kids, on the other hand, seem to need a snack every 30 minutes. I can understand why since they are on the go, non-stop, active kids. This can present a problem when you are wanting to feed your family healthy foods that nourish the body. Unfortunately, the quick and convenient, grab and go processed options you find on the grocery store shelves don’t make the cut for me. It’s hard enough to make sure they have nourishing and healthy lunches everyday – then to add in snacks to mix, that means more creative ideas are needed!
I know it would be easier to go this route, but I’ve spent too many years building a strong foundation of health in my family, this is one area I don’t want to skimp on. This means I need to be creative in the kitchen when it comes to snacks.
I have a long list of snacks that we rely on, but one of our favorites are these Nut Butter Bites! The kids love helping with them as well – which I think makes them even more enjoyable. Kids love helping and being a part of creating the food they eat.
These amazingly healthy bites are a great snack for my active kids and only a couple are needed for them to feel satisfied. Packed with protein from the nut butter, a healthy source of energy from raw honey, good and healthy fat from the coconut and extremely low in sodium – you can ‘t go wrong with these delicious treats! They are more like a dessert than a snack. That’s always a plus!
To top off these already great nut butter bites, roll them in sucanat (unrefined cane sugar), shredded coconut, cocoa powder or mini chocolate chips (we like Enjoy Life! allergen-free brand). Hands down, these are healthier than any overly processed and refined ‘snack’ you can get off a shelf.
Sure, there’s a few minutes of time involved, but isn’t your family worth it? Of course they are!
Along with many other healthy snacks, appetizers, beverages, main dishes and desserts, this recipe can be found in my cookbook, Real Food. Real Kitchen. So Good! I hope you and your family enjoy these as much as we do!
- ½ cup organic natural peanut butter (no added ingredients, just peanuts) or nut butter of choice
- ½ cup organic raw honey
- ½ – 1 cup organic unsweetened coconut, finely shredded
- ⅓ cup organic mini dark chocolate chips, soy-free (we like Enjoy Life! brand, allergen-free)
- sucanat (unrefined sugar) for rolling the bites (other options: you can roll them in coconut, chocolate chips or cocoa powder)
- In a medium size bowl, mix the peanut butter and honey until combined thoroughly.
- Add the chocolate chips. You can add more or less according to your taste (I always add the larger amount).
- Add the coconut in ¼ cup amounts until the consistency reaches a thick, yet semi-sticky state.
- You don’t want it so sticky that you can’t roll it, but you don’t want it so dry that it wont hold together. Find the happy medium.
- Once you are able to roll them and they still have some stickiness to them, roll into balls and then roll in the sucanat.
- Place on wax or parchment paper on a baking sheet or plate.
- Refrigerate for a while so they can harden up a bit, transfer to a glass jar and keep in the fridge.
What is your favorite healthy snack?
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As summer wraps up and we prepare to head our kids back to school, we want to be sure to give them their best start.
One very simple and important way to do that is by giving them a power packed breakfast each and every morning! In the rush to get everyone out the door, breakfast can easily be overlooked.
But missing this very important meal of the day can set our children and ourselves up for failure. We are unable to concentrate and lack the energy we need for a successful day.
Our children’s bodies and brains are still developing and truly need that fuel first thing in the morning. If you are very pressed for time, consider a protein packed smoothie, on-the-go, for a great start to the day. If you have a little more time, consider this protein packed recipe: Toasted Quinoa Porridge!
Quinoa is actually a seed rather than a grain, which explains its high protein content. It contains all nine essential amino acids, is high in iron, fiber, calcium, potassium and a wealth of other necesarry nutrients. I love the toasted nutty flavor of quinoa. It is lighter than oatmeal, but still very filling and keeps me going until lunch, with no blood sugar crashes.
What you need:
1/4 Cup Quinoa (rinsed and dried)
1/4 Cup Water
1/4 Cup Milk (regular, rice, soy or almond)
What to do:
Toast the Quinoa kernels in a pan over high heat for about 2-3 minutes. Toss the kernels in the pan as they pop. When the Quinoa is a nice golden brown, add 1/4 cup water. Simmer over low heat for 5-7 minutes or until the liquid is mostly absorbed, then add 1/4 cup milk. Simmer for 10 minutes, adding more milk if needed. Simmer longer and add more liquid for a softer porridge.
Top with Apple and Pecans, Bananas and Walnuts or Golden Raisins with Maple Syrup and Brown Sugar. Yum, to a power packed breakfast!
What is your favorite power packed breakfast??
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