Tag: back-to-school

From Lisa Barnes

Here are some quick snacks to bring along for day trips, out for a stroll, or have on hand for school. These snacks are easy to make and don’t need a real recipe, only your imagination and your child’s appetite.

If making snacks for school or day care, consult the administration’s policies for appropriate and banned food items. Many schools are now nut and nut butter free due to students with severe allergies in attendance.

Remember, vegetables and fruits can make their own snacks with a little extra effort to make them appealing to children. I recommend that moms always carry a fresh avocado and banana in their diaper bag. They are appropriate for all ages, need no refrigeration (until cut), and need no preparation.

Organic natural peanut butter is a good source of protein and makes a healthy snack paired with the following foods:

? Spread on chunks of organic apple.

? Spread on toast with a slice of cheddar or Swiss cheese.

? Sandwiched between two waffles or pancakes.

? Spread on wheat tortilla, topped with a banana rolled up.

Organic vegetables and fruits can make their own snacks with a little extra effort to make them special and appealing to children.

? Celery stick spread with cream cheese and sprinkled with raisins.

? Zucchini, cut in half lengthwise, spread with Spring Spread (see below), then put back together.

? A cored apple stuffed with granola or cereal.

? Spinach leaves stuffed with hummus and vegetable sticks.

? Lettuce leaves stuffed with egg and olive spread and rolled.

When the bag of toasted oat cereal isn’t enough, or your child needs variety, trail mixes are an easy “to go” snack. Besides the Trail Mix Treat recipe, here are some suggestions:

? Handful of toasted oat cereal mixed with raisins.

? Handful of granola mixed with dried apricots and cranberries.

? Handful of dried fruit chunks mixed with wheat pretzels.

? Handful of chopped raw almonds mixed with dried fruit chunks.

Organic Pita bread makes a handy and healthy pocket to stuff you child’s favorite fillings.

? Stuff with lettuce, avocado, and cheese sticks.

? Stuff with spinach and hummus.

? Stuff with leftover meats.

Lavosh or flatbread and tortillas make a neat roll-up for little hands. These rolls can also be cut for a special, colorful presentation, almost like sushi!

? Spread with roasted red pepper puree and vegetable sticks, and roll.

? Spread with tomato sauce, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, and roll.

Bagels make a good platform for lots of spread and fillings. Broken into tiny pieces, bagels can be dipped into hummus or goat cheese for young eaters. You can even cut them in half and remove some of the bread, so filling stays in better and the bagel is not so filling for little tummies. Here are a few options:

? Spread organic tomato sauce, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and chopped veggies, like a pizza.

? Stuff with cottage cheese and sliced organic strawberries.

? Stuff with omelet pieces.

? Spread with nectarine or other fruit butters.

Waffles and pancakes can be good for making fun sandwiches and rolls.

? Spread pancakes with cream cheese and any fruit puree and roll up.

? Spread peanut butter and all-fruit spread between two waffles.

? Layer scrambled eggs between waffles for a breakfast sandwich.
~

Organic Spring Spread Recipe

This was a favorite of mine while a freshman at U.C. Davis. On a nice sunny day, I would stop at the coffeehouse and order a wheat bagel with spring spread to take with me to eat on the quad. Years later I was cooking for a two-year-old whose mother was worried she wasn’t eating enough vegetables. She loved cream cheese, so my college favorite became her morning breakfast. Try using different organic vegetables, such as grated zucchini or finely chopped celery, for variety. Besides bagels, this spread doubles as a dip for carrot and celery sticks, or cracker cut-outs listed below.

Makes about