I said at the beginning of my "menu" posts that we don't really snack that much. It's true. If your body is getting enough "whole" food then you will better absorb nutrients and not feel hungry all the time. However, there are times that you just want a snack - and with young children especially, they will have growth spurts and times that they just seem to be hungry all the time. I keep easy to handle fruits like apples, bananas, tangerines on hand for snacks and sometimes we eat a plain avocado with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. I do want to share a few other healthy snacks we like from time to time.
Crunchy Chickpeas
(These are wonderful protein and taste SO good)
I use organic dried chickpeas (garbanzo beans), so of course they have to be soaked and prepared according to directions. You could also use canned (I would choose organic).
Beans must be dried completely, so if you use canned then rinse and spread them out to dry, otherwise, drained cooked beans and spread them to dry.
In a bowl, toss beans in olive oil - coating completely. Then, use about 1 tsp each of garlic and onion powders and salt and pepper to taste - toss the beans in the spices. (You could use other spices if you like - curry or cayenne if you like spicy)
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees, use parchment paper and spread beans in a single layer. Bake 45 minutes or so, stirring the beans around periodically so they brown evenly. They should be golden and crunchy. If you have any left store in an airtight container.
Yummy Gummies
This time of year especially, I love to make gummies for my kids. Who doesn't want a gummy "bear" - or in our case a gummy "heart" or a gummy "circle?" I ordered my candy molds from Amazon.
I also ordered my gelatin here.
To make the gummies:
3/4 cup elderberry syrup (you can easily make your own or purchase it at a health food store)
3/4 unsweetened 100% juice - we have used tart cherry and grape and my kids prefer grape
6 Tablespoons of gelatin
Vitamin C powder
2 Tablespoons raw honey
Over very low heat dissolve the gelatin into the juices. Once it is completely dissolved, but still slightly warm add your honey and stir, then add the Vitamin C powder.
Quickly pour into your candy molds. I put them in the freezer for 10 minutes and they are perfect. Store in the fridge.
Energy Balls
Bryce pretty much made up her own variation to these popular protein snacks. You can really throw just about anything you want in here. Here is a basic recipe, but have fun with it.
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup nut butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup raw honey
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/3 cup coconut
*optional mix ins - mini-chocolate chips, chia seeds, hemp seeds, chopped nuts, raisins
Mix everything together in a large mixing bowl - it helps to let the nut butter soften up a bit because you really need everything incorporated together well. Let the mixture sit in the fridge 30-40 minutes so the balls will stick together better.
Roll into small balls, about a 1 inch diameter. Enjoy!
Home Made Lara Bars
Lara bars are another healthy snack that we keep on hand. It makes a great on the run breakfast as well. The ingredients are so simple though, that I realized how easy it must be to make them at home. They are yummier than the packaged ones.
Here are a couple of variations:
Peanut Butter Bar
1 cup Medjool Dates, pitted
1/2 cup peanut butter
Combine in food processor and mix until it starts to clump together - add a bit of water if necessary.
Pick up the entire mixture with your hands and form a clump.
Mash down on a piece of wax paper and form into an even rectangle using your hands or a knife to make the edges even and straight.
Slice into 8 even squares. Best stored in the refrigerator.
Cashew Cookie Bar
1 cup Medjool Dates, pitted
1 cup raw cashews
1/4 cup peanut butter
water as needed
Same instructions as above - adding water as needed (you will need a little more in this recipe).
This recipe makes 12 squares.
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