So how can you fill them up with good things and not break the bank or resort to buying processed junk? Make serious snacks. A packet of Scooby Snacks is fun, but your kids will be begging for more food faster than they can crumple that foil wrapper and toss it on the floor. So for the sake of your sanity, get ready to bake! Buying staples is essential here: flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, oats, honey, etc. We can talk more specifics in pantry supplies in a later post, along with how to do it affordably when you are short on space.
Sometimes we bake naked, because that's just how we roll.
(1) Homemade bread is not that hard to make--it's even simpler with a bread machine. Slabs of bread slathered with jelly or hazelnut spread or honey or served with cheese slices are just the thing to fill up hungry boys.
(2) Or muffins! Jules is the Muffin Queen, and has some really great healthful recipes that she will share.
(3) Find a good granola bar recipe, like this one. Perfect for bringing to soccer. And affordable because it uses oats and Krispies instead of expensive granola.
(4) Yogurt. I found a super simple recipe online for homemade crockpot yogurt. Rave reviews.
(5) Fresh fruit is an obvious choice, while it lasts. I usually try to limit the kids' fresh fruit intake a bit , so they don't finish off the apples or bananas in a couple hours. I always have canned or frozen fruit on hand to supplement for when the fresh is devoured before the next shopping trip.
(6) Veggies and Dip--Another opportunity to use up the on-sale vegetables that week. Carrots are a fave around here. Along with Ranch dressing, of course.
(7) Tortilla Chips (homemade)--I always buy flour tortillas because at my store you can get 10/.99 regularly. The kids enjoy baking their own chips, especially if we make the cinnamon sugar variety.
The Easy Rule for today is
#121: Bake. The life you save may be your own.
Jules Here---
Just wanted to add a few of OUR favorite snacks to this awesome list:
1) Cereal-- If you look at the cost per pound of generic compared to the snacks, they are much cheaper. So, buy generic Cheerios, Chex, Life, or other cereals and have them create their own "trail mix" when you throw in some raisins, mini pretzels, etc. Most of those cereals are fortified with vitamins/minerals, so even if you add a couple of chocolate chips, it still is a healthful snack that kids love!
2) Frozen fruit-- Ems mentioned fresh & canned, but my kids LOVE sucking on frozen blueberries & strawberries, especially in the summer. Cost per pound can be much cheaper in the winter too.
3) Frozen Yogurt bites: We found these on pinterest a couple of years ago and my kids are HUGE fans during the summer. It makes the yogurt last a lot longer too!
4) Anything with protein: Protein & fiber fill tummies up, so I often get whole wheat English muffins (generic) and put peanut butter on them for the kids for a filling little snack. Once I cut them up for all three, it doesn't ruin their appetite for lunch/dinner later.
5) Our favorite fall snack right now is apple chips. They are DELICIOUS and the children devour them. They do take awhile, but they are worth the wait and super easy if you have a mandolin (you don't even have to skin or core the apple).
6) Popcorn: We do not buy microwave popcorn; we use our air popper or the brown bag technique so we don't get any harsh chemicals/additives. We add our own butter/salt and sometimes we splurge with the popcorn cheese they sell in the refrigerated section of the grocery store--Yum!
Easy Rule #122: Think about seasonal snacks-- use fruits in season and think of different temperatures: hot or cold to make the snacks unique!
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