Back to school is in full swing and this week I am all about making your life easier as a parent when it comes to lunch boxes and after school snacks that are healthy and kid-approved! I know it can get old packing the same old lunch boxes every single week and I know that your kids get tired of those same lunch boxes too! I am hosting a back to school series over on my Instagram throughout the whole week to provide recipes, tips, and tricks on how to get your child to actually eat the good food that you pack them that will keep them nourished and energized throughout their day! I have also rounded up my top 25 lunch box and after school snack ideas that are perfect for meal prepping, healthy, and they are kid-tested and approved!
Currently we are in a phase of my son waking up and walking out of his room and immediately requesting a “snack”. He doesn’t want to eat a real breakfast just a snack that he can eat and play at the same time of course. Since we don’t do “snacks” before meals, I had to get creative with what his options could be! I needed something that could be nutritious enough for breakfast, but that could also be available without me having to prep anything! (Enter the breakfast cookie!) Yep, that’s right, cookies for breakfast that are actually good for you to! My peanut butter trail mix breakfast cookies are going to be your family's new favorite breakfast cookie for on-the-go or for a quick breakfast at home!
Over the weekend, we went to Louisiana to see our new niece who was just born! It was a whirlwind of a weekend and we were all pretty much wiped out last night when we got back home. After a good night's sleep, I am waking up feeling ready for the week! And it's a BUSY one! One of the ways I prep for a busy week is to make a batch of energy balls! My new favorite combination of flavors and ingredients is my chocolate coconut energy balls that taste delicious and are the perfect snack to get you through the afternoon slump!
During the week I love making dips that I can serve with lots of veggies for healthy snack options in a hurry. One of my favorite dips to have on hand is hummus. It's full of protein and pairs perfectly with a plate full of veggies that my toddler will eat right up! I love switching up my basic hummus recipe from time to time and like to add fun spices and flavors. My everything bagel hummus just might be my new favorite hummus of all time!
Last night I was watching The Voice and trying to talk myself out of going into the freezer and snagging one of these delicious bars. Which, in all honesty wouldn't be so bad except I made a deal with myself that I am not eating snacks after dinner this week (whyyyy???) so I am trying to keep my pact with myself. But when a snack is slightly sweet, filling, and on the "healthyish" side a girl could be convinced to break the no snack rule very easily! Cue my gluten free pistachio cranberry protein bars that just so happen to be the perfect snack to keep on hand for any time of day, especially for that pre-bedtime, I want to eat something hour.
Happy Monday friends! We had a big weekend including a book signing for my new cookbook First Bites, as well as Parks turning two! First of all, someone please tell me how in the world I have a two year old now? They say you blink and your kids are grown and I believe it! I could get emotional if I think about it too much so let's move on shall we?? We spent the day yesterday just the three of us, doing all of Parks' favorite things, which now includes playing with his new train set! Playing with trains works up an appetite you know...so birthday nibbles were a must! We started the day off with pumpkin donuts (hello October) and rounded out the day with homemade spaghetti and meatballs! Hands down our favorite snack of the day was sliced apples dipped in my homemade vanilla cinnamon almond butter!
