Trail Treats
Marla Meridith of Family Fresh Cooking fame shares her recipe for homemade goodies that keep her family fueled — Telluride Trail Bars. Inspired by her favorite store-bought granola bars, the naturally sweetened treats are a cross between an oat cookie and a traditional granola bar. Check out the full post for the recipe and tasty add-in ideas like dried fruit or chocolate chips. Marla suggests packing them for picnics, hikes, ski trips, and more! We think they’re perfect for the on-the-go kid!
Sneaky Sushi
We love this adorable idea for kid-friendly sushi rolls featured over at A Bicycle Built for Two. Simply made using peanut butter and jelly rolled in wheat bread slices, the kids will love making them and eating them with a pair of chopsticks while mom and dad enjoy their grown-up sushi. Or, pack ‘em in a lunchbox for a quick daycare or field trip snack! The idea was inspired by blog authors Jeff and Caitlin’s experiment to live off of a $1 per day food budget. Head on over to the blog to steal other budget-friendly food tips and learn how their experiment turned out!
Yogurt Sammies
Check out this updated version of an ice cream sandwich dreamed up by The Galley Gourmet. The secret to this recipe is the fresh blueberry compote swirled into the yogurt, which is then hugged by two delicate and cake-y crackers. Yum! Head on over to the blog for the full recipe tutorial for this summer treat that’s sure to send you into “blueberry pie à la mode bliss.”
Funny Faces
Who knew that Melba toast could be so fun? Tasty topping combinations are endless — check out the full post at Super Healthy Kids for some inspiration. Raisins, broccoli, and grapes are a few of the ingredients that help create this yummy art on toast. Busy moms Amy and Natalie share their tools and resources for helping families make healthy choices on this stellar blog. We love their recipe collection and printable nutrition lesson plans like this Healthy Eating Placemat. So smart!
Go Speed Racer, Go!
Here’s a creative food idea that also helps use up those extra hot dog buns that always seem to be hanging around. Recipe developer and food columnist Jade Hair shares her recipe for pizza racers on her blog, Steamy Kitchen. A hollowed-out bun filled with tomato sauce and adorned with pretzel pieces, cucumbers, and cheese makes for a sporty car — but when baked a little, the car turns into a great afternoon snack! Jaden’s other recipes for families look equally delicious as well.
Apple Crisps
Ingredients: Two red apples, cinnamon for sprinkling. What? Could it get any easier? This idea featured over at Six Sisters Stuff really is as easy as it seems. After baking the thin-sliced apples (the thinner you slice them, the crispier they’ll be) on parchment paper, the apples crisp as they cool. Check out the full blog for baking tips and other healthy snack ideas for the whole family. We can see these apple crisps sneaking into everyone’s lunch bag!
Road Trippin’
Planning a road trip this summer? Mom-of-four Melissa shares this ingenious idea for the perfect snack caddy over on her blog, Inner Child Crochet. With just a small tackle box, busy moms everywhere now have a solution to satisfy every kiddo’s sweet or salty snack craving (enough to last hour after hour in the car). Check out the full post to read about which other food and entertainment ideas were a hit for her family’s road trip. Magnetic chalkboards? Walkie talkies? Mystery toys? Sign us up!
Build Me Up, Buttercup!
Bakeaholic Mama Carrie shares her recipe for brown butter banana bread, which is a winner on its own, but is taken to the next level with the addition of mini peanut butter cups. Slice up a loaf for a sweet treat for the kids, or bring one to your next family brunch. Head over to the blog to check out the step-by-step recipe along with hundreds of other ideas searchable by categories such as Kid-Friendly Snacks, Game Day, and Gluten Free — so many options!
Top Pops
We love the idea of turning already delicious fresh fruit into easy-to-eat healthy desserts. These yogurt-dipped fruit pops featured on In Sock Monkey Slippers look like a great way to spend an afternoon. All you’ll need is cut fruit, Greek yogurt, honey, lollipop sticks, and toppings like crushed Oreos, sprinkles, or pistachios for dipping. Let the kids come up with their own special combos. Does your family love food on a stick? So do we! Check out our recent 10 Fun Foods on a Stick article for more ideas.
Berry Sweet Apples
We can’t wait to try making these crispy marshmallow apples featured over at Gourmet Mom On-the-Go. What a great idea for a back-to-school snack! The secret to getting that candy-apple-red color is a package of strawberry Jell-O. Form the treats into an apple shape and add Tootsie Roll and icing toppers for the perfect backpack-ready snack for the kiddos.
