After School Healthy, Hunger Stopping Snacks

Written Saturday, September 19th, 2009 by TrishB

The kids arrive home from school. Lunchtime was over hours ago (my 10th grader eats lunch at 10:30 AM) and they're starving. They immediately head for the snack drawer.  I know they aren't interested in making healthy choices so I had to come up with healthy alternatives that would appeal to them and wouldn't ruin their appetites for dinner. The key to success in this scenario is to plan ahead and be organized.

Here are some ideas for you to use:
Pita Pizza : Spread you favorite sauce on sliced pita or english muffin and  just add low fat mozzarella. Can also add veggie toppings such as broccoli  (they might actually like it). Bake in 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes.

Fruits Galore: Cut a variety of your child's favorite fruit into bite size  pieces. Add fresh squeezed orange juice to make fruit salad

Dice mango. Top with vanilla or plain yogurt. Sprinkle with 2 Tablespoons  of brown sugar. Let sit for about half an hour or longer in fridge, then serve.

Freeze grapes in portion sized ziploc bags. Just grab a bag when hunger  strikes. Can also freeze the grapes on a wooden skewer. Fun food =  appealing food.

Let your kids create their own yogurt parfaits with layers of yogurt, granola, and fruit.

Popcorn junkies: High in fiber and low in fat, especially when air popped. Add any of the following (you'll be surprised how  much they will like it):

Sugar/cinnamon mixture, cayenne or paprika (for the adventurous types), almonds, or for a special treat: Mix 2 Tablespoons  each of peanut butter, butter or margarine, and honey. Microwave until mixture melts. Spray popcorn with cooking spray before  adding spices so that they stick.

How 'bout a dip? Carrots, red peppers, cucumbers, celery, sugar snap peas or edamame. Dips such as hummus, salsa, veggie,  applesauce or peanut butter.

Tasty trails: Homemade trail mix is an instant energy boost. Combine choice of dried fruit, pretzels, sunflower seeds, almonds,  cranberries and granola.

What-a-smoothie: Freeze rip bananas and strawberries or selection of other fruit. When ready put the fruit, ice cubes, milk, 1  Tablespoon each of oatmeal and protein powder into a blender and mix. Another combo to try is bananas, peanut butter, milk,  oatmeal, protein powder and ice.

Quesadillas: Combine shredded mozzarella, monterey jack, and cheddar. Sprinkle over one tortilla. Add leftover chicken, if  desired. Top with another tortilla. Either bake in a 400 degree oven on a foil lined cookie sheet for 2-4 minutes or spray with  cooking spray and cook over medium-high heat in a pan for about 2 minutes a side.

Butter doesn't have to be bad: Try spreading cashew butter on pita chips, rice cakes or graham crackers. Top with sliced  strawberries.

Waffle-licious: Top a whole grain waffle with one of the following combinations: Peanut butter, jelly and banana; low fat  yogurt and sliced fruit; cinnamon applesauce.

'Mazing Muffins: Banana, Pumpkin, Carrot or Blueberry are just a few of the many healthy types you can bake. Sweeten them  with applesauce. Make these ahead of time and freeze in individual ziploc bags.

What do you do to make sure your kids eat something healthy and don't fill up on junk food, right after school?

Popping Your Own Popcorn

Written Monday, August 25th, 2008 by April Boland

Who doesn't like popcorn? And yet, you might want to think twice before buying boxes of the microwaveable stuff. Many of them, aside from being pricey, are high in fat and calories from the flavoring and all. (Don't even get me started on movie popcorn and its perils!)

Most people don't seem to realize how amazing, easy and inexpensive it is to freshly pop your own popcorn. No, you don't need a popcorn machine - all you need is a pot or pan and a bag of kernels. I recently purchased an 80 cent bag of popcorn kernels. According to the nutrition information and serving sizes, that small bag that cost me less than a dollar will yield 44 cups of popcorn.

Seems hard to believe until you start popping, which is when you will realize that a few spoons of kernels are all you need. (Follow instructions on the bag and try to avoid popping too much! It will be tempting to think the small number of kernels couldn't possibly be it.) Add oil (olive would be the healthy choice) and a single kernel to the pot or pan over a flame, covered. When the single kernel pops, the pot/pan is ready. Add all of your kernels, keep it covered and pop! (This should be fun with kids, or for those of you who remember Jiffy Pop foil skillets over the stove.)

The best part is you can flavor your popcorn with whatever you like:

• Salt and pepper
• Butter
• Garlic salt
• Parmesan cheese

Now, doesn't 80 cents for at least 20+ popcorn sessions - that are much healthier than processed popcorn with artificial flavoring - sound like a good deal?