I’m not a big snacker. Wait. I take that back. I AM a big snacker. I could eat break-and-bake cookies, brownies and oreos all day long. But because I recognize my lack of self-control in the snacking department, I do NOT buy snacks. If I don’t have a cookie to eat, I’ll just usually grab a glass of water instead. I don’t have self-control at home, but I do have it at the grocery store.
However, with two little kids, you gotta have snacks. Asa loves to say “nack? nack?” when he gets up from his nap. So, what’s a mama to do? I’ve had to figure out healthy snacks from stuff we already have. I’m not going to succumb to organic oreos and boxed organic chocolate milk as a snack. I need REAL food for my kiddos.
So, here are our Top Ten Favorite Healthy Snacks. Well, as healthy as I know how to be…
1. Granola I am a new convert to homemade granola. I’ve always done granola bars and added store-bought granola to yogurt and even bought the dark chocolate granola cereal from Cascadian Farm. But homemade? It seemed too hard. So, we used a recipe from Katie at Kitchen Stewardship’s new ebook, Healthy Snacks on the Go. Lydia, Asa and I sat around the kitchen table, I gave them the ingredients, we mixed and poured. And that was all. When we were done they were like, “That’s it? That’s all were cooking?” It was as easy as pouring cereal. I’m not kidding. Asa adores it and every time he sees the container of granola he says, “G-nanna! G-nanna!”
Here he is stuffing it in his face. We’ve eaten plain, as cereal and now our new favorite way is to take a banana and dip it in the granola. It sticks nicely and is a delicious crunchy treat!
2. Popcorn
This may be the single most delicious food on the planet. It has been a standard in my diet for years. Literally. When I was in High School we ate Popcorn and M&Ms for dinner. After Les and I got married, I realized I had married a popcorn snob and he would not eat microwave popcorn but would only make it in a pot. We graduated from a pot to a Popcorn Popperand for some time had been using oil. After reading Healthy Snacks To Go, I took her suggestion and cooked it with BUTTER. Uhm, hello. Why have I not done this before? It is the best tasting stuff on the planet. And yes, melt some butter to pour on top, too.
3. Fruit & Cheese
This is really our top choice for snacks at home. I usually cut up a piece of cheese (they both like every kind of cheese–extra sharp, parmesan reggiano, etc.) and then couple it with a piece of fruit–apple, grapes, banana, whatever is around the house. It’s a nice full snack with lots of flavor!
4. Portable Fruit
I don’t know why but portable fruit gets me. I think it’s so creative. What’s portable fruit? You know, bananas, apples, clementines, kiwi and other fruit you can just throw in a diaper bag until you’re ready to eat it. I know most fruit seems portable, but think about throwing grapes in your diaper bag. Or a grapefruit.
5. Hummus
Long live hummus! I don’t know when I was introduced to hummus but is a staple in our house. We make hummus sandwiches, eat Mediterranean style with naan for lunch and of course dip EVERYTHING in it. Just one little tablespoon and some veggies, or fruit or bread makes a fantastic and yummy snack. I usually buy the Sabra’s Roasted Pinenut Hummus in the deli at the grocery store. But Daddy makes the yummiest hummus so I finally bought some tahini to make my own! Won’t you be impressed?
6. Pretzels
OK. I’m not sure if these are really healthy but they are a great snack. I can give Lydia five tiny pretzels and she’s satisfied. They’re crunchy, salty and easy to hold. They only have 8 ingredients, all of which are actual words. So, I feel like they should be ok. Plus, Asa calls them “cackers” which is just funny.
7. Dried Fruit
Raisins. Apricots (thanks to Vanessa for reminding me of these!). Cherries. Cranberries. Raisins. And more raisins. The kids adore dried fruit. Especially raisins. Clearly. Plus, they come in little boxes which make them extremely portable! You just have to watch the ingredients and make sure they don’t add sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
8. Milk
My kids are addicted to milk. I think it stems from when they were infants. If either one of them gets upset or hurt they ask for milk. And if we literally have nothing to snack on in the house, I give them a glass of milk and they are happy. In fact, Asa would rather drink than eat any day. I could still be nursing him…
9. Biscuits
This is a new one. So new I just made my first batch last night. And I made them with spelt flour! Are you so impressed? I don’t even know what spelt is but I’ve read about it, found it at the store and used it to make Spelt Biscuits from Healthy Snacks To Go. And even though it smelled like dirt (at first, when I opened the bag) I can tell you that these things are divine! It kinda reminds me of a whole-wheat version of The Flying Biscuit’s biscuits. I dipped mine in apple butter and I may have eaten three…
10. Raw Carrot
My kids think raw carrots are the most fun thing ever. I don’t buy baby carrots anymore after I learned they were just cut out of real carrots. *shudder* So, the kids think they are bunny rabbits chomping on a big carrot. Lydia actually gets upset when I cook carrots for dinner, “Mommy! Can’t I have a crunchy carrot?!”
So, in case you didn’t know, this list was inspired by Kitchen Stewardship’s new ebook, Healthy Snacks to Go! I told you about the 3 recipes I tried but there are tons more—including peanut butter balls, wheat thin knock offs and granola bars. I’m so excited to try some of these!
If you’d like your own ebook all you gotta do is buy one. It’s only $6.95. (Come on.) OR you could win one here! Katie is blessing TWO happy readers with a free ebook today! You know the drill:
You MUST leave a comment telling me your FAVE healthy snack (or not healthy, whatevs).
You MAY leave an additional comment for each of the following: (1) clicking over to Kitchen Stewardship and marveling at her vast knowledge, (2) picking out the recipe you really want to try first in Healthy Snacks to Go, (3) Tweeting “I’m gonna win @kitchenstew’s new ebook, Healthy Snacks to Go from @oohamanda http://bit.ly/ohsnacks #toptentues” OR if you facebook, update your status with something equally awesome. (4)If you do some other amazing thing like wear a Kitchen Stewardship Tshirt or make a spelt biscuit in the shape of my head, you might get an extra entry for that, too.
**UPDATED: I’ve got a coupon code for 25% off Healthy Snacks To Go! Just enter OHAMANDA when you check out! WOOT! (expires June 4, 2010)**
And of course, Top Ten Tuesday participants get an automatic additional entry, too!
NOW. It’s YOUR turn…
Got a fun Top Ten list to share? Just POST it on your blog. LINK to moi in your post. PASTE your Top Ten’s URL below. Then start visiting, tweeting, stumbling and otherwise LOVING the rest of the Top Ten {Tuesday} participants. If you need some help just click over to my Top Ten {Tuesday} info page!
Janna @ The Adventure of Motherhood says
Kudos to Katie for using her talents to write the book!
We love cheese, fiber one bars, yogurt, and almost any fruit.
I’m like you, if snacks are at the house watch out, but I can have control at the grocery store when they are going to cost me something.
.-= Janna @ The Adventure of Motherhood´s last blog ..Do You Let the Extraordinary Become Ordinary? =-.
mandi@itscome2this says
Well, I couldn’t help by calling my link “just the opposite of healthy” – obviously we were on two different wavelengths when we wrote our posts!! Fun ebook though … I’ll need to check that out!
.-= mandi@itscome2this´s last blog ..Top ten tuesday โฆ recipes i want right now =-.
Staci @ teaching money to kids says
I have recently had to make the switch to frozen blueberries, because I was eating way to many m ‘n m’s.
I love the little box of raisins. i know, I could just buy the big box (we do) and then put it in little containers (we don’t). But I just keep a bunch in the car and grab them when we go to the market for the kids to snack on while we shop.
Staci @ teaching money to kids says
I also already love katies in depth studies at Kitchen Stewardship. I have been a follower for some times now.
Stacey @ Tree, Root, and Twig says
I have recently decided that I am horrible, horrible, horrible about my 2yo and snacks. That’s because he’s happy to drink 8 cups of milk and 5 or 6 packs of gummy snacks and call it a day. Argh! I’m getting ready to ditch the gummy snacks and have started introducing yogurt covered raisins. I know, I know, still a lot of sugar, but they’ve gotta be a little better, right? I’m also going to try persuading him on the pretzels thing. He does surprisingly so-so with apples (or App-Apps, as he calls them), bananas, grapes, and strawberries, so maybe I’m not so horrible after all. And he does like string cheese (most of the time). It’s just getting consistency out of him that is so darned frustrating! Good thing he’s cute. ๐
.-= Stacey @ Tree, Root, and Twig´s last blog ..Top Ten {Tuesday}: 10 Thoughts on Having โThe Talkโ (Yes, THAT โTalkโ) with Your Kids =-.
Elizabeth says
Thanks for this list! It’s great! We’re going to have to try some homemade granola. I’m also a hummus addict and my children beg me for “cherry raisins” instead of candy at the store. No complaints! :o)
My favorite snack lately is only partially healthy. I love to grab about 15 raw almonds and a tablespoon of chocolate chips. It’s a satisfying snack when I REALLY want some chocolate and the almonds fill me up so I don’t go back for more chocolate chips.
.-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..Teaching Kids a Healthy Food Relationship {and a menu plan} =-.
Betsy (Eco-novice) says
LOVE the top 10 idea. My first time here. Also love this healthy snack list. I recently posted recipes on my blog for homemade granola and hummus. Homemade whole wheat bread with butter is also a serious favorite at our house. I have crackers and cheese all the time, but will do apple and cheese tomorrow (yum, or maybe right now). We also have just started making popcorn again. I am seriously impressed with your spelt biscuits.
Betsy (Eco-novice) says
Would TOTALLY love to win this. I want to try the homemade wheat thins. We eat A LOT of crackers at my house.
.-= Betsy (Eco-novice)´s last blog ..Fragrance = Undisclosed Ingredients =-.
Alicia says
dark chocolate granola??? where do you get that at?! My favorite healthy snack is chocolate rice cakes.
.-= Alicia´s last blog ..Birthday Clubs =-.
Kylie says
The favorite snack food here is fruit. But we’ve been trying to do more veggies an hummus too.
Kylie says
I follow Katie’s site and learn lots from it.
.-= Kylie´s last blog ..Many faces at the Flower Fields =-.
Kylie says
My Kid just might live me forever if I made granola bars for her that I was willing to let her eat as often as she wanted. So I’d try one of the bar recipes first.
.-= Kylie´s last blog ..Many faces at the Flower Fields =-.
Kylie says
I tweeter about the giveway @kyliejohall
.-= Kylie´s last blog ..Many faces at the Flower Fields =-.
Jen @ BigBinder says
I am so lazy, I met Katie in real life and haven’t bought her book yet… heavy shame. My favorite snack is popcorn, I seriously make it EVERY DAY. On the pan, in coconut oil. It tastes like old-school movie popcorn.
I decided a few years ago not to buy processed snacks. No more Goldfish, or animal crackers (even the organic ones from Costco) – nothing. We eat dried fruit or the dried veggies are really good, string cheese, fresh or frozen fruit, or I have three recipes I got to all the time for snacks:
1) Home Made Clif Bars http://bigbinder.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/menu-plan-monday-30/
2) Apple Oat Bars http://bigbinder.wordpress.com/2010/04/14/a-bloggy-fairytale-and-snack/
3) No Bake Granola Flax Treats http://bigbinder.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/menu-plan-monday-23/
Um, sorry. That got a little long. I love snacks, and I totally came off healthier than I feel like we really are.
Catie says
That pic of Asa is SO cute! ๐ I think you need to do a “TT Ways To Prepare Hummus” ๐ We love hummus, too, but I’m never sure what to do with it!
.-= Catie´s last blog ..Fave Websites =-.
Michael says
I’m pretty sure we’re snacky twins. Love all of these snacks, especially the hummus! The only thing I have to be careful of is nitirites in dried fruit. I’m allergic and the preservative always gives me an asthma attack.
p.s. Do you eat the break and bake cookie dough before cooking it or after?
.-= Michael´s last blog ..Top Ten Tuesday =-.
oh amanda says
*gulp*
*whisper*
Both.
Rachel says
I’m such a snacker and try not to be, but it is like a no win situation. Then I have my MIL coming in every Monday who has never weighed more than 110, and she brings in donuts, cookies etc. which drives me bonkers, but she helps us out so much I can’t get mad. I know it is a waste but I throw away a lot of what she brings over.
Healthy snacks we try to promote – Anya loves bananas and peanut butter, so we buy the natural peanut butter and she doesn’t know the difference. Yogurt is also one we like to promote. I think I might try to make some biscuits. Anya is a big bread fan, those will go over well.
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..Top Ten Tuesday – Books =-.
Leigh says
I miss hummus so much.. Elias is allergic to chickpeas (what the heck?!?) so I don’t even have it around anymore. But you know a dried fruit you HAVE to add to your list? Dried mangoes. Yum… even when you make it yourself without any added sugar, they are delicious!!!
Tricia (Once A Month Mom) says
The favorite snack around these parts are REY REYs (Raisins).
.-= Tricia (Once A Month Mom)´s last blog ..Mango Chicken Vegetable Bake =-.
Heather @ Not a DIY Life says
Love it! Yes to all these!
Can’t believe how many people are participating! Yay!
.-= Heather @ Not a DIY Life´s last blog ..Every Word =-.
Sarah says
I am laughing about “organic oreos.” It’s like “organic fluff.” come on. really?
I’ve been big on whole foods for my kids’ snacks (well, there was the period of “fruit snack” obsession until I realized actual fruit was, well, actual fruit . . .) like bananas, carrots, cucumbers.
But I do admit to hiding in the kitchen and dipping pretzel rods into icing – totally ridiculous, right? That’s why I hide to eat it.
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Ten years, Ten songs =-.
carrie anne says
My 3yo has recently decided that she hates carrots. I’ve tried to entice her with dips but usually she ends up just using the carrot as a spoon to eat the dip. I tried again with good old fashion hummus and you know what. She ate it, the hummus and the carrots. And she even asked for more carrots. Can’t complain about two great snacks in one.
.-= carrie anne´s last blog ..Top 10 Tuesday: Knock, Knock and Favourite Kid Jokes =-.
Jenny86753oh9 says
I am a hummus junkie, but have hated most grocery store brands. Recently I came across the one you mentioned and immediately fell in love…PINENUTS!! Oy…yum.
Crystal says
I’d have to say that our biggest healthy snacks are portable fruit. My little ones LOVE bananas. Grapes, apples, and right now strawberries are big favorites. I make my own granola, but so far the kiddos don’t love it, and it is a bit messy to give them the loose stuff.
.-= Crystal´s last blog ..Little Voices =-.
Kathy Hill says
GREAT list!
My favorite snack… probably popcorn.
Although, I think I’m going to give the homemade granola bars a try.
.-= Kathy Hill´s last blog ..Menu Plan Monday: 05 17 10 =-.
Melissa@SimplyMel says
What fab list! Some of these I already knew of but some them of them never occurred to me. I wish my kids liked hummus! I may have to try it since we haven’t in a while. Maybe with those home made wheat thin knock offs…hm. Love the banana and granola idea. My girls are big snackers. They do love fruit so that’s a good thing. We do a lot of fruit, goldfish and graham crackers. Can’t wait to try some of these!
Crystal says
I love Katie’s blog! She has been a tremendous encouragement to me in my attempt to change my family’s habits over the last year or so. I love how she asks the questions I would ask, and she is great at doing research and weighing the options.
.-= Crystal´s last blog ..Little Voices =-.
Crystal says
I tweeted about the giveaway!
.-= Crystal´s last blog ..Little Voices =-.
Crystal says
I would have to try the peanut butter kisses first only because we really LOVE peanut butter at our house. But I’m also interested in all those Larabar recipes!
.-= Crystal´s last blog ..Little Voices =-.
Crystal says
So, I updated my status with the giveaway info!
.-= Crystal´s last blog ..Little Voices =-.
Elizabeth says
My favorite is pretzels. I also like to make waffle sandwiches with peanut butter and Nutella. I eat that for breakfast a lot. We just recently started making our own microwave popcorn. I found it on a blog somewhere. I’ll have to link it. My husband eats popcorn a lot. He can down a whole bowl by himself, so finding a popcorn that has less fat and salt in it is a good thing. I love hummus.
.-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..Flower Pens: A Tutorial =-.
Jen @ Little Bit This n That says
Mmmmmm…. popcorn! Nom, nom, nom. I am a total convert to the plain old pot method. I will have to try making it with butter instead of oil!
We like hummas too. So funny that you mentioned Sabra–that is the ONLY brand I’ll buy. I can get a huge tub of it at Costco for around $6. I’m so sad, though. The used to carry sun-dried tomato, but they don’t anymore. I got the pine nut last time and it’s a close second:)
.-= Jen @ Little Bit This n That´s last blog ..Crescent Roll Goodness =-.
Elizabeth says
I know that you already said it, but carrots! In fact, we finally made the big step to stop buying chips and we have raw carrots with our sandwich.
.-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..Cup and Saucer Bird Feeder =-.
Kelly says
My daughter’s favorite healthy snack is blueberries. She loves them! I, on the other hand, tend towards slightly less healthy snacks, like granola bars that might as well be candy bars. Shame on me, I know!
Jeni says
It’s funny that you mentioned homemade granola as #1 – I just finished off a bowl of my own! I usually use the basic recipe from the Real Simple magazine, with my own little tweaks. This batch had oats (duh), sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, coconut, maple syrup, kosher salt, and canola oil. After I baked it, I added a pouch of mixed dried fruit that I found at Publix – raisins, cherries, apples, pineapples, and cranberries. It was yummy/sweet/salty/chewy/crunchy/wonderful!
.-= Jeni´s last blog ..WFMW: Cutting Spaghetti =-.
MamaHall says
Our FAVE healthy snack over here is Ants on a Log….celery sticks with peanut butter smeared on top and raisin “ants” on top of that. So yummy and pretty darn healthy. Oatmeal is also one of our go-to mid-morning or after nap snacks. LOVE your ideas, Amanda!
.-= MamaHall´s last blog ..menu planning monday: P90X recipes =-.
MamaHall says
I just marveled at the wonderfulness at Kitchen Stewardship and I subscribed!
.-= MamaHall´s last blog ..menu planning monday: P90X recipes =-.
MamaHall says
There are several recipes on the Healthy Snacks table of contents that I want to try! The pot popcorn, the Popeye bars *wha?*, the applesauce fruit rolls, and the Spelt Biscuits! Thanks for the chance to win her Book!
.-= MamaHall´s last blog ..menu planning monday: P90X recipes =-.
Jennifer says
My favorite healthy snack varies, but I just enjoyed a bowl of sliced apples and sliced cheddar. Of course, I love all berries. My favorite unhealthy snack is Rice Crispie Treats.
Jennifer says
The first recipes I will try will be the granola and granola bars. My son hates almost all healthy foods, all fruits, peanut butter, etc. I send a granola bar in his lunchbox almost every day. I would like to make sure those granola bars are as healthy as possible. He is also allergic to eggs so finding a healthy breakfast that isn’t fruit or eggs is torture for me.
The Diaper Diaries says
Carrots, cottage cheese, nuts, string cheese, homemade granola bars. Pick me!!!
The Diaper Diaries says
Tweeted.
The Diaper Diaries says
Oh and I LOVE Katie. And I tried some of her snacks before she even wrote her ebook. Which makes me super cool ๐
Fraizerbaz says
I am a total snacker myself.
Have you ever tried frozen grapes? It’s a completely different way to enjoy grapes. They are so yummy!
.-= Fraizerbaz´s last blog ..Top Ten Tuesday – LOST =-.