Snacks for Sara

I just got back from Utah. My sister got married. I always eat well when I go back home. More on that later. Friday morning I got to pick my mom's blackberries. There were so good. I made a blackberry - peach crisp that was o.k., but not worth posting. I also enjoyed my mom's blackberry jam. Yum.

Now, to answer some fan mail:
Hi Erin,

Please address this on your blog:

My kids get home from school between 3-4 p.m. We don't have dinner until 6 pm (something new this year). I need a snack that is yummy and filling to last them until 6 p.m. It needs to be more than cookies or crackers or fruit. I'm thinking protein... Any suggestions? Remember school started for us on Monday.

Sara

Thanks for the question Sara. I'll give you some of my ideas, but I'd love to hear some of yours. (I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours.) Some forms of protein my kids enjoy: peanut butter, cheese, cream cheese, tofu, yogurt, cottage cheese, beans, milk. I like to pair a protein rich food with a carbohydrate. Here are some of our favorite snacks:

Make trail mix by putting dried fruit, nuts, cold cereal (like Cheerios or Kix) and M&Ms or chocolate chips in a bag.

Fruit kebabs - thread pieces of fruit on a skewer. Dip in yogurt.

Dip apples, celery, carrots and graham crackers in peanut butter

Spread cream cheese on celery, top with craisins

Cheese and crackers: (add rolled up slices of deli meat to any of the following)

string cheese and ritz

babybel and wheat thins

if you want to get fancy, try other kinds of cheese like brie and triple cream type cheese. Spread on water crackers.

add crushed pineapple (drained) to cream cheese and spread on crackers

Chips and salsa:

Make a simple black bean salsa by adding a few tablespoons of bottled salsa to a can of black beans. You can also add some corn kernals. Serve with chips.

Make guacomole by smashing a few avocados and adding either finely chopped onion or a few tablespoons bottled salsa, salt and pepper. Serve with chips.

Cinnamon chips - brush both sides of tortillas with melted butter. Sprinkle liberally with cinnamon sugar. Cut into triangles and bake at 350 for 10-15 min. or until slightly toasted and crispy. Serve with fruit salsa - dice any fruit (bananas, peaches, apricots, plums, pears, etc . . . ), add berries. Sweeten with a pinch of sugar and add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice.

Tofu shakes:
Ok, my kids don't really love tofu, but put it in shakes and it makes them creamy and silky and adds protein. I promise, it really is good and not in a weird way. Use frozen or fresh fruit, tofu (start with 1/4 c.), milk and ice.

Yogurt parfaits:
This is also good for breakfast; in a tall glass alternate layers of cold cereal, fruit (berries and bananas and peaches work well) and yogurt. Top with a spoonful of wheat germ.

Quesadillas or melted cheese on bread

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and milk (they have oatmeal in them, they have to be healthy!)

Quick bagel pizzas - spread tomato sauce (I used canned tomato sauce and add salt and pepper) on mini bagels. Top with cheese and bake or microwave.

Spread peanut butter on rice cakes and top with raisins or craisins.