Why Unprocessed Snacks?
If
you have kids, then you probably hear "I'm hungry" several times a day.
Sometimes my kids have not even finished eating a meal when they start
asking for a snack.
Although it is tempting to pull out some
packaged treat from the pantry you do need to think of the effects of
those convenient snack packs on their health, the environment, and of
course, your wallet.
Below I will share with you some ideas for keeping a
well stocked pantry of healthy, unprocessed and inexpensive snacks that
will keep your kids happy...and inevitably, asking for more.
Use Amazon Prime Pantry to Stock Up
Find clean eating staples on Amazon for less
Having trouble finding clean eating pantry staples near you? Or are
they just ridiculously expensive at your local store? Try using Amazon's
new service,
Amazon Prime Pantry, to create a pantry box full of essentials to get you on your way to clean eating and snacking.
Another way for Amazon Prime members to get the most out of their
membership, Prime Pantry allows users to fill a large "Pantry box" with
everyday sized staples at Amazon.com low prices. No buying in bulk with
the excess and waste associated with that. Just every day sizes at
Amazon low prices - and the ability to take advantage of Amazon coupons
that can save you up to 25%. Then the box ships for only $5.99 - no
matter the contents.
How would I fill my clean eating Pantry box?Here are some options below.
We
all love salty, crunchy snacks. But before you reach for the chips and
pretzels, take a second look at popcorn. Not the buttery, over-salted
kind that comes in microwaveable bags with questionable chemical
additives. It is surprisingly easy AND cheap to make a bag of microwave
popcorn with some kernels and a brown paper bag.
Here is an easy step-by-step guide.
This home made version can be entirely salt and fat free if you so
wish. Or else a little melted butter, salt or even a shake of Old Bay
seasoning can be added for some salty, spicy kick. And at $0.13 a
serving, nothing could be cheaper. I picked up some movie theater style
popcorn containers at the Target $1 bin which make this treat even more
fun for the kids.
Organize Your Healthy Pantry
Ball Jars and OXO Containers Make it Easy!
When I kicked the processed food habit, one thing I noticed was that
my pantry was a mess of plastic bags from the bulk bins. I went out and
bought glass canning jars to get myself organized and I love the way my
pantry looks now. All my jars are lined up neatly and I can immediately
take stock of what I have, what is running low, and what I need to
replenish. These jars are available seasonally in grocery stores, and
year-round on Amazon.com.
Perfect for storing popcorn, nuts, dried fruit and beans...and
anything else you can imagine. Make sure you pick up a wide mouth funnel
and wax pencils for easy filling and labeling too.
Half Gallon Wide
Mouth Canning Jars come in a pack of 6 and are perfect for storing
snacks, soaking grains and even making sun tea!. Get the lowest price at
Amazon.com
Save on OXO Good Grips Food Storage on Amazon
These
square containers by OXO Good Grips are the perfect space savers for
your healthy pantry. Click to see all sizes on Amazon and maximize your
pantry space with their smart, space saving design.
Cut up Some Fruit
Make it fresh AND fast
We
all want to give our kids fresh fruit to snack on, but it always seems
like a hassle when it comes to prep time - washing, peeling,
slicing....they just want their snack NOW! Plus, if you don't keep on
top of it, fruit can go bad in the fridge. Here are some of the easiest
options to help you always be ready with a fresh, sweet treat you can
feel good about.
Apples are tops when it comes to a versatile,
long lasting treat. In stores year round and reasonably priced, these
can be sliced and served with a dip (peanut butter, or honey) or just
tossed whole at older kids who enjoy eating them straight off the core. I
keep my apple slicer handy and have even considered buying a second one
because many times when I need it it is siting in the dishwasher, dirty
from the last apple.
Find all kinds of fruit slicers to make healthy prep fast and easy.
Serving up some apples or pears? Make it fast and easy with a corer/slicer!
Other
easy snacks include Grapes and blueberries (no cutting required!). I
also love watermelon and pineapple because once you put the effort in to
cut them up you have a good amount of fruit which can last a few days
in the fridge. Take a look below for some great tools which make fruit
prep easy and fun.
Believe it or not, there ARE vegetables that your child will eat
Admittedly,
it's not easy getting kids to eat their veggies. But a little
perseverance and a lot of dip does pay off. Don't be dissuaded if your
kids turn their noses up at these snacks at first. Research shows you
have to put a new food in front of a child multiple times before they
develop a taste for it. And while you are waiting for them to catch on,
you can finish those healthy snacks they leave behind.
The
cheapest and easiest by far are carrots. Some like baby carrots for the
convenience factor, but I have found that large carrots - the kind that
come in a cello bag for about $1 - are tastier by far. I prep a whole
bunch of them at the beginning of the week and put them in a plastic
container with a little bit of water to keep them moist. My daughter
likes them dipped in peanut butter (but then again she likes everything
dipped in peanut butter) but
home made hummus or a
creamy veggie dip or even honey mustard are great options too.
Some other easy veggies to prep and store for a weeks worth of snacks include:
-- Cauliflower
-- Cucumbers
-- Red, yellow and orange peppers
-- Celery
Get Baking!
You
might think that snacks like pretzels, goldfish crackers and animal
crackers are purchase-only treats, but you would be surprised to know
how easy it is to make wholesome, unprocessed versions of these in your
own kitchen. The time put in is well worth the reward.
These snacks are
fun to eat AND make, and will store well in airtight containers - so
feel comfortable making a double batch for future snacking. Here are
some of my favorite recipes:
Granola
A sweet crunchy snack for anytime
Granola is a versatile snack. Serve it with milk as a breakfast
cereal, dry as a snack of fashioned into bars or squares as a treat. You
can alter almost any granola recipe to suit your family's tastes -
replace raisins with cranberries, walnuts with almonds, etc.
Granola stores well - keep it in an airtight container and it can
stay fresh for weeks. It is high in fiber and protein. And best of all,
making your own granola is not only easy, but also cost efficient
compared to its cost at the grocery store.
Although granola gets a bad rap for being high in fat and sugar, you
will find that you can adapt any recipe to make it more healthy without
compromising the taste, and create a snack that your family will crave.
Below are some of my picks for healthy, easy granola recipes.
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