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😋Need snack ideas?? I’ve got a #nowaste snack

😋Need snack ideas?? I’ve got a #nowaste snack that helps use up whatever bags you have open at home. Plus, it’s my favorite way to use freeze dried fruit which can be pretty pricey. Kids won’t go through a whole bag in one sitting when you add it to a mix of other snacks too.
⭐️ Store snack mix in an airtight container. The freeze dried fruit will start to get less crunchy and soften after two days. (Which I still think tastes good but wanted to let you know not to make this in huge quantities.)
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Here are some things to think about when building your own snack mix:
🍓You can buy freeze dried strawberries, bananas, apples, berries, and mixed fruit bags…try out different kinds. I like to get my freeze dried fruit at Trader Joe’s or Target.
🥨This is a great way to use up any almost stale cereal or crushed snacks at the bottom of the bag. Make a scavenger hunt out of it and see what snacks kids can find in the pantry or cabinets.
🥜I made this snack mix nut free for school and used sunflower seeds. However, you can use sliced almonds or any nut and seeds you like.
Roasted chickpeas or edamame also make a great crunchy nut-free addition!
💡Keep in mind the age of your child/children and be aware of any choking hazards such as large pieces of nuts or pretzels and popcorn. Best to use soft and small items for kids under 4.
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🍊For school, we pack up some snack mix with a few mini cucumbers and a clementine (The Sistema container middle divider goes up all the way so the snacks will stay separate.) If you need a more filling snack, serve the snack mix with a higher protein item like a cheese stick or hard boiled egg.
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Don’t forget to get the kids involved and have fun making a snack mix together!
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#schoolsnacks #backtoschool #lunchbox #lunchboxideas #nutfree #cookingwithkids #kidsinthekitchen #kidsactivities #toddleractivities #preschool #homeschool

🍝Comment below if you want the recipe link send

🍝Comment below if you want the recipe link send right to you! Creamy Veggie-Packed Pasta Sauce:
Just 5 ingredients and so quick to make! Cottage cheese blended into your favorite jar of marinara sauce makes the sauce easy, creamy, and flavorful. If you like vodka pasta sauce or other creamy tomato sauces, you have to give this healthier version a try!
⭐️Get the full recipe on happykidskitchen.com or DM me and I’ll send you the direct link.
The full blog post also has tips for involving kids and suggestions for substitutions and variations.
You can easily add chicken, shrimp, or precooked sausage into the pasta or on the side.
The whole family is going to love this comforting pasta dinner. Let me know if you give it a try! 😊💕
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#cottagecheese #pastarecipe #whatsfordinner #easydinner #feedingkids #dinner #dinnerideas #healthykidsfood

I needed to hear this. Did you too? I posted this

I needed to hear this. Did you too?
I posted this the past couple of years, but I think we all need this reminder often!
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I take it too personally sometimes. The waste, the effort, the pressure to feed our kids in a certain way…it feels like too much once in a while.
But our kids are small humans with their own hunger levels and changing likes and dislikes. Many factors like time restrictions, socializing, and emotions also play into how much our kids eat away from home.
If my child only takes one bite of a sandwich, it doesn’t mean I’m failing. And my child eating everything I pack doesn’t make me a mom rockstar.
We can’t control how much our kids eat, but we can try and manage our feelings about it.
So, when a lunch comes home full or with the fruit and veggies untouched, I try to remember there are many opportunities for my kids to eat each day and each week. Eating variety takes time. I want my kids to trust their own hunger and learn to enjoy ALL foods.
Easier said than done, but I hope being honest with each other about it will make us all feel a little less alone. Feeding kids isn’t easy. 😊💕
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The quote “Lunch boxes are not a parenting report card” was inspired by a @feedinglittles post.
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#lunchbox #lunchboxideas #feedingkids #pickyeater #momlife #honestmotherhood #kidslunchbox #kidslunch #toddlerfood

🍏Green Apple Pie Smoothie…tastes like sweet F

🍏Green Apple Pie Smoothie…tastes like sweet Fall pie and full of nutritious ingredients! Comment ‘apple recipes’ and I’ll send you the link!
The full recipe is in my Apple Recipe to Cook with Kids blog post. Search ‘apple recipes’ on happykidskitchen.com or send me a DM for the link.
We made this easy snack today in my toddler and preschool cooking class, and it was a big hit! (well, not every single kid loved the taste but they did enjoy making it!).
It’s a great recipe to help kids practice using a knife. Since the apples are getting blended, it doesn’t really matter how the kids cut the fruit. Cut the apple into small slices so kids can lay the slice flat and cut across it into little pieces.
A big handful of spinach and/or kale makes the smoothie green so make sure kids help put that into the blender. This is a great time to talk about liking foods in combination…how you might not like taking a bite of plain spinach but you might like it when it’s blended with fruit!
Warn kids that the blender can be loud. We usually do a countdown, turn the blender on, and then the kids can choose to cover their ears or step out of the room if the noise really bothers them.
Oats are the surprise ingredient that makes this smoothie really taste like a pie or apple crumble. They need to be blended really well so using a high speed blender works best. If you don’t need the smoothie to be nut free, I also like to add a tablespoon of almond butter. Or if your child likes yogurt, I’ve also made this smoothie with a 1/4 cup of Greek yogurt added for some extra creaminess.
Let me know if you give it a try! 😊💕
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#cookingwithkids #appleseason #applerecipes #smoothie #toddlersnacks

🍂Get cozy and make some muffins!! Comment ‘mu

🍂Get cozy and make some muffins!! Comment ‘muffins’ below and I’ll send you the recipe!
This was one of the first recipes I developed for my blog and they stand the test of time! I made them this weekend so I had to remind you about them too.
Search ‘pumpkin muffins’ at the top of happykidskitchen.com or feel free to DM me for the link.
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Since there’s no flour in the recipe, the muffins have slightly different texture than typical muffins. But they are still light and full of flavor!
Be sure to fill the muffin cups up to the top since the batter doesn’t rise that much during baking.
I love some crunchy walnuts on the top and my kids love some mini chocolate chips.
I bake some up in mini form so they are perfect for the lunch box or school snacks.
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Hope your week is off to a good start!! 😊💕
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#muffins #healthybaking #pumpkin #pumpkinmuffins #glutenfree #cookingwithkids #bakingwithkids #fallbaking

🍎We had so much fun making this Sweet Apple Sal

🍎We had so much fun making this Sweet Apple Salsa with Baked Cinnamon Chips in my preschool cooking class this week. Comment ‘apple salsa’ below and I’ll send you the recipe link so you can make it at home!
This recipe is so fun for kids to make and eat! We use tons of tools to keep them engaged and learning.
The choppers we use are linked in my blog post as well as some other helpful tools we like to use in my classes. If you don’t have a chopper, you can easily pulse the apples in a food processor to get them nice and small without much effort.
You can adjust this recipe for any allergies or make it with no added sugar/sweeteners if you’d like. All the subs and tips in the blog post.
If you want to add a little more protein to this snack, serve the salsa over some Greek yogurt or serve some cheese on the side.
Be sure to save this recipe if you’re going apple picking this Fall! It’s the perfect way to enjoy all those apples together.
Hope you get in the kitchen with your little ones and give this apple recipe a try! 😊💕
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#cookingwithkids #cookingwithtoddlers #apples #applerecipes #kidssnacks #healthykidsfood

🍫Healthy Brownie Batter Dip/Spread Here’s my

🍫Healthy Brownie Batter Dip/Spread
Here’s my take on the popular chocolate hummus you may have seen in stores. This version is much lower in added sugar and naturally sweetened with dates (and optional maple syrup if you want it a tad sweeter). It’s only a handful of ingredients and comes together in minutes!
I use white beans but you can totally use chickpeas or even black beans.
I wanted to give you another nut-free school option in case your kids need to pack without nuts but aren’t fans of the peanut butter alternatives. And what kid doesn’t want spreadable chocolate, right??
🍫Here’s the recipe:
1 can (2 cups) white beans (or chickpeas), drained, rinsed well, and patted dry
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt (really helps the chocolate flavor come out so don’t skip it)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup Medjool dates, pitted and soaked in hot water for 15 to 30 min (depending on how dried out they are), then drained
2 to 3 Tbsp maple syrup (optional)
Add the beans, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla, and dates to a food processor. Begin to blend, stopping to scrape down the sides a few times. You may have to add a splash of water a little at a time to help the mixture blend and come together. Taste add the maple syrup if you want to. Also, if it seems to not have much choc flavor, add a pinch more salt. Once smooth and creamy, transfer to a air tight container and store in the fridge for a week.
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Ideas: 🌀use the spread in a regular sandwich or make sandwich roll ups/ “sushi”, plain or with fruit inside (I used apples and strawberries).
As a dip it’s great with fruit, pretzels, graham crackers, and more!!
What would you eat your Brownie Batter with??
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#browniebatter #cookingwithkids #lunchbox #lunchboxideas #nutfree #healthykidsfood #toddlerfood

🏆Dinner winner!! Comment ‘recipe please’ an

🏆Dinner winner!! Comment ‘recipe please’ and I’ll send you the link! We all enjoyed these Mini Chicken Parmesan Meatloaves last night and then I packed the leftovers up for school lunch!! 🥳
If your family likes spaghetti and meatballs, they will love this sheet pan meal spin on it.
Search ‘chicken Parmesan’ at the top of HappyKidsKitchen.com or DM me for the direct link.
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What’s been your family’s favorite easy meal lately?
😊💕
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#whatsfordinner #sheetpandinner #chickenrecipes #familydinner #easydinner #healthydinner

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