Small steps food series
Snacks
Lunchbox Friendly Snacks
Like all things good at the moment, lunch boxes have become COMPLICATED!
And it’s time to simplify.
Whether it be the lunch you take to work or what you pack for your family - let’s keep it simple.
Crazy simple.
Not sure about you but my kids aren’t all that interested in eating when they could be playing so I make sure that breakfast is wholesome and there is something healthy on hand for afternoon tea.
Here’s some things that go in my kids lunhcboxes - it’s like a smorgasbord of snackage!
- Leftover meat or sausages or Meatballs or Chicken, Carrot and Feta Patties
- Boiled eggs
- Rice crackers and cheese
- A sandwich (yes - they have sandwiches!)
- Fruit
- Veggies - Carrot, Cucumber, Snow peas and Cherry Tomatoes are faves around here.
- A baked snack - see Day 1 ideas - and my Muesli Bar video below.
- Olives or Chickpeas
- Popcorn
And these two recipes are consistent go-to’s around here…..
- Mamacino’s Banana Bread
- 123 Nourish Me Choc Zucchini Muffins
Recipes to try
I have been looking for a muesli bar recipe that I really like. One that is the perfect consistency (crunch and chew in equal measure). But nothing was really hitting the spot. So I created this dairy free, nut free muesli bar out of necessity.
INGREDIENTS
120 g / 4 tbls honey
60 g / 1 tbls heaped coconut oil (could replace with butter)
2 tbls coconut sugar (could use rapadura sugar)
1 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
250 g / 2 1/3 cup oats
50 g / 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
60 g / 1/3 cup pepitas
60 g / 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbls chia seeds
60 g / 3 chopped dates
60 g / 6 chopped dried apricots
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Line a baking tray with baking paper and preheat oven to 150 degrees
2. Add all dry ingredients to a bowl or blender and combine.
3. Over a low heat, melt the sugar, honey, vanilla and coconut oil together.
4. Once the sugar has dissolved add the mixture to the dry ingredients. If you’re using a blender, then whizz it until it all comes together. If using a bowl mix it up really well until totally combined.
5. Put mixture into baking tray and flatten to about 1-2 cms. (The thinner it is the crunchier it will be). Place in oven for 30 minutes or until browned all over. Cut into squares or rectangles.
The recipe is very forgiving so if you want more coconut then add more coconut. If you don’t have any apricots – then don’t add them! I think you get what I’m saying. Let me know what you think.
A short watch
Meet Charlotte Carr, from the Bubbayumyum blog and book. She went on a mission to discover which foods could help her beautiful son who had a severely compromised gut since birth. Whether or not you, or your children have suspected gut issues (Charlotte has found that healing Willow’s gut issues saw an improvement in lots of areas of his life, as he is on the spectrum), there is FABULOUS information in here about healing and nourishing foods. This lady has done her homework!
Need help? Email us on info@smallstepsliving.com