Snack Season is BACKKKKK! - Westport Moms

‘Tis the Season for SNACKS! Local mom and chef, Rebecca Oren, strikes again…this time with 4 innovative – and FUN – snack ideas to keep all of us sane as we rack our brains to come up with new ideas to keep our kids eating at school! ENJOY!

If you’re like me, packing endless snacks and lunches for school and after school activities gets old QUICK! While I’ve always got a stash of single-serve pretzels, cheese sticks and yogurt squeezers at the ready, I always feel good when I get it together and send something a little more substantial. These ideas are all easy to prep ahead of time and offer a balanced, filling snack for kids of all ages. They are nut free and easily modified for Kosher food requirements.
Yogurt Parfaits – Squeezable tubes of yogurt are a life saver for rounding out a snack or lunch box, but with little effort you can take yogurt to the next level and please the pickiest kids at the same time (I speak from experience).
Ingredients:
Plain or vanilla yogurt
Chopped berries, bananas or any fruit your kids enjoy (fresh or frozen will work)
Prepared granola or breakfast cereal of your choice (check the sugar content of packaged granola before you buy!)
*Optional: honey or pure maple syrup
To do:
I buy small mason jars at Stop and Shop or Home Goods and make a few of these at a time. You can prep a bunch for the week in less than 10 minutes.
Layer yogurt and berries in a mason jar or small Tupperware. Drizzle honey or maple syrup between layers if using plain yogurt.
Pack with a small side of granola or breakfast cereal so kids can add their own crunch. Don’t forget to pack a spoon J
French Toast Sticks – French toast is always a crowd pleaser—breakfast, lunch or dinner—in my house. This year, we’ve added it to the school snack rotation with lots of success. My kids don’t care if it’s cool or room temp.
Ingredients (Makes 6 slices):
4 large eggs
¼ cup milk
6 slices bread (we like cinnamon raisin swirl bread)
2 T butter or nonstick spray for cooking
Powdered sugar for dusting
To do:
Combine milk and eggs. Soak bread slices in egg mixture.
Heat nonstick pan or griddle to medium high. Spray with nonstick spray or melt butter. Cook bread slices approx. 3 min per side, or until golden.
Refrigerate French toast slices whole and cut into strips just before packing snacks. Dust with a little powdered sugar and pack with a side of sliced fruit.
Cereal with milk and fruit – This always feels like a special treat for my kids! Pick up a few single serve cereal “cups” in the cereal aisle or make your own with a small Tupperware. Pack with a single serve milk box, a side of berries or sliced banana and a spoon.
*You can do the same with oatmeal in a thermos. Pack a side of fruit, a box of raisins or some chopped nuts (if your school allows) and you’re all set with a warm, filling treat.
Build Your Own “Pizza” Snacker – This is a perfect snack for a bento box or multi-compartment Ziplock container. Kids can see all the components and get to assemble it themselves, “Lunchable-style.”
Ingredients:
Pita bread (cut into triangles), crackers or firm bread of your choice
Tomato Sauce
Shredded mozzarella cheese
*Optional: Pepperoni slices, black olives, sliced mushrooms, etc.
To do:
Pack the “pizza” components in the various compartments of your snack container. Include a plastic spoon and a napkin—tomato sauce gets messy.
 

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