Tag Archives: snacks

Easy, Inexpensive Halloween Snacks!

It’s almost time! There are so many parties from in-school, to after-school, to the weekend – I needed ideas for all the events and found some ADORABLY scary snack ideas that I know you’ll all love. They’re easy, inexpensive, and sure to be crowd pleasers – check them out!

Halloween Deviled Eggs

Halloween Deviled Eggs

Halloween Deviled Eggs [http://www.listotic.com/64-non-candy-halloween-snack-ideas/32/]

I just love these. They are so cute it hurts. Super easy to make. If you don’t know how to boil an egg, check out my post from #WorldEggDay for a foolproof recipe. Halve the eggs, and separate the whites from the yolks. To the yolks, add some mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt if you are looking to be a bit healthier!), dijon mustard, salt & pepper. If you’re feeling spicy, add some sriracha! It’s my favorite – but may not be the kid’s favorite!

To make them spiders, simply grab a can of large black olives and get to slicing!

These are such cute little appetizers – I can’t wait to make them. I know they will be such a hit!

Apple Peanut Butter Teeth

Apple Peanut Butter Teeth

Apple Peanut Butter Teeth [http://blommi.com/apple-peanut-butter-teeth-fun-easy-kids-snack/]

I may be dying of serious cute overload. These are so awesome and creative I cannot even get over it. Apple Peanut butter teeth, brought to us by Bloomi.com are super simple and no bake! Simply slice up an apple – an apple corer/slicer is perfect for this purpose.

Once your apples are sliced, spread peanut butter on one side of each slice and line with mini marshmallows – slap together the apple slices and you’re done! I love these. Have I mentioned that?

Halloween Fruit Snacks

Halloween Fruit Snacks

Halloween Fruit Snacks [http://princesspinkygirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/halloween-healthy-snack.jpg]

This is how I die. From the total overwhelm of cute. These look SO easy. Simply halve bananas and pop in some chocolate chips and peel some clemetines and pop a small stalk of celery in.

I love these. I love these. I love Halloween.

Enjoy everyone!

Homemade Popsicles!

We are getting VERY close to the long weekend! Looks like it’s going to be a hot one for us at the lake. Usually on a hot day, we run straight to the ice cream shop to get a cold treat – but I thought it’d be so fun this weekend to make some homemade popsicles to cool down instead! Not only are these easy on the wallet, but are SO simple to make, and a much healthier alternative. Three recipes caught my eye on Pinterest this morning – maybe you’ll feel the same way. Check them out below!

3-Ingredient Strawberry Banana Popsicles

strawberry_banana_popsicles

3-Ingredient Strawberry Banana Popsicles [http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2014/06/22/3-ingredient-strawberry-banana-popsicles/]

I can’t even believe that these are only 3 INGREDIENTS. Could this be any easier? All you need are strawberries, a frozen banana, and juice. Sally’s Baking Addiction tells us that the frozen banana makes all the difference because  it gives the popsicles an unbelievably creamy texture without the need of high-fat dairy. Simply blend 1 large banana, cut into chunks and frozen, 12 large strawberries sliced in half, and 1/2 cup of juice. They recommend pineapple or orange.

You will need to buy a popsicle mold (and you’ll need it for all three recipes mentioned) – these are really inexpensive and easy to find – you should be able to find them easily at Walmart, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond…you get the jist.

Blend all the ingredients together until smooth and pour the mixture into the popsicle molds. If your mold has slots for sticks, you can insert them before freezing. If not, freeze for 2 hours and then put the stick in. Continue to freeze for an additional 6 hours or overnight – overnight will make for the easiest removal process. Run the molds under hot water to remove easily. Yum!

Greek Yogurt Popsicles

Greek_Yogurt_Popsicles

Greek Yogurt Popsicles [http://www.dessertfortwo.com/2014/06/make-your-own-greek-yogurt-pops/]

Missing that creamy texture? Go for these awesome popsicles by Dessert For Two that use the protein-rich and creamy Greek yogurt to really make these pop. This recipe is a bit more labor-intensive, but sounds so amazing that I know these will not only be worth the extra effort but also really impress any company you have!

Ingredients include 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt, 3-4 tablespoons of agave nectar, a handful of strawberries, plums, or any fruit of your choice, 2 teaspoons of neutral-flavored oil, and 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar.

For this recipe, you’ll be roasting fruit – which is supremely easy. Simply preheat the oven to 400, and place the fruit on a small sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Drizzle the oil and sugar over the fruit and toss to combine to roast for about 25 minutes. Watch carefully or this will burn! Let cool completely.

Combine the Greek yogurt with the agave nectar. Then, you’ll want to layer the roasted fruit and the Greek yogurt mixture into the popsicle molds. Make it pretty! Super easy – freeze and enjoy.

Nutella Coolwhip Popsicles

Nutella_Coolwhip_Popsicles

Nutella Coolwhip Popsicles [http://www.canadianfreestuff.com/nutella-coolwhip-popsicles-an-easy-delicious-treat-to-keep-you-and-the-kiddies-cool-this-summer/]

Had to include something chocolate-y for all the fudgcicle fans out there! My little sister ate fudgcicles like it was her job her entire childhood, so I’m sure there are more kids of this breed out there these days 🙂

This could NOT be easier – CanadianFreeStuff even mentions that her 2 year old son made these by himself. That’s saying something!

Mix together: 2 cups cool whip, 6 tablespoons Nutella, 1 cup milk. Pour into popsicle molds, freeze overnight and enjoy!

If you want to make this a little bit healthier, you can always make with low fat Coolwhip and/or skim milk. No biggie!

So there you go – try these out this weekend! Let me know if you have any other go-to homemade popsicle recipes that you and your family love – I’m all ears!

Get a FREE Box from Try The World!

Try The World is an awesome new company that a friend recommended to me this morning. Every 2 months, you receive a box from a new country with 6-7 gourmet products curated by expert chefs. For example, this month’s box is Japan and includes 6-7 artisanal delicacies curated by a local expert, a card describing each full size gourmet product, and a culture guide with music, movies, recipes and more. My friend described this as ‘the perfect date night’ – so fun to try new things that you’d have to go to another country to experience otherwise!

These boxes are FREE shipping, FREE returns, AND you can cancel anytime – there are really no strings attached here. If you don’t like it, its easy to simply bow out. Bi-monthly, this costs $39/box – but you can also pay semi-annually at $35/box (saving 10%) and annually for $33/box (saving 15%).

The best part though? Your first box is FREE. After that, you can email up to 5 of your friends and also give them a free box! Why not try it out? Sounds like fun for the whole family.

FREE Sample of Hemp Seeds!

Happy Friday!

Yesterday, I blogged about the health benefits of coconut oil, and today I have another health-forward sample for you – hemp seeds!

Hemp seeds are said to be the most nutritious seed in the world, as they are a complete protein. They have the most concentrated balance of proteins, essential fats, vitamins, and enzymes combined with a relative absence of sugar, starches, and saturated fats. They are a superfood!

Raw hemp provides a broad spectrum of health benefits including:

  • Weight loss
  • Increased and sustained energy
  • Rapid recovery from disease or injury
  • Lowered cholesterol and blood pressure
  • Reduced inflammation
  • Improvement in circulation and immune system
  • Blood sugar control

They’re a highly digestible protein – unlike meat, whole eggs, cheese, human milk, cow’s milk, etc. and can also be eaten by those who are nut, gluten, lactose or sugar intolerant. They are allergy free!

Hemp seeds are super versatile and can be eaten in a variety of ways. Top ways? Sprinkling a spoonful or two into smoothies or on top of cereal, salads, or yogurt.

On to why I’m blabbering on about hemp seeds…

FREE SAMPLE! If you’re interested in trying before you buy, you can get a free sample by simply filling out a form and deciding between two hemp seed products from Manitoba Harvest: Hemp Hearts (easy snacking!) or Hemp Pro 70 (comes in 3 different flavors! Perfect for smoothies) – check them out!

NatureBox

Maybe you have all heard of NatureBox, a subscription snack service boasting the highest quality ingredients in deliciously distinctive snacks you can find only through them.

nature_box

NatureBox [naturebox.com]

Their website promises the following:

  • No hydrogenated oils
  • No artificial colors, sweeteners & flavors
  • No added sulfites
  • Less than 200 calories per 30g serving
  • High quality, nutritious ingredients
  • Thoughtful sourcing
  • Innovative, unique flavors

Sounds awesome, but often, healthier, higher quality snacks come with a price point. Firstly, though, I want to show you all the absolutely HUGE list of snacks available – there is really something for everyone here! I’ll pull out some of our personal favorites for recommendations:

Sriracha Pop Pops

sriracha_pop_pops

Sriracha Pop Pops [naturebox.com]

If you’re anything like me, you love sriracha and spicy things! These are…nothing short of awesome. They are spicy + addictive, and clock in at about 170 calories/serving, which is more than enough quantity-wise. Not too shabby!

French Vanilla Almond Granola

french_vanilla_almond_granola

French Vanilla Almond Granola [naturebox.com]

This stuff is like crack, and the entire family adores it. It’s awesome on yogurt and fresh fruit for breakfast, or just a handful on the go. The serving size here is fairly large, and it still only clocks in at 250 calories/serving. It’s soooooo great 🙂

Kung Pao Pretzels

kung_pao_pretzels

Kung Pao Pretzels [naturebox.com]

These are so good that it is truly hard to put into words. They are SO spicy and SO addictive – they’re like pretzels with an Asian spicy flare. You’ve got to try them to actually understand the party in your mouth that occurs when you eat them. Better yet, they are SO low-cal. A 16 pretzel serving only clocks in at 120 calories.

Whole Wheat Raspberry Figgy Bars

whole_wheat_raspberry_figgy_bars

Whole Wheat Raspberry Figgy Bars [naturebox.com]

Think Fig Newton meets Nutri-Grain bar, but healthier…and better. These are always a hit for a quick on-the-go snack. They come individually wrapped, so you can easily pack them in a lunch or throw in a bag for later! They come in other flavors (strawberry, blueberry), but this is my personal favorite. 1 bar = 130 calories

Did I interest you yet? If not, seriously, check out the rest of their snacks, I’ve hardly made a dent!

So here’s the rundown: you can get a FREE trial, where you get 5 tasty, pre-selected snacks. This DOES roll into a monthly plan ($19.95/month), but if you aren’t feeling this, you can cancel immediately, at anytime.

In conclusion, give this a shot, decide if $20/month is worth it to you to keep getting these snacks (once you are done with the free trial, you can select whichever ones you want) – if you grow tired of it, cancel! It’s easy, it’s delicious, and it’s SO fun to get a box full of tasty treats in the mail every month.

Enjoy!