Overall, Isaac does really well with the types of food that we have around here. He eats homemade bread and muffins, likes it when I cut up apples and cook them with his oatmeal, and he had a great time when we made homemade ranch dip together using greek yogurt.
One thing he really likes, though, is fruity granola bars and snacks. I've looked through some snack options, but haven't found a good "fruity" snack that I'm happy with nutritionally. Of course, we have a lot of healthy snacks in general, and eat actual fruit as well, but I'd still like to find some good fruity snacks to have on occasion.
I don't care if a food is organic or not, but I'm adamantly opposed to high fructose corn syrup, and prefer that most or all of the ingredients are recognizable and pronounceable.
Anyone have any healthy, fruity snack ideas to share?
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ReplyDeleteI have a recipe at home for a good cranberry orange biscotti...and just plain granola that has cherries, cranberries and raisins if you are interested.
ReplyDeleteI tend to keep a "trail mix" of sort on hands that I throw together myself. I add home made granola when I have it, but otherwise i just have dried fruits, roasted nuts (non-salted) and for a bit of fun, I add either milk or white chocolate chips. My niece loved it when I added the banana chips to it.
But I know that kids that age really like snacks they can play with, like making it themselves, or ones that are finger foods so they are easy to pick up on their own.
My niece and nephews all tried to be slightly independent in that respect.
I hope that helps!
Yeah, there's not much out there. I bought "freeze dried fruit chips" from Costco. The pears and the apples don't have as much going on nutriionally, but the banana and strawberry ones do. It took Lydia awhile to like them, but she enjoys them for a snack, and I often keep a pouch in her backpack. ~Julia
ReplyDeleteUm, even if Isaac isn't interested in biscotti, I sure am! I'd love the recipe! I have made cranberry-orange muffins before, and I really like that flavor combo.
ReplyDeleteJulia - I think I remember seeing those, I'll have to check them out!
My favorite fruity snack is fruit leather. Puree the fruit and spread it as thin as possible onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper(not wax paper). Then put it in the oven on a low temp. for an hour or two. Keep and eye on it so it doesn't burn. Let cool then peel it off the paper. It takes a little trial and error to get the texture right, but when it's right, it tastes just like fruit by the foot! Chewy not crunchy. My favorite is apple with a little cinnamon. I've tried blueberry too. It was good, but the seeds added a weird texture.
ReplyDeleteLove reading your blog, Kelly!
check out the muffin recipe I put on my blog. Excellent!!!
ReplyDeleteAs far as the fruit leather, i've heard of that with applesauce or something also...
Jacen also likes yogurt covered raisins, I don't know how healthy they are...but they are good!
Thanks for the idea, Tiffany! I bet he would like helping me make them - or at least helping me peel them and cut them up.
ReplyDeleteTerra, that muffin recipe looks good, I'll have to try it out!
I love prepping biscotti because it can fill the cookie jar without worry about them going bad so fast. Which means we can enjoy them, not devour (though sometimes that is hard!!)
ReplyDeleteHere are some Adam really likes when it is warm out: I do make substitutions (orange concentrate for the orange liqueor if I don't have it) and they still come out tastey :)
Ingredients
* 1/2 cup butter
* 3/4 cup white sugar
* 2 eggs
* 1 tablespoon orange zest
* 2 tablespoons orange liqueur
* 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries
* 3/4 cup toasted and chopped almonds
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in egg. Stir in the orange zest and orange liqueur. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon, stir into the creamed mixture, then stir in the almonds and dried cranberries.
3. On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough in half. Roll each half into a log about 1 1/2 inches wide and 10 inches long. Set the rolls lengthwise on a baking sheet at least 3 inches apart, and flatten slightly.
4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until firm to the touch and slightly brown on the top.
5. Cool for 10 to 15 minutes, then slice each log crosswise, at a diagonal, into 1/2 inch wide slices. Lay them cut side down on the baking sheet and return to the oven for ten minutes, turn them over and bake for 10 more minutes. Cool on wire racks, store in an airtight container. These keep for over a month.
Thanks Amanda!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was young, we'd dry fruit ourselves in some sort of fruit dryer thing. I have no idea if they still make them or if there is a better way to do it, but it was fun to slice up the fruit and then watch it shrivel and dry. My favorite was dried apples and banana chips.
ReplyDeleteI also know that Gerber and Target-brand make fruit strips. Not sure what's in the Target version, but Gerber has natural and recognizable ingredients.
We like the Clif Kids Twisted Fruits. They are fruit ropes and are sooooo good. You can get them on amazon.com in bulk.
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog via Money Saving Mom...I make "strawberry split" roll ups.
ReplyDeleteWhole wheat tortilla
Peanut Butter
Strawberry preserves
Banana
Spread a think layer of peanut butter over the whole tortilla. Next spread the strawberry. Wrap that around a whole banana. I used to cut those into several pieces, so it looked like sushi. Now I just cut it in half. He loves them!
Ok, I just re-read my comment...banana split, not strawberry split!
ReplyDeleteNina, I'll have to check those out!
ReplyDeleteSabrina, thanks for stopping by! I love msm :) thanks for the idea, I bet he would like a banana split roll up!