Tag Archives: snacks

Perfect Quick Snack – Popcorn

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I love popcorn.  My kids love popcorn.  Whether it’s at the movie theater or at home, it’s just a yummy treat.  But I hate microwave popcorn.  To me it tastes odd and I hate the way it makes the microwave smell (even worse if it burns). Several years ago I stopped buying it because I’d also read how the linings of the bags were bad and the spray butter endangered the people who worked in factories where it was made.

So, I’ve been making popcorn on the stove with a tiny bit of canola or grapeseed oil and topping it off for my kids with melted butter and salt.  I get a bit more creative for my own bowl (and sometimes my eldest son)— usually some cayenne, turmeric and cumin.  Sometimes I change it up a bit.  

But I’d read or heard that you can make it in a brown paper bag in the microwave.  So I finally tried it last week.  And have made it several more times since. I couldn’t believe I was so late to the party. I use Trader Joe’s organic popping corn.  It comes out so fluffy and light. 

Microwave Popcorn
1/4 cup popping corn
1 Tbsp canola oil (or olive, grapeseed oil)
salt to taste
melted butter (optional)
brown paper bag

In a bowl combine the corn, oil and some salt.  Dump into paper bag and fold (or staple) closed.  Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes (depending on microwave wattage).  When popping slows so that they’re only popping one/second then remove. Pour into a bowl and top with some more salt or melted butter or spices.

Enjoy!

Favorite Spice mixture
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

 

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Nut Free Snacks

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So it’s back to school time for everyone around here.  Our school year began with a delay created by the havoc Hurricane Irene wreaked.  She left so many trees down across roads and power lines which in turn left 98% of our town without power —and running water (we have wells that are powered by electricity).  The sound of generators running throughout the day and night got to me, maybe partly out of jealousy for those who wouldn’t be throwing the contents of their freezers out.  Then just into the new school year my middle son had his tonsils and adenoids removed (we’d made the appointment in May and didn’t know he’d only have 2 days of school, but thought it better to do it then instead of when the curriculum really kicked in.) He will be better for it as his tonsils were disgusting.  He was off from school for a week and needed much TLC.  The day he went back to school I pulled my other 2 out for a dentist visit. 

So today, Monday, I finally feel like school has begun.  I will get things done!  Yeah right.  So much to do.  Laundry, of course.  Sorting clothes to donate, cleaning cluttered office, regular household chores, continue working on potential new clients’ portfolio, begin marketing new business, getting Cooking Club labels printed, start grilling vegetables for ratatouille, finalizing Cooking Club dates, write a pitch & bio… Hmm, what am I missing.  I’m sure there’s something!  Oh, reply to all the emails that are piling up.

Most importantly I have finished the list of snacks here for parents at our school to counter the one our school nurse sent out.  It gave me shivers that so much junk was on the suggested snack list.  It is not easy to convince people that foods labeled with health claims are not actually healthful. 

My list is not faultless, it has better alternatives.  The brightly colored yogurts that I see in the stores targeted toward kids are full of artificial colors, sugar and may contain growth hormones.  So, while I do give a suggested contrast with other yogurts, I realized they aren’t perfect but this is the world we live in. 

I hope to get part of my To Do List done now. Funny, how I get joy from things like shopping on my own and accomplishing some order in my house.

My list was adapted from 100daysofrealfood.com a wonderful site for living without processed foods.

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Snack time

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Recently while in Whole Foods, my three year old exclaimed “Ola!” and my five year old wheeled the cart over to where they could select their favorite, Ola! Vanilla Almond, granola. There are so many awful snack foods out there; this isn’t one of them.  Actually it’s more of a cereal but it hardly ever makes it home to meet the milk.   Ola! is one of those snacks I prefer to give the kids.  It’s made with real stuff— oats, maple syrup, vanilla, almonds or pecans, cranberries, sea salt.  Simple, tasty, good for you.  I also love it because it’s not too sweet (I’ve found so many cereals and snacks are sickly sweet). A friend makes it and it’s found in the Northeast in places like Whole Foods and Stew Leonard’s.  You can also buy it online here.  When it does make it home it’s perfect with yogurt!

We’ve been packing their lunch/snack bags for camp but they can’t have nuts.  So, what other snacks to give them that aren’t too bad for them?  Lately I’ve really been trying to get away from the package processed snacks.  Especially those conveniently packaged ones that just helppollute the environment.  My youngest loves the fresh sugar snap peas that come in our CSA bin.  He eats them as though they were candy. 

Some other snacks I give my kids:

organic baby carrots

celery sticks

chunks of fresh watermelon

slices of bell peppers (cut up several different colors for a great vibrant plate)

apple slices (soaked in lemon juice and water if they’re eating them later)

Stonyfield yogurt tubes (frozen) or smoothies

Lundberg brown rice cakes with nori and wasabi

hummus with pita chips

slices of cheddar cheese with crackers

sliced pears

nectarines

a whole banana

organic grapes

organic strawberries

seaweed salad (most grocery sushi bars sell it)

One that needs to be eaten right away- fresh bread with smashed avocado, salt and pepper.  Yum!

And their favorite snack at home— smoothies.  Any combination of frozen organic blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, mangos, cherries, and/or blackberries.  (Trader Joe’s has a great selection at great prices)  In a blender mix about 1/2 pound frozen fruit with 2 ripe bananas, 1/2 cup juice of choice, 1/2-3/4 cup yogurt, spoonful of local honey.  Blend until smooth.  If it’s too thick add more juice as needed.   

I don’t believe kids need to snack continuously, especially if they’re eating enough at mealtimes, but a small healthy snack to tide them over should be fine. 

© 2010 mykidsreallyeatthis.com

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