Cute and Healthy Bug Snacks that Will Give Your Child All the Nutrients it Needs

February 18, 2020 by Busy Moms Helper Team Leave a Comment

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you see the word bugs? Nothing pleasant, we’re sure. Bugs are nasty little critters that can make our skin crawl and we’d never associate them with snacks. Well, until you see these lovely pieces of sweet heaven. Healthy snacks are vital for children – according to studies, they contribute to over 20% of their daily energy intake. Of course, we’re talking about proper, homemade healthy snacks – not chocolate bars. The fruit and veggie bug snacks you can see below not only look cute – they will give your child all the nutrients and energy it needs during the day.

Cute Fruit and Veggie Bug Snacks

This is a great way to make your kid eat all the vegetables and fruits it needs. We all know how hard it is to make them eat broccoli or celery, but with these bug snacks, it’s effortless. They’re easy to prepare, taste great, and contains all the nutrients your child needs per day.

Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

Veggie Bugs

5-7 black olives
½ cup cream cheese
10 cucumber slices
2-3 celery stalks
1-2 small cucumbers
Chives
A cup of cherry tomatoes
10 cashews

Fruity Bugs

A few strawberries
2-3 celery stalks
1 apple
A cup of green grapes
½ cup peanut butter
½ cup blueberries
½ cup cereal
¼ cup dairy-free chocolate chips

Instructions

Veggie Bugs

Use a straw to cut out tiny eyes from the olives. Put small dots of cream cheese on a plate and decorate with the olive ‘pupils’. Leave the ‘eyes’ to chill in a freezer for a while.

Fruit Bugs

It’s the same process for the eyes except this time you’re using the chocolate chips for pupils. The chips should also be glued to the cereal with a bit of cream cheese or peanut butter. The process is the same for the body. Use the pic to do your best and get creative. You don’t have to stick to your bugs – you’re very welcome to create your own bug kingdom.

A Simple Lemon-Meringue Cheesecake That You’ll Fall in Love With

February 17, 2020 by Busy Moms Helper Team 1 Comment

Everyone has a favorite dessert. Some people like chocolate, some love ice-cream, but if you ask us, fruit desserts are unbeatable. Especially if we’re talking about a recipe that involves lemons. That sour and sweet taste goes well in a bunch of recipes and adds a unique flavor. If we could make all dessert recipes with lemons, trust us that we would.

Today we have a lemon meringue cheesecake for you that you’ll fall in love with. It’s sweet, it’s sour and bold and every piece of it will melt in your mouth.

Cheesecake as we know it was invented in the XVIII century, but its history goes all the way back to ancient Greece. It grew to be one of the most popular desserts of all time and this lemon merengue bit suits it very well.

Dairy- and Gluten-Free Lemon Merengue Dessert

Ingredients

Crust

½ cup coconut oil
1 cup coconut flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons honey

Filling

¾ cup honey
3 eggs
1/3 cup sour cream
Four 8 oz. packs of cream cheese (dairy-free)
3 tablespoons lemon juice

Meringue

1 ¼ cups of honey
7 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
A pinch of cream of tartar

Instructions

To make the crust, mix everything in a bowl with a mixer at medium speed, then line it on a pie tin with parchment paper evenly.

Next comes the filling. Beat the cream cheese and sour cream nicely, add in the eggs, add the lemon juice, and then add the rest of the mixture. Set it aside until it settles on room temperature, then let it cool down in the fridge for 3-4 hours.

The meringue comes last. Beat the eggs with a mixer, add the cream of tartar, then in goes the honey. Add the vanilla extract when the mixture is thick. When you’re done, spread it over the cool cheesecake.

Finally, bake the pie in the oven (preheated at 325 F), let it cool down, cut nice slices and enjoy!

Quick and Easy: Glazed Sweet Potato Doughnuts

January 31, 2020 by Busy Moms Helper Team Leave a Comment

Keeping those little kiddos not hungry is a real deal. While they will pretty much eat whatever we bring to the table (except broccolis — ohh you kids will kill for this when you’re old, trust me) we all know how hard it is to make them eat. Especially healthy food. That’s why I’ve come to great lengths to make them eat. I noticed how my baby sister would throw tantrums over doughnuts. I knew right there that I have to make her something sweet but healthy and looks like a doughnut. That’s how this Glazed Sweet Potato Doughnuts came to life and became the most snack in our household.

Full disclosure, I did not in any way invent this snack. A year ago, I was traveling in Malaysia and came across this delicious snack in one of the stalls in their night markets. When I was thinking of what to serve as a snack for my baby sis. I remembered their Glazed Sweet Potato Doughnuts (They call it Cucur Keria) and I decided to remake them. Lo and behold, it did not take me a few tries to be able to do so. I know that it was made of sweet potatoes and they have sugar, so I think I know what exactly I need to do. Now, let me share with you how to create my baby sister’s most requested snack.

QUICK AND EASY GLAZED SWEET POTATO DOUGHNUTS

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

600 grams mix of orange and purple sweet potatoes
5 tablespoons of wheat flour (or slightly more so the dough doesn’t stick to your hands)
Water (just enough for you to be able to shape the dough)
1 teaspoon of salt

For the glaze:

1 tablespoon of sugar
6 tablespoon of water
1pc of pandan leaf

Directions:

For the Dough:

Step 1: Wash the sweet potatoes and steam them for 20 minutes or until tender.
Step 2: Peel off the skin and cut them into small cubes.
Step 3: Mash them finely then knead with flour and salt.
Step 4: Make them into small patties (about 60 grams each) then shape them into doughnuts. Add water if your dough is too dry to be shaped.
Step 5: Deep fry until golden and then drain them on paper towels.

For the Glaze:

Step 1: Wash the pandan leaf. Shred the leaf into 4 pcs and tie it to a knot.
Step 2: Boil the water, salt, and pandan leaves until the syrup is thick and forms big bubbles.
Step 3: Turn off the fire.
Step 4: Throw in all the doughnuts and keep tossing it in the syrup until the sugar forms crystals.
Step 5: Let it cool down, then serve.

Easy right? You can even make batches of these and store them in your fridge. Typically, they would last for a week. (well can be longer, but it is so good it runs out fast. lol!) Please. Please. Share photos with us if you’re recreating these. I would love to see how you did! 😉

This recipe is best paired with Fresh Strawberry Lemonade with Honey.

Fun and Kid-Friendly Keto Snacks

January 25, 2020 by Busy Moms Helper Team 2 Comments

There are many health benefits that living a ketogenic lifestyle brings. First of all, you will not have to worry about gaining weight anymore. However, the best thing about keto food is that it can help you prevent developing diseases such as diabetes for example. Many people make the mistake of thinking that you can’t have any snacks while doing keto. This couldn’t be further away from the truth! There’s a lot of delicious and even kid-friendly keto snacks out there!

Now, if you’re sold and would like to start your search for kid-friendly keto snacks that you and your kiddos can much over a weekend movie marathon, or add to their lunch boxes. You should know that I already did the hard work for you. Here’s a run through of my favorite keto snacks that are guaranteed super easy to do.

1. Cheese Crackers

Who doesn’t love cheese crackers? Your kids will go crazy for these crunchy delights and to make things even better, preparing the low-carb cheese crackers is super simple. The main ingredients are cheese, egg, cream cheese, seasoning and a pinch of salt to add flavor! Check out this recipe.

2. Pigs in a Blanket

If you are looking for a way to get your kiddos to give up chips and eat healthy snacks instead, then you can’t go wrong with pigs in a blanket. These are miniature hot dogs and what’s great about them is that you can prepare them for whenever you have guests around the house. If you want to make the pigs in a blanket recipe even more delicious, then you should use low-carb BBQ sauce. Check out this recipe.

3. Cinnamon Pork Rinds

Even though pork rinds might not seem like a traditional keto recipe, you still need to give them a try! Pork rinds are high in fat and protein which are necessary to help your kiddos grow big and strong. Since this recipe is a keto snack, then it shouldn’t surprise you at all to find out that it has zero carbs. Yes, you read that right. You can still eat delicious snacks without carbs. Check out this recipe.

4. Pizza Chips

In my experience as a babysitter, I learned that kids love nothing more than to eat pizza and chips! This is why you might want to combine the two and create the low-carb pizza chips. All you need is melted cheese paired with pepperoni cheese and you can prepare an amazing snack. Get some sauce and your kids will ask for this recipe every single day! Check out this recipe.

5. Cinnamon Walnut Flax Muffins

If you are waiting for important house guests, then you may need to prepare special snacks that will blow their taste buds away. This is where the cinnamon walnut flax muffins come in and save the day. These snacks are incredibly sweet and savory. They are so good that no one will believe you when you tell them that this is a ketogenic recipe that is low in carbs. Check out this recipe.

What is a Keto Diet?

Keto stands for ketogenic and this is more of a lifestyle than a diet. Eating keto means that you are savoring very low-carb and high-fat diets that have many health benefits. Eating fewer carbohydrates than usual will increase your protein intake and thus, help you grow muscle and maintain your weight. Although, the best thing about this type of diet is that it will put your body in a metabolic state called ketosis. This state will help your body burn fat for energy. Additionally, keto diets have benefits against diabetes, cancer, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease.

Is Keto Safe for Kids?

What many people don’t know about keto is that this diet was originally developed for children. This is why keto diets are used in hospitals to help reduce seizures in kids who are suffering from epilepsy. Not just that, but keto diets are also great for children when their bodies can’t use glucose efficiently in cases such as the Dravet Syndrom or the Lennox Gastaut Syndrom.

Keto diets are safe for kids and they will benefit greatly from eating fewer carbs. However, this doesn’t mean that you should calculate all the macronutrients that your children are eating and instead, you should promote a diverse diet while focusing on avoiding carbs. “The best dietary guidance advises that children at a diverse diet that provides them with the right amount of all nutrients that their growing bodies need,” sates Allysa Pike who is a registered Ph.D. dietician and pediatrician.

Looking for healthy dishes that will satisfy your kid’s sweet tooth? Check our 24 Healthy Chocolate Smoothie Bowls.

Recipes to Try from Other Moms

January 10, 2020 by Busy Moms Helper Team Leave a Comment

There are only 24 hours in the day and for moms, those hours are usually spent helping their kids getting ready for school, doing homework, cleaning up the house and many more other tasks. The job of a mom is rewarding when you hear the laugh of your little ones, but it’s not easy at all!

If your time is consumed by work and all the million little things that you need to do around the house, then you probably don’t have that much time to find new recipes. This is where I come in! I talked to moms from all over the world and I asked them to tell me the secrets of their special “mom recipes” and I am going to share them with you. Check out the best recipes to try from other moms.

Mac and Cheese

Mac and CheeseIf you are looking for a cheap, but delicious meal that your kids and husband will love, then you don’t need to search any further than this one. Mac and Cheese is a worldwide famous mom recipe and this is thanks to the fact it’s super easy to prepare. The secret to making this recipe taste delicious is to use creamy Velveta cheese and cheddar. The combination of these two flavors is amazing.

Chicken Tamale Pie

Who doesn’t love pie? I still get brought back to my childhood when I feel the smell of pie cooking in the house. Chicken tamale pie is a classic recipe and what’s great about it is that it helps you get the kiddos to eat all the proteins that they need to grow big and strong. You can add some tortilla chips and the flavor will be even better!

Spinach Lasagna

If there is one lesson that I learned while babysitting for my friends, then it has to be the fact that kids will do everything they can to avoid spinach. Fortunately, this recipe will be an ace up your sleeve that your kids will not be ready for! Spinach lasagna is a great meal for the entire family and it will finally make your kids fall in love with the healthy spinach. Also, you can switch up things and use sausages instead of chicken to keep things interesting.

Fried Chicken Strips

I want to end the list with a recipe that all moms swear by! Friend chicken strips is such a delicious meal that you will not have to tell your kids to eat everything from their plate. They will do it themselves and probably ask for a second portion! The secret to preparing fried chicken strips is to slice the chicken breast into small strips so that each piece becomes crunchy.

Free Printable Chalkboard Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

September 6, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

Who doesn’t love a good chocolate chip cookie recipe? It’s like a classic treat that everybody knows and can count on. Now it can also decorate your kitchen with this stylish Free Printable Chalkboard Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe! You can have a fun, framed print in your kitchen AND always have a tasty cookie recipe on hand – it’s a win-win!

I love the look of chalkboard styles, so that’s what we’ve been doing with several of our printable recipes – such as our Banana Bread, Brownie and Sugar Cookie ones. It’s just a lot of fun, plus looks amazing! Like the others, this one is designed for 8.5×11 size. I recommend printing onto cardstock for durability, then just frame it and use it to add something different to your kitchen decor.

Download the printable chalkboard chocolate chip cookie recipe HERE

Healthy Blueberry Chia Breakfast Pudding

August 30, 2019 by Stephanie Kirkos

Hello, and Happy Friday! This is Stephanie from Steph in Thyme, and today I’m sharing a recipe for a healthy – yet protein packed – breakfast. Bursting with blueberries, this Blueberry Chia Breakfast Pudding is thick and hearty, yet light and refreshing for a summer morning.

If you’ve never experienced chia pudding before, I have the weekend activity for you. Chia Seeds are among the healthiest foods on the planet, packed with fiber, protein, and Omega-3 fatty acids. While chia seeds are flavorless, it’s the texture that takes some getting used to. These teeny tiny little seeds expand and swell when placed in liquid, soaking up to twelve times their dry weight. They transform into little gel-like globules, which makes consumption a bit of a slippery endeavor.

I’ll admit, chia pudding took some getting used to because of its flubber-like consistency. Now that I’ve accepted how chia pudding feels on my tongue, I can’t get enough. I’ve made a Papaya Coconut Chia Pudding and eaten it for both breakfast and dessert on the same day. This version embraces summer blueberries, ripe and plump, for a colorful and healthy start to the day.

The pudding itself is very easy and quick to put together. Simply purée almond milk, blueberries, and agave in a blender and combine with a quarter cup of chia seeds – a little bit goes a long way! You can chill the chia pudding overnight and eat it first thing in the morning, or allow it to chill the day of for 2 to 4 hours. If you don’t want to use almond milk, you can use cashew milk, soy milk, or coconut milk instead.

Once the chia pudding has chilled and thickened, divide it into bowls and top with your favorite granola and additional blueberries. While thick, the pudding is also light and refreshing – the perfect way to start the day in summer.

I would love to hear from you. Are you a chia pudding fan? What’s your favorite way to prepare it? If you try chia pudding for the first time, let me know what you think!

Blueberry Chia Breakfast Pudding l Steph in Thyme for Busy Mom's Helper

Print Recipe

Healthy Blueberry Chia Breakfast Pudding

Prep Time10 mins

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened almond milk
3/4 cup + 1/2 cup ripe blueberries, divided
1 tbsp agave or other natural sweetener
1/4 cup chia seeds
Favorite granola or dry cereal for garnish

Instructions

In a blender, combine almond milk, 3/4 cup blueberries, and agave. Blend until smooth.
Pour the contents of the blender into a medium bowl. Add the chia seeds and stir until well combined. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours, stirring occasionally to break up any chia clumps that may have formed. Pudding is ready when it has thickened, the chia seeds softened.
Divide the pudding into 2 bowls, for larger servings, or 4 bowls, for smaller servings. Top with additional 1/2 cup blueberries and granola, if desired. Serve immediately.

30+ Non-Sandwich Lunch Ideas

August 19, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

In just a couple weeks I’ll have THREE kids in school, which starts at 7:45 am. Yes, that early – insane, right? Not only will I have to get them out of bed, feed them breakfast, get them ready and make sure they don’t forget bags as we rush out the door, there’s lunchboxes to pack. Yikes! Luckily, I can plan ahead with this list of 30+ Non-Sandwich Lunch Ideas.

We still do sandwiches in our lunchboxes sometimes, but how can I make my kids do the same stuff all the time if even I get sick of the repetition? That’s why we need some good non-sandwich ideas to get us through the coming school year.

Chicken Salad with Grapes from Add a Pinch

Pizza Bombs from Spend with Pennies

Chef Salad on a Stick by Pocket Change Gourmet

Easy Pasta Salad from Saving Room for Dessert

Apple Zucchini Muffins from Two Peas and Their Pod

Tortilla Hot Dog Wraps from BS in the Kitchen

Crescent Sloppy Joes from Pillsbury

Baked Spaghetti by The Girl Who Ate Everything

Mini Deep Dish Pizzas from Damn Delicious

Mango Chicken Tacos by Busy Mom’s Helper

Chicken Egg Rolls by Life in the Lofthouse

Cream Cheese & Tomato Crescents by Lil’ Luna

Copycat Panera Macaroni and Cheese by Shugary Sweets

Easy Deviled Eggs by Six Sisters’ Stuff

BLT Pasta Salad by Center Cut Cook

Corn Dog Muffins by The Pioneer Woman

Spiralized Zucchini with Roasted Tomatoes

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes from Crazy for Crust

Ham Fried Rice from The Recipe Critic

Make-Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Parfait by Iowa Girl Eats

Chicken Tostadas by Cooking Classy

Blueberry French Toast Sticks by Busy Mom’s Helper

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Pita by The Jenny Evolution

Chicken Fajita Quesadillas by Jo Cooks

Lunch on a Stick by Good Life Eats

Better than Chipotle Steak Burrito Bowls by Gimme Delicious

BBQ Chicken Pockets by King Arthur Flour

Heirloom Tomato Caprese Bruschetta by Busy Mom’s Helper

Broccoli Cheese Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes by Good Life Eats

Baked Garlic Popcorn Chicken by The Cozy Apron

Chicken Apple Wraps by Just a Pinch

Mini Biscuit Pot Pies by Busy Mom’s Helper

Pumpkin Breakfast Smoothie

August 12, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

Remember how Flash loves Pumpkin? Well, technically speaking I do, too, but I always blame my pumpkin stuff on him 🙂 Anywho – we wanted something new for breakfast the other day, and although I normally would have LOVED to whip up some muffins, the kids wanted a ‘smoothie’. Flash was in a pumpkin mood, so we tried something totally different than what we normally do – Pumpkin Breakfast Smoothie – and it turned out FABULOUS! Originally shared October 2nd, 2013

This is seriously so yummy, pretty darn healthy, and definitely hits a spot for those pumpkin lovers!

Pumpkin Breakfast Smoothie Ingredients

1 cup canned Pumpkin (or fresh pumpkin puree, if you’d rather)
1 Banana
1/2 cup Applesauce
1/2 cup Milk
2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
5 Tbsp. Honey
2 cups Ice (more if you want a thicker smoothie)
Cinnamon for sprinkling, if desired
Whipped topping, if desired

Pumpkin Breakfast Smoothie Directions

Blend all of the ingredients (except Cinnamon and Whipped Topping) in a blender until smooth.

Divide into glasses – about 2 large glasses, or more smaller ones (for the kids)

Put some Whipped Topping and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top, if desired. Enjoy!!!

If you follow me on Instagram, I posted a photo of Flash enjoying this smoothie two weeks ago 😀

Check out these other Pumpkin-inspired favorites!

Pumpkin Better Than Disneyland Pie

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cake

Pumpkin Choco-Chip Muffins

60+ Breakfast Ideas for the School Year

August 2, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

Back to school is upon us, and although part of me is screaming ‘Yes, Yes, Yes!’ the other part of me is just like ‘No, No, No!’ I love my kiddos like crazy, but I really enjoy school time because a: They’re happier with friends, learning, and a schedule and b: I get a bit to myself to get things done, so I can focus on them when they’re home. That being said, a few things about them being back in school drive me nuts, one of which being the EARLY mornings and trying to squeeze in a good, healthy breakfast! To help save us all what little sanity we may have left, I’ve made a list of 100+ Breakfast Ideas for the School Year!

I’ll admit, I tend to give my kids cereal, poptarts and frozen waffles (I do heat them up!) quite often. It’s just too hard coming up with new ideas that are budget-friendly, mostly-healthy, and don’t take forever! This year I’m going to be prepared with this wonderful list of Breakfast Ideas…..so let’s see how much more pleasant we can make the morning rush, shall we?

These S’more Pancakes from Spoonful of Flavor look so yummy, I may enjoy a few (or more!) myself!

I’m totally crushing on these adorable Back to School Apple Donuts from Your Homebased Mom!

Peach Muffins from Yummy Healthy Easy would be the perfect healthy start to the day.

My hubby would LOVE to have these Southwestern Baked Eggs from A Beautiful Mess before he heads to work!

Printable Charm shared these delish Cheese Biscuits on my blog last week and I can’t wait to try them!

I’m a lover of shakes for breakfast, so can’t wait to add this Almond Date Breakfast Shake from The Bold Abode to my menu plan.

Donuts for breakfast? Yes, please! I love these Cinnamon Sugar Mini Donut Muffins from Averie Cooks anytime of day, actually!

There’s some fabulous breakfast ideas in this round-up of 30+ Easy Breakfast Recipes from Kleinworth & Co.

This Strawberry Basil Oatmeal Bowl from Something Swanky looks so filling and delicious!

I’m excited to try this Zucchini Bread French Toast from Somewhat Simple.

I made this Swirly Cinnamon Banana Bread to share on The Frugal Foodie Mama, and it’s become almost a weekly thing at our house…it’s THAT good!

What better way to have a quick morning than with these Perfect Overnight Cinnamon Rolls from Crazy for Crust?!

Want an energy booster to jump-start your day? Try these Cinnamon Whole Grain Power Pancakes from Pinch of Yum.

I swear I’m not stalking Crazy for Crust…well, okay maybe I am…but you’ve also got to check out her Cinnamon Sugar Pancake Rolls!

All you fruit-lovers out there will love this Whole Grain Fruit Salad from How Does She

Wine & Glue hit the nail on the head with these Blueberry Sour Cream Pancakes with Fresh Blueberry Syrup!

Anyone here love Nutella? Then you’ve gotta try these Nutella Cinnamon Rolls with Vanilla Glaze from Averie Cooks. Okay, so I may stalk her, too 😀

The kids would probably think I’m nuts (but totally love it) if I served these Chocolate Chip Cookie Cinnamon Rolls from What’s Cooking Love

I’m totally in love with crepes, so can’t wait to serve up these Coconut Cream and Strawberry Crepes from Color Me Meg!

Speaking of crepes, does anyone remember when I shared this yummy Chocolate Crepes with Strawberry Cream?

Needing a good muffin with some tasty fruit? Try my Strawberry Muffins!

Or perhaps my Apple Strudel Muffins!

Take a trip with Princess and the Frog with these Super Quick Beignets! Yumm-o!

These Triple Berry Cream Cheese Crepes from Your Homebased Mom have me drooling!

Need a ‘sweet’ fix? Try my Caramel Apple Muffins!

My kids ask for my Sweet Crescent Rolls All. The. Time!

My Pumpkin Breakfast Smoothie is STILL one of my Hubby’s all-time favorites.

Along with my Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Scones.

Since we’re talking pumpkin….how about these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins?

What a great breakfast: Freezer Breakfast Burritos from Handle the Heat!

How cute are these Mini Egg and Cheese Tortilla Cups from Brunch Time Baker?!

I can’t wait to try this Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake from Julies Eats & Treats

Who doesn’t love an Old Fashioned Sour Cream Donut? I found these at Tastes Better From Scratch.

Seriously, this Blueberry Muffin Smoothie from Iowa Girl Eats is at the TOP of my menu come school time!

And last, but certainly not least, is this absolutely delish looking Apple Cream Cheese Breakfast Pasty from Yummy Healthy Easy!

50+ Cool Summer Snacks

July 29, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

School’s out for the summer – excuse me while I feel a bit crazy with both excitement AND worry! I’m looking forward to more time with them, less rushed mornings, creating our OWN schedules, and plenty of family adventures. I’m also a bit nervous about the ‘I’m bored’ phrase that I know will occur far too often. That, along with ‘I’m hungry’, of course! Luckily we’ve got plenty of delicious recipes for kids with these 50+ Cool Summer Snacks!

Whether you’re a fan of popsicles or ice cream, slushies or lemonade, we’ve got plenty of great summer treat recipes for you to try out! They’re also really ‘cool’, so your kids will happily enjoy them 🙂

Cool Summer Snacks

Rainbow Popsicles from The First Year Blog

Banana Split Ice Cream Cake Loaf from Life, Love and Sugar

Frosty S’mores Brownie Bars from Busy Mom’s Helper

DIY Gogurts from Art From My Table

Strawberry Julius from Busy Mom’s Helper

Kansas City Dirt Cake from Lil’ Luna

Creamy Watermelon Coconut Milkshake from Cook Nourish Bliss

No Churn Brownie Bite Ice Cream from Juggling Act Mama

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie via Busy Mom’s Helper

Cherry Cheesecake Popsicles from The Busy Baker

No Churn Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream from Fearlessly Creative Mammas

Jello Shaved Ice from Tips From A Typical Mom

Fresh Strawberry Lemonade with Honey from Art From My Table

Popsicle Brownies from Somewhat Simple

Strawberry Mango Popsicles from Busy Mom’s Helper

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Banana Bites from Not Enough Cinnamon

Healthy Orange Julius from Busy Mom’s Helper

Strawberry Lemonade Bars from The Baker Upstairs

Melon Ice Cubes from No Biggie

Homemade Fruit & Yogurt Popsicles from Busy Mom’s Helper

Cotton Candy Ice Cream from Home and Plate

Lava Flow Popsicles by One Lovely Life

Individual Frozen Key Lime Pies from This Silly Girl’s Life

Watermelon Pudding Pops from Clean and Scentsible

Chocolate Chip Mint Greek Yogurt Pops from Country Cleaver

Fruit Pizza from Bakers Royale

Two-Ingredient Banana Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Bites from The Baker Mama

Fruit Infused Water from I Heart Naptime

Pomegranate Coconut Popsicles from My Fussy Eater

Milk & Cereal Breakfast Popsicles from In Katrina’s Kitchen

Choco-Taco from Love Bakes Good Cakes

Watermelon Popsicles from Cooking Classy

Easy Frozen Yogurt Bites from Eating on a Dime

4-Ingredient Watermelon Sorbet from Cincy Shopper

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

Fresh Watermelon Cake from Sprinkle Bakes

Strawberry Mojito Mocktail from Art From My Table

Coconut Creme Ice Pops from Simply Stacie

Sand Pudding Cups from Food Fun Family

Watermelon Lemonade from The Recipe Critic

Berry Pomegranate Smoothie Pops from Juggling Act Mama

Banana Split Bites from Our Family of Seven

Watermelon Coconut Ice Cream from Baking Ginger

Blueberry Lemonade from Art From My Table

7 Insanely Delicious Ice Cream Sundaes via Buzzfeed

Cake Batter Popsicles from Just Add Sprinkles

No Bake Ice Cream Cupcakes from Juggling Act Mama

Frozen Hot Chocolate from One She Two She

Watermelon Pie from Make and Takes

Pomegranate Ice Cream from Art From My Table

Back to School Snack Dips: S’mores Dip & Cookie Dough Dip

July 5, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PackSnacksTheyLove #CollectiveBias

We started school this week – crazy! It’s such a mad-dash to get them all ready and out the door in time in the mornings, and I’m eager for when we get it to a smoother routine. After school isn’t much better yet, as we need to find a good groove for homework, rinsing out lunch boxes, signing their folders and hopefully some play time. Luckily, I have some awesome recipes I can rely on to make the afternoon a little easier, like these Back to School Snack Dips: S’mores Dip & Cookie Dough Dip! I just whip them up when I have time, then store them in the fridge so they’re ready to go when the kids are. originally shared August 2016

These snack dips are perfect to go with crackers, cookies, even fruits for a variety of tasty things! I made sure to stock up on our favorite snack packs from Kroger when I was doing our weekly grocery shopping there – I can rely on them to have the variety I need, and do well to keep their shelves full so I’m not missing anything from my list. I found some awesome (and convenient – yay!) snacks for the kids’ lunches and after school snacks – NABISCO Multipacks like RITZ, Teddy Grahams, OREO, Chips Ahoy, Nutter Butter, Barnum’s Animal Crackers and even Honey Maid crackers are perfect! Not only do my kids love the taste, but the portable packs make it SUPER easy to just toss in a lunch bag, or pull out when they get home from school. Even when we’re racing to dance lessons, we just grab some packs and go.

As I was filling my cart with these, determined to stay prepared for several weeks of back-to-school adjustment ahead, one of their friendly workers asked if I wanted him to grab more from the back. We laughed a bit (you should’ve seen how many I already had in my cart) and he totally understood how crazy this time of year is. I was tempted to say ‘yes’ to his offer just to see if his eyes would get big 🙂

Another great benefit of these snacks are that they’re easy for my kiddos to open, plus bite-sized. Definitely a bonus for my younger ones! They go great with our snack dip recipes, which are already REALLY simple to whip up! Just grab your ingredients next time you’re at Kroger, mix them together, and you’re all set for snacks!

S’mores Dip

Ingredients

1 cup Marshmallow Creme
1 cup Chocolate Pudding
8 oz. Whipped Topping
1/2 cup Chocolate Chips
1/4 cup Mini Marshmallows
1/4 cup Powdered Sugar

Directions

Beat the marshmallow creme, chocolate pudding and powdered sugar until smooth. Fold in the remaining ingredients and enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Cookie Dough Dip

Ingredients

1 cup Butter, softened
1 1/2 cup Brown Sugar, packed
1/2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 – 2 cups Flour
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 cup Milk
Chocolate Chips, as desired

Directions

Beat the butter, brown sugar, salt and vanilla until creamy. Whip in the milk until smooth.
Slowly add in the flour until desired consistency (I did about 1 1/2 cups). Stir in chocolate chips and enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

It was a mix in our family as to which of these dips were the favorite. Personally, I prefer the cookie dough dip – but really enjoyed the s’mores one, too. Dang, can’t really choose!

Cute Fruit and Veggie Bug Snacks

Ingredients

Veggie Bugs

Fruity Bugs

Instructions

Veggie Bugs

Fruit Bugs

Dairy- and Gluten-Free Lemon Merengue Dessert

Ingredients

Crust

Filling

Meringue

Instructions

QUICK AND EASY GLAZED SWEET POTATO DOUGHNUTS

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

For the glaze:

Directions:

For the Dough:

For the Glaze:

1. Cheese Crackers

2. Pigs in a Blanket

3. Cinnamon Pork Rinds

4. Pizza Chips

5. Cinnamon Walnut Flax Muffins

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Is Keto Safe for Kids?

Mac and Cheese

Chicken Tamale Pie

Spinach Lasagna

Fried Chicken Strips

Download the printable chalkboard chocolate chip cookie recipe HERE

Healthy Blueberry Chia Breakfast Pudding

Ingredients

Instructions

Pumpkin Breakfast Smoothie Ingredients

Pumpkin Breakfast Smoothie Directions

Cool Summer Snacks

S’mores Dip

Cookie Dough Dip

Which snack packs and dip would YOUR kids enjoy the most?