Simple Snack Hacks for Back to School

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Revolution Foods. 

Photo from Revolution Foods

I am always, always looking for ways to get fruits and veggies into my kids (and my) diet. Like a lot of people, I am a creature of habit and my kids and I typically eat the same snacks each week. That’s why this school year #MyNewGoal is to opt for snacks that are nutritious, inexpensive, and fun so my kids learn to choose healthy foods over unhealthy foods to fuel their bodies and minds. Here are my favorite healthy snacks that I am going to start always having on hand. 

Apple Slices Mixed with Peanut Butter and Honey

I always seem to have apples on hand since they keep well and our kids gobble them up. Since this is a simple snack, I love getting the kids involved. Our oldest gets out the peanut butter and honey, then each kid dollops a heaping spoonful of peanut butter into their bowl, and then pours on some honey. We stir it up and enjoy a yummy apple dip! However, I do not give honey to our one-year-old and if you or your child has a peanut allergy then sunflower butter is a wonderful option.

Bananas with Yogurt, Hemp Seeds, and Honey

This is another simple recipe that I involve my kids in at home. Again, we always seem to have bananas on hand and yogurt is a real treat around here. My kids scoop out the yogurt in individual bowls and “cut” the banana with a harmless butter knife or break it apart. We then top it with some hemp seeds. This is super simple and a real favorite with my kids. Our yogurt is normally plain, but sometimes we mix in a teeny tiny bit of vanilla extract to add more flavor.

Oatmeal Protein Bites

This is a favorite of mine and our kids! Simply combine and mix the following ingredients in a large bowl and form into one inch balls and freeze until they are set: 1 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1/2 cup ground flaxseed meal, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/3 cup of honey or maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. My kids like to measure, mix, and form the balls for this recipe. It can get messy, but sometimes that is what cooking is all about. 

I hope you enjoy these simple snacks that help get your kids directly involved in the kitchen. The kids can feel so proud of what they make and at the same time we are all making good memories.

While I always try to have healthy food choices at home, it’s important that the kids learn to make decisions about food when they are at school. That’s where Revolution Foods comes in!

Revolution Foods at School

Photo credit from Revolution Foods

I am thankful that our school serves my kids meals from Revolution Foods since they serve excellent healthy meals, a company that believes everyone deserves access to real, high-quality food made with carefully considered ingredients. Revolution Foods’ mission is “to build lifelong healthy eaters by making kid-inspired, chef-crafted food accessible to all.” Sign me up! 

Revolution Foods was founded by two moms with a vision of providing students with healthy, diverse, and affordable lunches across schools. They actually serve many schools right here in the District of Columbia! When our kids get school lunch, I don’t worry about nutritional value, portion sizes, types of food, or the cost. They source fresh local product, high-quality proteins, rBST-free dairy products and no high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners.

Wait, So What do they Serve?

Image from Revolution Foods

According to a survey conducted by Revolution Foods of students and parents, 72% of parents prioritized nutrition, whereas nearly 60% of students said taste was more important in school meals. Luckily Revolution Foods combines both — all of their food is kid-inspired and chef-crafted; they engage with kids at every step of the development process to ensure a menu that they’ll love but that also delivers the nutrition they need to achieve their true potential. Revolution Foods has a variety of menus that are equal parts delicious and diverse. A sample of the breakfast items are the breakfast enchilada scramble, cinnamon raisin bagel, omelet and French toast with a Zee Zees cinnamon crisp bar. Lunch samples include bean and cheese pupusa (vegetarian), classic spaghetti & meatballs, whole-grain pasta with beef & turkey meatballs in marinara sauce (dairy free), and turkey and cheddar cheese sandwich with island glazed carrots and cut melon. Ok, ok, you get the picture — these are not your typical “school” lunches (and are honestly better than what I would serve them at home sometimes!). 

I think the name of the company says it all, Revolution Foods. They have literally started a revolution with meals at early learning centers, school districts, Charter Schools, and community youth programs. They have partnered with over 2,500 schools and organizations and are on a mission to offer more than the standard school meals for our kids. If you are interested in partnering with them to offer their items at your child’s school contact them here. Enjoy the chaos of back to school and keep up the good, hard work of feeding your kids healthy foods! 

Photo credit from Revolution Foods.

 

 

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Courtney Whittington
Courtney was born and raised in Louisiana where she met her husband (married in 2005). They have moved several times, but finally feel very settled in NW DC after moving back in 2016. She has four energetic kids: Cormac (2010), Evangeline (2013), Solomon (2016), and Antoinette (2019). She thinks motherhood is absolutely wonderful, but is constantly trying to figure out how to manage it all. She spends her days talking Star Wars, playing with legos, doing crafts, having tea parties, and chasing her toddler. Motherhood is wonderful and wild and in 2017 she banded together with other mothers to start DC Area Moms to inspire, learn, and grow together. She loves morning coffee, chocolate, chatting with people since she's an extrovert, a clean house (which is rare these days). She dislikes when her kids don't listen the first time, she abhors littering, and doesn't enjoy shopping.