Fix Me A Snack

For this simple and healthy little snack I created a circular pineapple shape by squishing two pieces of fresh cut pineapple together and rough cutting them into a circle. My guess is that your children will be perfectly happy with or without  the quasi-perfect circle shapes. Where my kids have the most fun is making it themselves, the wonkier and goofier looking the better.

Fresh strawberry, fresh pineapple, and fresh kiwi, sliced 1/2-inch thick

Thread fruit onto bamboo skewer* or lollipop stick. Serve.

*Note: I’m guessing bamboo skewers should not be put in the hands of most children under the age of 3, possibly 4. I cut off the pointy tips after assembly. A safer option might be lollipop sticks; pre-punch holes in the food and let the younger ones assemble on their own.

Yield: variable
Prep-time: 5 minutes

The latest tool in my snacking arsenal is probably one most other families are already familiar with: snack-sized plastic baggies. I’ve had a box of these (that I bought by accident) sitting in my cupboard for quite a while. Usually, I use the larger sandwich-sized bags. Why? Well, I guess because I like to pack more snack than is necessary just in case.

But I’ve recently begun to realize that a little more portion control might be a very good thing for my family. I love the size of these snack bags. They keep me in check and my kids are much less likely to overeat at snack time. It’s beautiful.

Attack of the snack is spreading from CNN.com via Food News Journal.

Yogurt crosses cultures with new styles, imports from the Associated Press via Food News Journal.

This post is a part of a series of 101 ways to enjoy plain yogurt. (Keep scrolling down after you click on link to see the entire list.) For more information about yogurt in general, go to my Yogurt page.

69. Nutty Yogurt

Send your kids on a scavenger hunt for every kind of nut you have hiding in the kitchen (if you’re feeling brave) and toast them up in a skillet.

1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 of a ripe banana, mashed well OR 2 teaspoons honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
A handful of assorted chopped unsalted nuts, toasted (e.g., almonds, pecans, walnuts, and pistachios)

Mix together the yogurt, banana, and vanilla. Top with nuts. Serve.

70. Cherry Almond Yogurt

1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 – 2 teaspoons honey
2 tablespoons sliced unsalted almonds, toasted
10 cherries, cut in half and pitted

Mix together the yogurt, vanilla, and honey. Top with almonds and cherries. Serve.

71. Peachy Blueberry Yogurt

1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 -3 teaspoons peach preserves
1/4 cup fresh blueberries

Mix the yogurt and the preserves together. Top with blueberries. Serve.

72. Figgy Yogurt

1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 teaspoons fig preserves
1/4 teaspoon orange extract
A handful of chopped unsalted nuts, preferably walnuts and/or almonds, toasted

Mix the yogurt,preserves, and orange extract together. Top with nuts. Serve.

73. Cinnamon Toast Yogurt

Do you ever wake up in the morning craving cinnamon toast and yogurt?

1/2 cup plain yogurt
scant 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 – 2 teaspoons honey
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 slice buttered toast sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, cut up into 1-inch squares

Mix the yogurt, cinnamon, honey and vanilla together. Top yogurt with toast. Serve.

We found some berries yesterday in the woods near our house. The girls were beyond excited as they hunted and gobbled them all up. Happy Summer!