No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites

No bake chocolate chip "cookies" for snack, yum! These energy bites are so easy to make. Just mix quick oats with your mixins' of choice and bind with nut/seed butter. We used chocolate chips, dried cherries, coconut flakes, ground flaxseed, chia seeds and peanut butter. But you can change it up however you like. If you want them to be completely added-sugar free, swap the chocolate chips with cacao nibs and use naturally sweet fruit, like raisins or diced up dates. We usually make the dough together and eat it straight from the bowl.
It's that good!

Ingredients straight from the pantry - doesn't get much easier than that :)

'Come on and stir it up...little darling, stir it up...' Do you like Bob Marley? Silly question. 

So good! Sometimes we flatten them so they are more cookie-like.

No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites

1/2 cup quick oats
1/4 cup coconut chips
1/4 cup dried cherries
1/8 cup vegan chocolate chips
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon flaxseed
1/3 cup natural peanut butter*

1.  In a large bowl, stir together all ingredients except the peanut butter.

2.  Add in the peanut butter. It may take several minutes of stirring to bind the ingredients together. If it is too wet, add more oats. If it is too dry, add more peanut butter.

3. Take a heaping tablespoon of dough at a time, pressing and rolling them into balls with your hands. You can keep them in this shape or press them down so they are flat, if preferred.

*you can swap the peanut butter with any nut or seed butter you prefer but may have to slightly increase or decrease the amount depending on the thickness of the butter you use.

Black Bean Dip

Ok, so by now you've realized that we love black beans! And what's not to love? It's super healthy, packed full of protein, vitamins and fiber. Plus it keeps bellies full longer. Now we've done black beans and rice, black bean soup, and here's the dip. Kids love dip. Let's face it, dips make life just a little bit better. This dip is really simple and super easy. Encourage your kids to create a design on top with chips. Plating is everything. You eat with your eyes first! This is a great dish for kids in the kitchen who can help add spices and seasonings.

(Serves two kiddos)

1 can of black beans
4 tbsp soy yogurt
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp salsa
Garlic powder to taste
Salt to taste

1. In a small blender or food processor, blend all ingredients until smooth or until desired consistency.

Snack Ideas & Inspiration

Snacks are hard aren't they? Walk into a supermarket and there are aisles filled with snacks for kids, all filled with additives, white flour, chemicals and sugar. The only way to decipher what is healthy and what is not is to check the ingredient list. Best bet is to focus on real foods, fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, etc.

If you love these ideas but are struggling with a picky eater, check out our other posts; food appreciation is learned and reasons toddlers stop eating well. If snacking is out of control and it's effecting their appetite at meals, check out 5 ways to get your kid to stop snacking all day.

We know it's tricky, kids love something then get bored with it shortly after. So here's some snack inspiration for you. What are your favorites?

Ants on a log is an oldie but a goodie! Mix it up by using trail mix instead of raisins.

Smoothies are a refreshing, delicious way to add veggies but also enjoy a fun drink.  Add whatever you want!

Peanut butter and apples or peanut butter and vegan cheese, so good!

Only ingredients in this cereal are puffed wheat and agave. It's hard to find healthy boxed snacks, this is a good one!

Large containers of precut fruit and vegetables. Add plenty of variety, include things you aren't sure your kids will eat. They may just surprise you.

Mini sweet peppers with guacamole. You may think, but my kid doesn't eat peppers- give them the opportunity to acquire the taste when they've got a good appetite. 

Kids love frozen fruit! Keep it frozen for an entertaining bite. This is especially fun in the summer! Also, packing a small container of frozen fruit for school lunch is a nice twist. Or adding frozen fruit to a container of plain yogurt packed for school keeps the yogurt cold until lunch.

Variety is key!

Snack plates are fun, and even work nicely as a breakfast alternative for kids who don't have much of an appetite. 

Bare Apple Chips are delicious! We found a huge bag at Costco that lasted a while. The only ingredient is apples.

Fresh or lightly steamed/microwaved veggies are the perfect snack for when kids need food RIGHT NOW and it's twenty minutes before dinner. Doesn't fill them up and they'll eat their serving of vegetables before they sit down to the table.

One of the best boxed convenience snacks out there. Most of these bars have 2-5 ingredients and they're all REAL FOOD. Perfect for early morning risers who need breakfast now. And of course for mid day snacks on the go.

Homemade Pretzels

At a loss for a fun activity with your kids in the kitchen? This is a fantastic snack and a great rainy day activity. You can buy the dough pre made or make it yourself. The fun part is coming up with the pretzel shapes. Bet your kids can come up with some other fun shapes!

(Makes 8 small, 4 medium, or 2 large pretzels)

1 pound (approximately) ready-made whole wheat dough
Water for boiling
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 teaspoons kosher salt (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Bring a pot of water to a boil.

3. Meanwhile, separate the dough into even size balls (depending on the size pretzel you want).

4. Roll each ball of dough out into a long even tube.

5. Cross one end of the tube over the other (making the tube into a circle with its ends making an x shape).

6. Twist the ends again, making the x shape into a twist.

7. Flip the twisted ends into the center of the circle and press the ends onto the circle’s sides.

8. Boil the pretzels for 30 seconds then transfer them with a slotted spoon onto a non-stick baking sheet.

9. Brush with oil and sprinkle with salt (if desired). Bake in the middle rack of the oven for 10 minutes (depending on the size of the pretzels), or until golden brown.

'Kettle Corn' Pumpkin Seeds

WE LOVE THE FALL!!! Have you all gone to the pumpkin patch yet?? Do your kids like to get a big pumpkin or a little one? Carving pumpkins is one of those traditions that stay with you for life. Baking pumpkin seeds is just the icing on the cake. Try this recipe to change up an old classic.

(Serves two kiddos)

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
2 teaspoons agave
kosher salt to taste

1. Stir the pumpkin seeds and agave together. Spread evenly onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

2. Sprinkle with salt.

3. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. Let cool slightly before eating.

Toast with Olive Oil

Something has to be said for the snack you don't have to cook. 100% whole wheat bread with olive oil is the magic combination and a healthy alternative to butter. It's super tasty and keeps those little bellies full for a long time. This is great for breakfast as well as snack and a big hit amongst the little kid crowd.  

(Serves 1 kiddo)

1 slice whole wheat bread
1-2 teaspoons olive oil

1. Toast the bread.

2. Drizzle while warm with olive oil.