I love easy kids snacks you can feel good about in terms of health. I found this recipe in an old issue of the magazine Wonder time, one of dozens of magazines brought by various family members to enjoy during our weeklong vacation at the lake. These snacks are healthy but include treats mixed in, so are likely to keep both you and your child happy. Whether you keep them for snacks at home, trips about town, or to throw into a waste-free lunchbox as a healthy lunch box dessert, I think they will be a hit in your family.
Why did this recipe catch my eye? These snacks are easy (you don’t even bake them), versatile (you can alter each batch to your kid’s taste and/or to be a bit different from the last), and healthy (though your kids will consider them treats if you mix chocolate chips or Craisins into them). Plus, they are made of ingredients that are usually kept in many kitchens so they don’t require a trip to the grocery store.
This recipe can be mixed up in a stand mixer, but for more fun have the kids thoroughly wash their hands and get them to mix them up themselves. When they see something they have made in their lunchbox they will feel great that they helped make their lunch!
This “Powerball” recipe makes about 40 snack balls, and leftovers can be kept in the fridge or frozen with wax paper separating the layers.
1. Mix 1 cup peanut butter and 1 cup honey until smooth
2. Add 3 cups old-fashioned oats and 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
3. Add 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 cup nuts and dried fruit (any combintion of peanuts, sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, chopped pecans, raisins, dried cranberries, chopped dates, etc)
4. Roll into ping-pong sized balls and store in fridge or freezer
With all the whole grain oats, peanut butter, nuts and dried fruit, you give your kid a protein punch and a great diversity of vitamins and minerals. I’m going to keep a batch of these on hand when school starts as an easy and healthy dessert treat for my kids bento lunch boxes. I think they would also be great to bring as a snack for a preschool class, as long as there aren’t any peanut allergies.
For other easy foods to add to a childs bento lunch box, look to these Healthy Chocolate Brownies or Kid Friendly Trail Mix recipes. Do you have any other favorite, easy recipes that work well for packing a bento lunchbox?
