It’s official. Our 16 year old is taller than his dad. That means Asa is measuring at 6’3″ as of yesterday. His legs are longer than his bed. His feet are bigger than his shoes. The bottoms of his jeans only reach his ankles for two weeks. His eyes are as big as his stomach. And it’s a good thing I love to cook.
Should I mention that our 13 year old is almost looking me directly in the eyes, our 11 year old isn’t far behind, and our 8-almost-9 year old must be going through a growth spurt? I promise that he ate six bowls of Easy Noodle Stir Fry in one sitting last week.
So let’s see. Did I need this Getting Ahead Snack Challenge? Why yes, I did. Somehow, I’ve got to stay ahead of these appetites. Have I actually gotten ahead during the past few weeks? Eh, only a little bit. We mostly eat snacks as quickly as I make them. But at least I’ve discovered some great, new, healthy snack recipes to fall back on. We are having so much fun with these new ideas!
I decided to compile all of the new Healthy Snack Recipe ideas here for us as we conclude this Getting Ahead {Snacks} Challenge. All of these recipes can be made ahead of time. They are delicious, low in sugar, hearty, and easy to make.
~ Easy Homemade Nacho Cheese Pretzel Dip
~ Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
Or, if you want to change it up, follow that recipe but make Mix and Match Bars!
~ Easy Peanut Butter Snack Bars
~ Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins
Did you try any of these recipes? Which are your favorites? Do you have any other fun, healthy Make-Ahead Snack Recipes to share?
Thanks, Laura! My little boy is only 2, so I still have a while before he’s looking me in the eye (I hope). I’m only 5’2″ though, so I’m sure it won’t take TOO long. :) It’s my almost 5 year old daughter though that’s been eating like crazy lately. Ten minutes after lunch she’s asking if she can have a snack. And I promise I’m not skimping on portions or denying seconds. I believe these recipes are all ones I haven’t tried yet, so they’re on my list! I’ve made several of your recipes and they’ve all been yummy. :) Thank you for all that you do!
This isn’t related to snacks, but I’m wondering what kind of loaf pans you use for your bread. I have several of the standard nonstick variety, but I’m concerned about the health issues surrounding that, so I’d like to add some good pans to my Christmas wish list. :-)
Thanks!
Oh Laura, I feel the pain you go through! I’ve taken to hiding leftovers (actually planned-overs) just to get a break from a meal now and then. It is absolutely astonishingly amazing to me the amount of food that disappears from our house on a daily basis.
To mothers of young boys, I always give this advice:
Set aside a portion of your grocery budget NOW, in a high yield savings account. When that adorable little boy becomes a teen (and sometimes before), he becomes a food devouring bottomless pit hunger machine who simply never gets full. You need the savings to help with the grocery budget LATER!
We made pretzel bites and they are delicious!! I also made the cheese dip which my boys liked, but my husband and I decided the pretzel bites didn’t need the cheese dip. They are addicting all on their own!
Hi Laura. I’ve been making 3 batches of 4 ingredient granola bars at a time so I can have a break from baking. They are so quick to make, and they keep for a long time (if they make it:), and they are SO much more nutritious than store-bought versions. God bless!
Perfect timing I have been looking for some new snack recipes to try! I’m a mother of three boys ages 13, 8 and 6. It seems the teenager is just being himself and eating everything in site and the two younger boys are going through a growth spurt. Add in an always hungry husband, and lets just say I’ve been cooking and baking A LOT lately. But I don’t mind, I love to feed them healthy nutritious homemade meals and snacks. I absolutely love your site, and have pinned dozens of recipes, and downloaded several e-books. Thanks for helping me keep my family well fed!
Hi Laura,
I just discovered your blog today, and I am loving it for all kinds of reasons! Thank you!! I have a question for you. I am married, and my husband and I have our second baby on the way to arrive this July (our first is in Heaven). I strive to be very aware of what my husband and I eat as I often grocery shop and plan the cooking for us. I keep the goal of homemade cooking with whole foods in the forefront of my mind too, especially when what I am eating is so important to the little one that we have been blessed with! I am always looking for something healthy and quick to grab during the day (because being pregnant has made me NEVER able to eat enough!?), and I love the snack ideas that you have. Here’s where it gets tricky. When I was in high school I acquired what is called Oral Allergy Syndrome, and it has made me allergic to *fresh* fruits and vegetables. I can eat fruits or vegetables that have been canned or cooked, but I cannot eat them fresh. Needless to say, I have been particularly down on myself and a bit discouraged during my pregnancy when it comes to food because of not being able to eat fresh produce, because I want to be giving my baby what he or she needs! I feel lately like I eat a ridiculous amount of carbohydrates as snacks (and meals, too, we eat a lot of pasta), and practically nothing else by comparison! (OAS has also lead to some nuts giving me the same reactions as the fresh produce, including walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds. Peanuts are fine, and anything produced in a peanut-producing place, etc. are fine, it is not that sensitive of an allergy – the issue is eating the nuts themselves.) So! Whew. Saga over. My question is: Do you have any suggestions of homemade snack-type foods that I can make ahead/grab quickly/eat throughout my day that do not include fresh fruits, vegetables, and those couple of pesky nuts!?!? You may just be my new best friend if you even have one suggestion. (And if not, we could make things work anyway. ;) )
Thank you so much for even reading this! Any advice you can offer would be more than wonderful, I would appreciate it so much.
God bless,
Emily
P.S. Your not-perfect-homeschooling and will-all-the-real-moms-stand-up posts are beautiful and inspiring. I pray and hope to be a homeschooling mama too, when the day comes, and your humbling reminders are exactly what I will need in those days that seem oh-so-far away. Needless to say, they are already bookmarked on my computer for then. :)
If you can have peanuts, how about this chewy granola bar recipe: https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/homemade-chewy-granola-bars-without-corn-syrup Maybe??! :)