The school year has started, we are all off to new routines for class, work and extra activities. Now is the time to get your healthy snacks in order. This is one of my favorite recipes for on the go healthy options. This recipe is super simple as you just put all the ingredients in a food processor, blend and bake. You have 10 bars ready to go perfect for breakfast on the run, a lunch bag, snacks or simply toss in your purse. They are packed with fiber, protein and a touch of sweetness. You won’t feel bad giving these to your kids with these high quality ingredients and also gluten and dairy free.
I am using the new Lindsay Creamy Almond Butter in this recipe. This product is smooth and creamy making it perfect for all your nut butter needs like sandwiches, dipping and baking. It has no hydrogenated oils, cane sugar, preservatives or gluten. Try it in place of traditional peanut butter for a twist on some of your favorites. A 12 oz. jar retails for just $8.99 but you can learn more and get coupons here.
Smooth, creamy and easy to spread almond butter
Try out any of the new Lindsay Almond butter flavors like Classic Creamy, Classic Chunky or for a sweet treat Honey Cinnamon. All of the varieties work well in the soft Cinnamon Raisin Granola Bar recipe listed below.
Cinnamon Raisin Granola Bars
Soft Cinnamon Raisin Granola Bars
Makes 10 bars
3 cups old fashioned oats regular or gluten free
1 cup raisins
½ cup pecans
½ cup almond butter (at room temperature)
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
½ cup pure honey or maple syrup
¼ cup water
¼ cup ground flaxseed meal
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon coarse or kosher salt
So simple, put everything in a food processor and blend. No food processor? No problem just see the note below.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9×9 inch pan with parchment paper or grease with oil.
Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a large food processor, pulse for 20 seconds and scrape sides, pulse for another 20 seconds to chop pecans and throughly combine ingredients. Do not over mix or it will become pasty.
Scoop mixture into prepared pan. Using a slightly wet hand press mixture evenly into the pan. Bake on the middle rack until golden brown and firm about 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool completely, remove from pan and cut. Make 10 bars by cutting horizontally through the middle once and four even cuts vertically.
Cut to make 10 perfect snack or lunch size bars.
*If you do not have a food processor, coarsely chop the raisins and pecans. Then in a large bowl combine all ingredients until well mixed and bake as directed.
*Raisins not your thing? Try this with other dried fruit like cherries, cranberries, blueberries or dates. Look for unsweetened varieties to help limit excess sugar.
Sometimes I receive sample products to test and share my honest opinions about. I will ONLY promote products that I love and currently use myself. I feature these products as they have made my life simpler or more enjoyable in some way. I share them with you only as a resource to better support you in enjoying a simply delicious happy and healthy life. All reviews are my own words and my own opinions. I share them and hope these products and services work for you and bring as much joy to your life as they have to mine.
I will occasionally link to specific sites or include affiliate links to help you purchase similar or recommend products. Again, I will only feature items I currently use and think will truly benefit you and your family. As always it is my true effort to serve you please contact me if you have questions about this process, products I mention or would like me to consider your product for a feature highlight. I am happy to help.
I have to be honest. I am not a meal planner. I based my daily meal decisions on what I feel I want, what I have on hand, time to actually cook, what looks good at the store or what might be on sale at the time. Over the years I have tried several different programs, apps and easy meal plan guidelines to see if they would actually make my life simpler. Typically these services add more stress and much more expense to my week. They work if you can be that structured with your food and schedule each day. Don’t get me wrong I am most definitely a planner and get far more done and completed with success and ease with a plan however when it comes to food and a busy working lifestyle with kids I can’t ever seem to make traditional meal planning work here is why.
Most meal plans give you a full week of ideas, recipes and grocery lists. This is great if you have time to cook every meal 3 times a day, yes even those with batch cooking options still require a lot of advanced meal prep. For me there are days where I need food already done heat and serve, batch or freezer meals that are hot and on the table in 10 minutes or less. This is where a lot of my Make Ahead Meal options and strategies work wonders. Many of these services offer limited flexibility for specific diets, avoiding specific ingredients or swapping out meals for something you may not like. The grocery lists include everything making which is great but I often find myself double buying items I already had or trying to sift through pages to make a new grocery list for what I actually need. I tend to have much more waste with these programs, food for recipes I didn’t have time to get to, overbuying items, or for the services that ship you ingredients mass amounts of packaging waste. Yes, most of it is recyclable but it is still so much unnecessary waste. These easy meal planning services just never really worked long term.
For the past few months I have been testing out a new easy meal planning service called PlateJoy. I stumbled upon this custom meal planning service while searching for other things. I am so happy I did. I have to admit it is the best I have ever seen. Granted this may take some clients away from me, but I just have to share because it really works. If you want a consistent flexible real life workable meal plan this is it. I am always on the look out for new ways to make life easier and more enjoyable when I find the good ones I feel obligated to share with you.
Ok so here is why I love Platejoy:
A variety of healthy options
Meals designed for your unique needs
They have a personalization quiz that creates a meal plan that fits your lifestyle and preferences. It lets you choose if you want specifics like to cut calories, reduce red meat, work with a special diet like gluten or dairy free, there is even a place to just say, I don’t like this ingredient so don’t include it. It also takes into account how much time you want to spend cooking and how many meals you want to prepare each week. For example if you want or don’t want leftovers or prefer batch cooking recipes. There are lots of options so you are always getting recipes that fit your needs, tastes and timeline.
Ultimate Flexibility
It then creates your “Meal Queue” where you can see all the recipes that fit the requests you made in your personalization quiz. Note you can change your answers to see different recipes at any time so you are not locked in to a gluten, dairy, no meat, low carb diet if you don’t want to be or you can try out something new just for a week. The recipes in the meal queue are then chosen in combination to reduce the amount of food waste for your meal plan. However, you can also change your mind at any time when going over your designed meal queue to swap, remove or add recipes if see something your really want or don’t care for at the moment. Note that doing this may increase your food costs and waste but you are always getting recipes you know you will like.
You Have Control
You have control over how many recipes you get in your weekly meal plan. This is one of the main reasons I like this program so much. Each week you can update the kind of recipes you want for each category, choosing 0-5 breakfast, lunch, batch meals, dinner, snacks/desserts. This is key because depending on the week you can choose what you need. If its a busy week I will choose quick cooking meals with leftover options. If I have several lunch time meetings I will include less lunch options or if its a slower week and I have time to cook I will add extra recipes, more snacks, batch cooking and recipes that may take longer to complete. Each week you have control and flexibility. I have not found any another easy meal planning service that has done this so well.
Unique flexibility to get the meals that work well for your lifestyle.Shopping list that takes into account what you already have on hand.
Less Waste
Next it’s on to the shopping list, my other most loved option of the PlateJoy easy meal planning service. Before it creates your personalized shopping list it walks you though your pantry allowing you to check off ingredients you already have on hand. This is so helpful because its only creates shopping list with the things you really need. No more sifting through pages of grocery lists with things you already have. For me I have a pretty well stocked pantry so my lists are generally small with fresh produce, meat and some speciality items. I did once print out the whole list as if I have nothing starting from scratch it was a bit long but organized well and easily set me up for success. As you create the next weeks menu is also has a section to use up any ingredients you may have on hand. This way of shopping also cuts down on all the excess packaging of other meal planning services that ship ingredients.
Easy to use, organized shopping list. You can shop or send directly to a shopping service.
Shopping Made Easy
The grocery list is organized by category with the amounts you need, suggestions for the butcher of how to have the meats cut and a recipe code if you want to refer back to the recipe that a particular ingredient is for or if last minute you decide you don’t want to make a recipe you can easily remove those ingredients from the list. If you want other items that are not for your chosen meal plan say you just want some more apples for the kids, need dish soap or paper towels you can add them to your list too so you are only shopping from one list. Personally I love grocery shopping and I like to choose my own thing especially produce, meat and seafood. I know this is not everyone. You may not love grocery shopping or don’t have time for it. Don’t worry, they have an easy access link with one click you can add your entire list to your instacart and have it delivered! Really they thought of everything.
Delicious Meals
There are many things I like about this easy meal planning services but no matter how easy something is to use it still must product quality results. The recipes are easy to follow and consistently produce delicious results. I think out of all the things I made after tying the service for weeks there were maybe 3 items that my family though were just ok. The majority of meals gave nightly inspiration and new family time favorites for our weekly meals. Many of the recipes my toddler even helped me prepare. He also enjoyed the variety of adult and kid friendly foods like these jerk chicken lettuce wraps.
Kid friendly meal options too, my toddler loved helping and eating these itemsEasy to use portion and nutrition guides for the whole fmaily
Balanced Nutrition and Portion Size
Plate Joy also includes recommended portion sizes based on the calorie intake you requested in beginning profile making adjustments for more active individuals, those wanting to lose weight and even healthy child size portions. The nutritional information is broken out for each person for each meal if you are counting calories, carbs or just curious its all there for you. You can easily work it into any diet or fitness program you may already be enjoying or wanting to being. It truly sets you up for well rounded mealtime success.
Ok so I love it, I know this may take some clients from me but I had to share. Check out Plate Joy Here! You can use code IMPRESSIONS10 to save $10 on your subscription. If you have ever thought of trying a easy meal planning service or been frustrated by others in the past I highly recommend you give this one try.
Here are some of the great meals and snacks I made with Plate Joy
Apple, almond and coconut “oatmeal”Crunchy cocoa-sesame protein bitesStrawberry Broccoli Salad with Paleo Poppy Seed DressingSweet and Sour Broccoli Salad with CashewsBurmese Chicken SoupSalted chocolate fudge bobmsJerk chicken, avocado and mango lettuce wrapsBatch Meal, Zucchini noodle beef lasagnaShaking beef bowls with shaved Brussels sproutsCrispy Coconut Almonds
Sometimes I receive sample products to test and share my honest opinions about. I will ONLY promote products that I love and currently use myself. I feature these products as they have made my life simpler or more enjoyable in some way. I share them with you only as a resource to better support you in enjoying a simply delicious happy and healthy life.
All reviews are my own words and my own opinions. I share them as an expert in the field and hope these products work for you and bring as much joy to your life as they have to mine.
I will occasionally link to specific sites or include affiliate links to help you purchase similar or recommend products. Again, I will only feature items I currently use and think will truly benefit you and your family. As always it is my true effort to serve you please contact me if you have questions about this process, products I mention or would like me to consider your product for a feature highlight. I am happy to help.
Cooking with kids may be one of the most beneficial things you can do with them, but entering into a kitchen with a child can also be a very dangerous, messy and stressful situation. Here is my guide to set you and the kids up for kitchen success. You will reap only the benefits of cooking with children and leave the headaches for another day.
Set a mood for fun and learning. Cooking with kids will take more time and does require effort. But as with most things in life, the good things are worth the work and the wait. Keep your cool with little chefs; play as they learn. Remember: Cooking with kids is as much about the “process” as it is the product.
Setting up for success:
Don’t take on new tasks if you or the child is “starving.” If this is the case, pick a quick recipe that makes a quick healthy snack, or have veggies, fruit, and dip to snack on before you start.
Make sure you and the child are well-rested; most people tend to get cranky more easily if they are hungry or tired.
Make time for cooking. Cooking with kids can take longer as they are learning new skills. Enlist their help on a weekend afternoon when you don’t feel the mid-week time crunch of activities.
1. Planning is part of the fun! Have fun choosing the recipe.
Share about the task you are doing, why you are doing it and what is happening. Allow them to help in planning a menu, choosing a recipe, and finding the correct ingredients so that they can become familiar with the kitchen.
Choose simple recipes to start. The easier a dish is to prepare, the more likely the kids will want to make it again. Start with things like quick breads, muffins, pasta, dips, smoothies, and sandwiches.
Given the child’s age and skill set, think about which steps your child can do independently. For example, kids who can read can call out the ingredients from the recipe card while you put them out on the counter. A younger child can help you pour and measure ingredients into a bowl. An older child might be able to mix or maybe even cut ingredients.
Doing some prep work in advance, such as washing items, trimming meats or cutting hard vegetables will make the process move more swiftly.
2. Create a safe place where kids can cook.
All people cooking should wash their hands before beginning. Set up a work area at a lower height to make it easier for preschoolers to reach things. Offer children a stool only if you know they can balance on it.
Give frequent reminders about what’s OK okay to touch and which items can hurt them. Remove any sharp objects from their reach.
Talk about which kitchen tasks are for grown-ups and which ones are for kids.
Establish clear kitchen rules so they are aware of the fun and as well as the dangers of the kitchen, such as washing hands, not touching stove knobs or knives, cleaning up and getting to taste what you are making. I call this the “chef’s bite” ?only those cooking can taste the food as we are making it. Kids love this as it makes them feel special.
3. Closely supervise children of all ages.
Do not leave a child unattended in the kitchen. If you must leave for a moment, take the child with you. Accidents can happen in the quickest moments.
Explain to them about the stove in age-appropriate, simple terms; for example, “The stove is hot! It’s not OK okay to touch it. Adults will handle the hot items. You can watch.” Always keep pan and utensil handles turned towards the back of the stove.
4. Give children their own safe utensils.
Offer children wooden or plastic tools that are smaller and fit the size of their hands. Avoid giving children graters, as fingers can easily get scraped. Children can help snip herbs with rounded edge scissors. When a child is responsible enough, you can allow them to use small knives under close supervision. When you are using a knife, be sure to demonstrate safe knife skills, such as holding the knife properly, keeping blades sharp, using the appropriate knife for the task and cutting on flat skid-proof surfaces. If you need assistance with knife skills, contact me about a specialty session or watch this video on what knives you need. Note: your child will learn how you teach them, so only teach them good healthy and safe habits.
5. Other learning is in the mix!
Ask the child to read each instructions aloud as you prepare the food, which will help with learning sequencing and following directions.
Your child can count and help measure to build math skills.
Do a bit of history after the dish is complete to find out where it came from or any special holidays or cultures that are associated with it.
6. Introduce new foods.
On average, we need to taste foods up to 11 times to know if we “like it or not.” Introduce new foods in different ways with different sauces, shapes or cooking methods, like such as sliced apples, apple sauce, and baked apples.
Make simple things special: Using Use a variety of cookie cutters to shape bread, cheese slices or even apple or red pepper slices to makes them special.
7. Make set-up and clean-up part of the routine.
Know that you will most likely have a little mess, spilled flour, milk or a dropped egg. Do not let these moments frustrate you as this will frustrate the child, as well. Simply use it as a learning moment to teach how to do the activity next time and show that it’s okay to make a mess as long as we clean it up, too.
When all cooking is done, assist the child in simple tasks to help clean up. Even if it is just putting a few items in the sink and washing their hands, it is important that the child learns that cleaning up it is part of cooking.
To help avoid messes, guide children to measure over a cookie sheet that can catch excess, or break eggs into separate bowls to avoid slip-ups that ruin the entire dish.
8. Give praise, acknowledgement and encouragement
Lastly, compliment your little chef. Celebrate their accomplishment and taste what you made together. This will also open conversation for new items to cook by asking “what do you like about the taste?” “What would you want to do differently next time?” If they have had fun even if they did not like what they made, they will do it again. You are building the foundation of a healthy lifestyle.
