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New Snacks & Treats for Spring

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Springtime brings a fresh burst of energy and the perfect opportunity to revitalize your snack routine. Say goodbye to the heavy comfort foods of winter and hello to a season of lighter, healthier, and downright delicious options. From kids to parents, these new snack ideas are sure to brighten your family’s day and keep everyone happily munching!

Garden Veggie Snacks Spring Eggs

Spring has sprung, and so have fun, festive flavors for the whole family to enjoy! Garden Veggie Snacks Spring Eggs are the perfect snack to enjoy during the season – crunchy, colorful, and tasty. These bright, crispy veggie chips make a great addition to lunch boxes, Easter baskets, and on-the-go snacking, keeping snack time exciting. With 30% less fat than leading potato chips and no artificial flavors or preservatives, they’re a better-for-you Easter treat the whole family will love. Conveniently packed for easy snacking, Spring Eggs are a delicious choice for Easter celebrations or everyday springtime enjoyment. Gluten-Free and Certified Kosher. Garden Veggie Snacks Spring Eggs are available nationwide at retailers like Target ($8.39 for a 12-count of 6oz bags) Walmart ($24.99 for a 40-count of 0.5oz bags), and Amazon ($21.00 for a 20-count of 0.5oz bags).

Earth’s Best Organic® Immune Support Yogurt Smoothie

Crafted with a simple blend of ingredients, like Organic Banana puree and Organic Orange puree, Organic Pineapple puree, the Organic® Immune Support Yogurt Smoothie is a delicious snack both you and your toddler will love. For ages 24+ months and up. Pack of 3, 4 oz resealable pouches retail for $6.56 at Walmart. 

Earth’s Best Frozen Mini Homestyle Pancakes & Frozen Mini Blueberry Pancakes

Earth’s Best Organic® Frozen Homestyle Mini Pancakes are made with organic ingredients, including organic whole wheat flour. For a wholesome breakfast that’s convenient for parents, and yummy and fun for little ones 2+ years. This simple, nutritious option for breakfast makes busy mornings a breeze – simply add sliced fruit and a yogurt pouch on the side for a complete, healthy meal! Find Earth’s Best at Walmart and Amazon.

Mooala Simple

A leading organic plant-based milk brand with a strong emphasis on regenerative farming practices. All of Mooala’s family-friendly plant-based milks and creamers are certified USDA-organic, which means they are never made with GMOs, herbicides, preservatives or toxic chemicals. With Mooala, you can rest easy knowing the ingredients are ethically sourced, quality and the milks are always organic. The brand introduced its Simple line in August, the first-ever organic, shelf-stable plant-based milk made with just three ingredients; organic almonds/oats, filtered water and salt. It’s as simple as that. Just organic goodness! Now, they’re expanding their product line with more flavors and variations of the Simple line, offering even greater variety and convenience launching a single serve line, which is sold at an SRP of $35.99 for a 12 pack/ 8oz. You can find Mooala at Target, Whole Foods Market, Amazon, Publix, ALDI and Sprouts. Visit Mooala to learn more.

Blue Stripes

Blue Stripes is a brand on a mission to transform the chocolate industry into the cacao industry by upcycling the whole cacao pod (fruit, shell AND beans) to create delicious, environmentally conscious and nutrient-dense products. From Superfruit Cacao Gummies to whole cacao chocolate bars and everything in between, Blue Stripes is setting the stage for a healthier, more sustainable ecosystem that addresses both environmental and consumer needs. My older children are loving their delicious trail mixes, especially their Mango Macadamia Trail Mix! You can find Blue Striped at Amazon, Whole Foods Market and Sprouts. Visit Blue Stripes to learn more.

Little Bellies Organic Veggie Tubes

For a simple, nourishing snack, Little Bellies Organic Veggie Tubes mixed veggie & corn tubes are baked for a crunchier texture, are certified organic & non-GMO. Not sweetened or salted, and baked, not fried. These snacks for little ones are perfect for tucking into your diaper bag or purse for on-the-go, as well as great for placing in lunchboxes for daycare or preschool! You can find Little Bellies on Amazon. Visit www.littlebellies.com.

Little Bellies Organic Animal Crackers

Delicious and wholesome wholegrain Animal Crackers for both little and big kids, naturally sweetened with grape juice concentrate and free from added salt. A perfect balance of soft, chewy and crunchy to satisfy even the most picky eaters. Team up well with fruit, nuts, avocado, cheese and protein for a wholesome, yummy lunchbox for busy tots on the go! These are definitely a hit at our home! You can find Little Bellies on Amazon. Visit www.littlebellies.com.

Hippeas x Grillo’s Dill Puffs

Grillo’s Pickles, the cult-favorite pickle brand known for its fresh and crisp spears, has teamed up with Hippeas, the popular savory snack brand, to create the ultimate salty and crunchy treat, Dill Pickle Puffs. Hippeas x Grillo’s Dill Pickle Puffs are made with real, wholesome ingredients like chickpea flour, rice flour, yellow pea flour, white vinegar powder, dehydrated dill, and garlic powder, this snack delivers the perfect balance of crisp, briny, and mouthwateringly delicious flavor. They also are gluten free, vegan and have 3-4 gram of protein per serving with 3 g of fiber. This collaboration is a perfect match—Grillo’s bringing a bold, briny pickle flavor, while Hippeas delivers its signature crunchy texture, making this snack a must-try for pickle lovers and snack fans alike. You can find the Hippeas x Grillo’s Dill Puffs at Sprouts, Amazon and Hippeas’s online store now and will be available at Stop & Shop, Wakefern soon.

About the Author

Ms. Johnson is a Mom of 4, a Seasoned Freelance Journalist, Publicist and Lifestyle Expert with a career spanning almost 20 years in the industry. She is passionate about fitness, health and wellness. She has written her own website, Tiny Green Mom, since 2010, which highlights parenting and all things ‘green,’ from tips on living a healthier lifestyle to the latest eco-friendly products for the entire family.

As a Freelance Journalist, Ms. Johnson has written for a multitude of publications, including Medium, SheKnows.com, Tiny Beans, and more! In addition, she can be found on TV stations across the country as a Lifestyle Expert, speaking about all of her favorite brands and companies. 

You can follow her on Instagram @TinyGreenMom.

*Companies generously gifted samples and images for this article. All thoughts expressed herein are my own.*

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5 Healthy Back-to-School Snacks

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Without a Trace Foods

Healthy, allergy-friendly snacks to pack in your kid’s backpack or lunchbox that are free from the top 8 allergens! Without a Trace offers a mouthwatering variety of plant-based, gluten-free Chewy Granola Bars, Power Bites and Cookies. Perfect for tucking in lunchboxes or as a grab-n-go snack for everyone in the family. Their Rad Raspberry Power Bites & Strawberry Surprise Chewy Granola Bars are truly phenomenal and a favorite in our home!

Undercover Snacks

Healthy ingredients… in disguise! Undercover Snacks are made with carefully sourced all-natural, gluten-free, non-GMO, simple ingredients and Rain Forest Alliance Certified chocolate. Undercover Snacks are made with crispy quinoa, which is naturally gluten-free, packed with protein, fiber and nutrients, and has an incredible crunchy texture. Made in a dedicated facility that is free of the top ten food allergens. Certified Nut-Free, Certified Gluten-Free and Kosher. Comes in 8 decadent varieties. For lunchboxes, tuck one of their single serve packs in as a treat. These are so good that they actually might not make it in your child’s lunch!

Sun & Swell Foods

Delicious, sustainable and healthy – Sun & Swell Foods offers delightful grab-n-go snacks that are the ideal snack size for lunchbox packing or after school snacking! Your kiddos will love their date bites or cookie bites in perfectly portioned snack-size bags. Sweetened only with dates, and 100% Organic, Gluten-Free, Vegan, and with no added sugars, flavors, or preservatives.

Jax’s Monster Mix

A fun and tasty snack for your little monsters, Jax’s Monster Mix is an all-natural, gluten-free, peanut-free snack mix for kids. Unlike most snacks on the shelves, Jax’s is free from added sugars, contains a delicious mixture of sesame sticks, chocolate covered sunflower seeds, dried fruit such as mango & papaya, and coconut chips, and will give your little ones the fuel they need to get through soccer practice, dance class, or playdates. Tuck a bag into their backpack or lunchbox for a snack you can feel good about giving your children!

Pop Bitties

Move over, potato chips! Pop Bitties are light, crunchy, air-popped chips made from 100% whole grain sorghum, brown rice, quinoa, and chia….and kids (and adults) LOVE them! They’re perfect for snacking on their own or serving alongside a healthy lunch. The Vegan Sour Cream & Onion and Hickory BBQ were devoured by the family within hours, so looks like we will be picking up quite a few more bags before school starts in 2 weeks!

*Companies generously provided samples and images for this article. All thoughts expressed herein are my own.*

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Healthy Sugar Cookies

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Making cookies today? Here is an incredibly delicious sugar cookie which happens to also be nutritious and healthy with only 5 g of sugar by leading Nutritionist and Personal Trainer, Sloane Davis.

Healthy Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

1 scoop Vanilla protein powder (“Mom” prefers Nuzest Clean Lean Protein – Smooth Vanilla)

½ cup oat flour

¼ coconut flour

¾ tsp cornstarch

¾ tsp baking powder

⅛ tsp salt

1 tbsp + 1 tsp unsalted butter or ghee, melted (“Mom” prefers organic)

¼ cup unsweetened almond milk, room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

⅓ cup granulated sugar or sugar substitute

For the topping:

3 tbsp granulated sugar or sugar substitute (“Mom” prefers Stevia in the Raw)

Preparation

Mix together the protein powder, oat flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the butter, almond milk, and vanilla.

Stir in the granulated sugar.

Add in the flour mixture, stirring until barely incorporated. Chill the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes, but no more than 3 hours. (otherwise cover the cookie dough with plastic wrap to avoid it from drying out.)

Preheat the oven to 350°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

To prepare the topping, place the sugar in a small bowl.

Create balls from the cookie dough.

Place the ball of cookie dough in the bowl of sugar.

Make sure it is fully coated and place on the prepared baking sheet. If the cookie dough was chilled longer than 1 hour, flatten the cookie dough balls slightly.

Bake the cookies at 350°F for 10-12 minutes.

Makes 9 LARGE cookies

Macros per cookie: 119 calories, 17g carbs, 4g fat, 5g protein and only 5g sugar

About Sloane Davis
Sloane Davis is a Certified Nutritionist and Personal Trainer who has helped thousands of people, both men and women, around the world get in to top shape both mentally and physically. Sloane has her undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University and became accredited through ISSA with her degree in Sports Nutrition and Personal Training. She works personally and online with thousands of clients around the US and globally.

She has been featured in People, Fitness Magazine, New Beauty Magazine, Apple News, The Daily Mail, Yahoo News, FOX Good Day New York, FOX Good Day DC, NY1, Bay Area Focus, Women’s Fitness, Womanista, Livestrong, Mind Body Green and Westchester Magazine.

*Recipe and images courtesy of Sloane Davis, Pancakes and Push-ups.*

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3 After-School Snacks from Peanut Butter & Co.

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Check out these healthy after-school snack ideas from the founder of Peanut Butter & Co. – easy to assemble and fun to eat! Even big kids like to nosh on these tasty treats!

Fire Ants on a Log

Ingredients

Celery
Peanut butter
Dried Cranberries
Raisins

Preparation

Rinse celery; pat dry. Cut stalks into halves. Spread peanut butter on celery and top with dried cranberries and/or raisins.

Frozen Peanut Butter Banana Bites

Ingredients

Sliced bananas, cut into thirds
Peanut Butter

Preparation

Stuff bananas with peanut butter, and then freeze, making a healthy ice cream alternative!

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothies

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. Peanut Butter
1 Banana
Honey (to taste)
1 cup Yogurt, Milk, or Soymilk

Preparation

Place all ingredients in the blender; blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and top with a straw.

*Recipes and images courtesy of Peanut Butter & Co.*

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The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet Giveaway

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Enter to win your very own copy of The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet! This resourceful new book will have your little one eating their vegetables and other nutritious foods with ease! Packed with healthy recipes that are quick and simple to make – this will become your go-to recipe book as your baby grows and matures. From December 21, 2010 – December 28th, 2010 you can enter to win daily on Tiny Green Mom!

First, leave a comment below to let us know why you would love to win a copy of The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet.

To obtain extra entries:

Subscribe to Tiny Green Mom by email to receive a “Fresh Post” daily. Leave me a comment below to let us know that you subscribed. This will be verified.

Leave a comment on another Tiny Green Mom post. Leave a comment below with the name of the post you commented on.

“Like” The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet on Facebook. Please leave a comment below along with your facebook name to let us know that you have done so.

Blog about this giveaway. You must have a link to this giveaway in your blog post. Please leave a comment with the link to your blog post.

The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet Giveaway ends on December 28, 2010 and is open to the US and Canada only. Please leave your email address in each comment, and make sure to leave a separate comment for every each and every entry that you make so that they will count for you!

Thank you! “Mom” at Tiny Green Mom can’t wait to announce the winner of this fabulous giveaway!

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Veggie Patch

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Healthy, meatless options abound from Veggie Patch! For yummy alternatives to traditional chicken nuggets, burgers, and even buffalo wings, Veggie Patch has created delicious meat-free meals and snacks. “Mom’s” favorites include the Spinach Nuggets and Broccoli Bites. Perfect for an afternoon snack or as a healthy appetizer before dinner is served!

100% vegetarian, Veggie Patch products are all-natural, and contain no MSG or trans-fats. For those desiring to eat less meat, but are unsure of how to start incorporating healthy vegetarian options that are more than just a salad, Veggie Patch is the way to go! From Meatless Garlic Portabella Burgers to Chick ‘n Cutlets, there are plenty of hearty dinner options for the meat and potato lover in your family.

For more information, to locate a store near you that carries Veggie Patch products, or to order, visit their website.

*Company generously provided images and samples for this review.*

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5 (Budget-Friendly) Ways for Families to Eat Healthy While Vacationing

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As we head into the holiday weekend, Lissa Harnish Poirot has put together some timely tips for eating healthy while away from home without breaking the bank. A BIG thanks to Lissa for this informative article.

5 (Budget-Friendly) Ways for Families to Eat Healthy While Vacationing

1. Try to find hotels offering in-room mini-fridges so you can stock it with drinks and snacks (if they only offer a mini bar, ask the hotel to empty it before your arrival). Avoid purchasing snacks at the hotel (higher prices) but instead hit the local grocery store for fresh produce, bottled water, and healthy snacks that you’d normally purchase at home.

2. Look for hotels providing free breakfast buffets. I hate to look like that woman grabbing the extra food at the buffet, but I have no shame when I’m spending a bundle on a hotel and they offer a free buffet and the chance to grab some extra fruit to bring with us while we explore a city, visit a theme park, or even just to keep in our room for when we get hungry. I also grab extra apples from those hotels offering them at check in!

3. Splurge on a Club Level room, if available. I find the splurge for a Club Level room is worth it in the money I save on meals and snacks — the stay becomes nearly all-inclusive — but the choices are also more healthy. Club Levels provide breakfast buffets, snacks and drinks throughout the day, and heavy hors d’ouevres at lunch and dinner hours. During one recent Club Level stay, we were able to snack on hummus and fruit, and fill up on salads and finger sandwiches during meal times.

4. When traveling overseas where familiar foods may not be available, pack peanut butter and other favorites as a fail-safe standby. Again, visiting the local grocer can get you the tried-and-true healthy favorites that work at home, such as bread, sliced turkey, pretzels and fruit. Pack meals as if you’re packing for your child’s day at school. Try to order a couple of small items off the menu at the restaurants, however, to round out the meal, and to have your child try to embrace new foods.

5. Avoid “vacation” mentality. Too often we throw caution to the wind during vacation. We’re sleeping in, staying up later, off our daily schedules, and before we know it we’re ordering our weight in chicken fingers, chips and queso dip, and ice cream. Sure, it’s vacation, so splurge once in a while and have that double-decker ice cream cone after a day on the beach — just don’t do it every day. If you over-indulge at lunch, take it easy and order a healthier dinner. The kids will avoid the sugar high so many of us encounter on vacations, and you’ll avoid the extra pounds on the scale when you get home.

INTRODUCING LISSA HARNISH POIROT

Lissa Harnish Poirot is an experienced editor, writer and family travel expert who loves to travel with her two kids in tow — making her the perfect choice for editor of Family Vacation Critic.

*Image provided by Peanut Butter & Co.*

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