the kitchen arts,  the mothering arts

Brain food…

bakingday

Now that the school year has begun in proper earnest, I’m starting to realize that having three preteens and three elementary aged kids is a whole lot different (at least when it comes to stomachs) than having a passel of toddlers. Sure, toddlers eat all day long, but at the end of the day the total amount of what was actually eaten is quite small. But preteen boys, sweet honey child. They can eat. And eat. And eat.  Let’s have a moment of silence in honor of growing young men’s growling stomachs. And the way they can grow six inches in less than a month or two.  Hum.

I lean heavily on the experience of mamas gone before, and here’s the magic number you’re looking for- protein + quick + handy. Muffins, protein bars, protein balls, no bake cookies. You want sweet but not overly sweet- just a touch. And certainly not much that could melt or otherwise muss up the hand that’s holding it, because teenage boys will suddenly notice dirt. Also a surprise from the formerly totally happy to live in a mud puddle set.  I take a page out of Elise’s book, though I most often am going through this same routine in the evening after everyone is tucked in.

Here’s what I make on a weekly basis (or a daily basis, depending on growth spurts! HA):

Some version of granola (We really like this Pumpkin Spice Granola in the Fall)

No Bake Cookies (We make ours from GF oatmeal, and not quite so much sugar as is called for in most recipes)

Elise’s Crackers

Muffins

Elise’s Peanut Butter Bites/Flax Balls

Popcorn

What are your favorite go-to snacks?

One Comment

  • hannah e vazquez

    Things we’ve been snacking on lately are hard boiled eggs, nuts and raisins, smoothies, and apples with peanut butter. Not always clean, but they work for us right now! I find snacks are very important to having cooperative attitudes! 🙂

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