Once the hustle and bustle of back to school begins, you’ll be wanting to have snacks at the ready for those hungry kiddos when they return home. A few on this list can pull double duty – they are appropriate for both busy mornings, and afternoon pick-me-ups:
Back To School Granola Bars
A healthy, homemade snack to toss into kids' backpacks or take on a hike, these granola bars are simple to make and easy to customize. My family opts for the classic peanut / chocolate chip combo but see below for variations that suit you. Also, feel free to sub out the butter for coconut oil if you'd like to go vegan.
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Healthy Banana Almond Butter Snack Bars
Adapted from Kalefornia KravingsThese banana bars are a more healthful addition to your daily routine. Made with almond butter, whole wheat flour, bananas, and the less-refined, coconut sugar, you can feel good about snacking on these treats and tucking them into your kids' lunchboxes. I also thoroughly enjoy them warmed with a little vanilla ice cream, but that's up to you.
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Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookie Frappe
Order a frappé at a cafe and most likely they will blend in coffee, but really a frappé can be any sort of partially frozen beverage. My frappé is cool and frothy; a luscious glassful of almond milk, oats, walnuts, cinnamon and honey that you can enjoy any time of day. Only 6 ingredients, incredibly healthful, deliciously addictive, and reminiscent of one of the best kinds of cookies… cinnamon oatmeal.
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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies
Your search is over for healthy and portable breakfast treat, or mid-morning snack, that tastes great, too. These gluten-free "cookies" are quick to put together and can be made with any add-ins you prefer. I like dates and walnuts, but raisins or dried cranberries could be subbed, and any nut you happen to have on hand.
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Coconut Yogurt Mango Smoothie
A quick and satisfying morning smoothie, reminiscent of a laasi – an Indian drink made from yogurt and mangoes. I call for a coconut flavored dairy yogurt, but a coconut milk-based yogurt is a fine substitution if you prefer to go dairy free.
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Pumpkin Snacking Bars
Adapted from Martha StewartMartha's pumpkin squares are good, but mine pack something extra – almost twice the pumpkin. Admittedly, it was an accident the first time I made them this way, but I haven't looked back. They are moist, with the perfect amount of sweetness. I've also dialed in the spices exactly as I want them, though feel free to adjust the spice measurements according to your preferences. Perfectly delicious on their own, a drizzle of sweetened cream cheese across the top makes them extra special.
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Carrot, Apple & Date Morning Muffins
I'm very proud of these muffins, as this was one of my earliest baking recipes, and I do have to say they are quite delicious. When you are looking for a healthy breakfast or snack, that still feels like an indulgence, bake these. They are full of good-for-you ingredients like almond flour, whole wheat flour, walnuts, coconut oil, and of course the carrots and apples. I like to grate the carrots on the small holes of a box grater, which requires a bit more elbow grease, but it's worth it to get the right texture. The apples, on the other hand, you'll want to grate on the larger holes, lest they turn into something more akin to apple sauce, and will make the muffins overly moist.
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Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Maple Muffins
Adapted from Alison RomanEver since being inspired by Alison's recipe that she shares on the New York Times, no other pumpkin muffin will do. Often times, I pour the batter into a large loaf pan and make pumpkin bread out of it, which will take around one hour's time to bake. The maple syrup and browned butter yield an incredible moistness and give it so much flavor, and the spice combination is just right.
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