Life these days can feel like it is always on-the-go, particularly during the whirlwind of back-to-school activities, juggling the schedule of daily life to fit in a Yoga practice, negotiating the demands of family and self as well as maybe getting ready to travel to a festival, fairground or picnic site. Setting up a healthy array of snack-worthy staples to have on hand in the kitchen can make it easier to prepare easy snacks, lunches or side dishes. Enlist the help of the kids for a more enriching experience and try these suggestions for nutrient-rich, delicious and easy-to-make foods.
| Have on Hand | ||
| In the Pantry | In the Fridge or Fruit Bowl | |
| Almond butter, smooth | Greek yogurt – plain (or non- dairy yogurt) | Avocado* |
| Honey or agave nectar | Bananas* | Sweet potatoes* |
| Almond milk* or rice milk | Pears* | Carrots* |
| Olive oil | Strawberries* | Medjool dates* |
| Salsa | Peaches* | Other favorite seasonal fruit* |
| Sea salt, fine | Dino kale* | |
| Granola* | *Choose organic | |
Dreamy Dip = Greek yogurt + almond butter + honey
- Whip together Greek yogurt, nut butter and a bit of honey
- Serve with sliced pears, apples, or Clementine oranges.
Funky Fries = sweet potatoes + a drizzle of olive oil + a sprinkle of salt
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Cut sweet potatoes into french fry shapes.
- Place olive oil and potato slices in a bowl and toss well.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown and tender.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with salt, allow to cool.
Amazing Avocado = 1 avocado + 1/2 cup salsa
- Cut up avocado and mix with your favorite salsa until it is your desired consistency.
- Serve with your favorite cut up vegetables.
Simple Smoothie = 1 cup of almond milk + 1 peach (pealed and pitted) + squirt of agave or honey
- Put altogether in blender and mix until smooth. Substitute peach for: 1 cup de-stemmed strawberries.
Boardwalk Banana = 1 banana + 1 tablespoon nut butter + 1/4 cup granola
- Coat a banana in your favorite nut butter and roll in nuts and/or granola.
- Place in freezer wrapped in wax paper until frozen
Cozy Dates = Medjool Date + Walnut
- Split open a medjool date lengthwise.
- Push out pit.
- Put walnut inside.
Calvin’s Kale Chips = 1 bunch dino (Lacinato) kale + extra virgin olive oil + sea salt (My friend Amy’s recipe that kids devour as if they were nachos.)
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Wash the dino kale in a large bowl of water, lift out and squeeze dry in clean kitchen towel.
- With a knife, remove the tough stem from each leaf by slicing down each side of the stem; discard the stem.
- Tear leaves into pieces and put in large bowl.
- Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, toss with your hands then put on cookie sheet pan.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until crispy.
Alison Bailey Vercruysse is the founder and CEO of 18 Rabbits: Simple Authentic Granola and Bars. At 18 Rabbits, the team believes in bringing food back to its roots with items from the pantry. Moms tell Alison that when they don’t have time to make their own granola bars, they buy 18 Rabbits: 18rabbits.com.
By Alison Bailey Vercruysse
