Jessie Cozzens| 04 May, 2020

Hello to all our Sparklers! We have been wanting to reach out to all of you and see how everyone is doing and surviving during this time. We hope homeschool, work, and routines have been going okay for you all. It's certainly not easy for us and I have developed a new appreciation for teachers!! 🙌

I'm sure I am not the only one whose family has been going nuts on the food and snacking. I swear my kids will literally be done with breakfast and ask for a "little snack." 🤦‍♀️ Haha. I saw a meme the other day and it said, "I don't know how my child has managed getting through the school day without 47 snacks." Isn't that the truth?!😂

So for this blog, I wanted to share with you guys some easy and healthy snack recipes. It has made me nauseous to think about all the crap my kids have been eating! YIKES! A few weeks ago when they announced that school is out for the remainder of the year, I made a promise that I was going to keep healthier options in my house for my kids, and for myself! No more unlimited chips, cookies, or sugary drinks 24/7! 😳 So keep reading and be sure to give these a try because they were a HUGE hit in our house!

First up, I have to share my "Energy Bites" recipe. I have been making these for years but for I've been making them multiple times a week lately. They are so good and perfect for a little sweet and filling bite. These are AMAZING! Packed with protein, fiber, crunch, sweetness, but no refined sugar! WOO!! Here's what you'll need:

1 Cup- Old Fashioned Oats

2/3 Cup- Unsweetened Coconut (I like to use coconut chips)

1/2 Cup- Nut Butter (I use natural peanut butter)

1/2 Cup- Ground Flax Seed

1/2 Cup- Dark Chocolate Chips

1/3 Cup- Honey

1 Tsp- Vanilla

1 Tbls- Chia Seeds (Optional)

Stir everything together in a large bowl until well combined. Cover and chill in fridge for 30 minutes so they will stay together easier when you make the balls. Roll mixture into 1 inch balls. I make ours pretty small. I like the "one-biter" aspect so they don't make a mess because that's what my kids do.. 😆 Keep in a large Ziplock or airtight container and they'll last all week! My kids will eat about three for a snack. Same goes for me. They really do curve a sweet tooth and are pretty filling with the oats and peanut butter so they're a win in my book! 😋

Next up, I'll share this Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin recipe. These are gluten free which is a great option. White flour isn't necessarily bad for you, but there are healthier options. So, here's the recipe:

1/2 Cup- Coconut or Almond Flour (I prefer almond)

1 Tbls- Poppy Seeds

1/2 Tsp- Baking Soda

1/2 Tsp- Baking Powder

1/3 Cup- Coconut Oil, Melted

1/4 Cup- Honey

1/4 Tsp- Salt

2 Tbls- Lemon Zest

Juice of 1 Large Lemon

3 Eggs

1/2 Cup- Almond Milk

Preheat oven to 325. 

In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, poppy seeds, and lemon zest.

In a separate bowl, combine the lemon juice, coconut oil, honey, almond milk, eggs. Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature so the coconut oil doesn't harden.

Combine the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well. Pour the batter into greased muffin tins and bake at 325 for 20-25 minutes. 

These are so yummy and I love the burst of lemon! My kiddos inhaled these and didn't even know they weren't full of sugar!🍋

Lastly, let's talk drinks. I try not to buy juices in my house. I feel like my kids already get enough sugar from their foods and treats so in the home, we try to stick to water. There are several local spots here in Utah that are only drink shops. Sodas mixed with all sorts of syrups, energy drinks, smoothies, etc. Tons and tons of options!! My girls of course, love a sugary drink from time to time. But they also have "Fruit Water."

I decided to create my own at home for my girls. That way, they feel like they're getting a "Fancy" drink, but no refined sugar or chemicals! These are so fun to dress up for a midday pick me up! Super fun if you have a wine glass or something to serve it in. I just throw in the fruit I have in the house with some ice water. You can add a little natural sweetener with Stevia but we don’t think you need it. Put some fruit on a toothpick for a little mocktail vibe and they love it!🍸

For some other ideas; copycat Balboa Bars. If you've been on Balboa Island in California, hopefully you've been able to try one. But it's basically a frozen banana dipped in chocolate with any topping you can imagine. They're so delicious. So what I have done, is put halved bananas on popsicle sticks, dip in melted dark chocolate, then let your kids top them with sprinkles, chopped nuts, etc. Lay them on a plate with parchment paper and freeze until solid. After 45 minutes to an hour, they have an awesome frozen treat!🍌

Another great idea is frozen grapes. Sounds odd but I'm telling you, they taste like frozen candy. Simple but just a new idea to switch up the fruit.🍇

I certainly hope this gives you all a couple of ideas for the next little while to get through the school year and summer. As scary and unnerving as this pandemic has been, we really are all in this together and the entire world is dealing with it. It has been so amazing to see our country, state, city, neighborhood, come together to support local businesses, spend more time as a family, etc. Let's keep at it, you guys! Listen to your state leaders with what they recommend for your state and support local business when you can. SIP is in full swing and working hard to get all your orders out quickly. We love you all and we hope you have a great day!! ❤️❤️

Love,

Jessie, Blogger for SIP