Keeping the Kids Occupied and Healthy

The kids have been home from school for less than one day and already we are trying to home-school, manage screen time, referee arguments and feed them! When they go off to school each day the lunches are made, snacks are timed, and they just return each afternoon a little more educated and ready for dinner. Today was a BIG wake up call for me! Not only am I needing to keep the kids occupied but I have to feed them too!!

It was only 9 am when the hungry’s kicked in the first time. Snacks all around! Then lunch, then snack again, now we’re gearing up for dinner. I quickly realized that we are not just going to have a dinner meal plan we will need easy snack choices that the girls can get themselves. If I am going to be able to continue to work from home, I will need them to be a little bit more self-sufficient. For me, that means a little more prep time. For some, it might mean gearing up with a few extra premade snack options.

First and foremost, I want to continue to support our healthy immune systems. I know we will be distancing ourselves, but we want to remain vigilant. Low sugar, no sugar is key. Too much of the sweet stuff and it’s much harder for your immune system to do its work. If I want to prep, this means batch cooking. What can I batch cook or prep that’s low in sugar and highly nutritious plus quick and easy to grab? Why my famous cookies of course!

Cookies? Healthy cookies? I prefer to call these “righteous cookies”, but yes, cookies, what kid doesn’t love cookies? Here’s the thing, I pack in high fiber ingredients, keep the sugar as low as possible, add in a few dark chocolate chips (because, let’s be honest, not very many people like cookies without chocolate chips) and there you have it! Fun, delicious and easy to grab.

Recipe

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Nutty GF Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter

• 1 cup coconut palm sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1⁄2 tsp salt

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1 cup GF flour (I actually use almond flour)

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1⁄2 tsp nutmeg

• 3⁄4 cup ground flax

• 1⁄2 cup chia seeds

• 1⁄2 cup hemp hearts

• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

• 2-1/2 cups oatmeal

• 1 cup of chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325F

2. In a large bowl (stand mixer works best), cream together butter, sugar, eggs, salt, vanilla.

3. Combine GF flour, oatmeal, baking soda, baking powder, flax, chia, nuts, and hemp hearts. Mix into butter mixture to combine.

4. Add oatmeal to the mixture.

5. Fold in chocolate chips.

6. Use a spoon to drop onto greased cookie sheets in golf-ball sizes.

7. Bake 11 -12 minutes, leave on sheet to cool 2 minutes, transfer to cooling rack.

Some other choices for snacks that are super easy can be prepped ahead of time are:

1. Veggies and hummus. I even get my kids to help prep the veggies! They peel carrots and chop up peppers as a family contribution. Life skills!

2. We love apples and almond butter. They can chop the apples and spread on the almond butter.

3. We have begun sprouting seeds. This is an easy fun project for the kids and it’s like feeding them little multivitamins! We take the sprouted greens wrap them in turkey slices!  Or just snack on the sprouts themselves. You can get loads of different seeds to try different flavors and once they are sprouted you can easily store them in the fridge, if they last that long.

4. Crackers and Cheese. If you are a family that can tolerate dairy, this is easy. If your family can’t do dairy, don’t fret! There are plenty of options and one of my absolute favorites is cashew cheese! It’s even possible to make it at home! Spread this on cucumber slices or crackers of choice and it makes for a great afternoon snack!

5. Healthy muffins. I have a few awesome muffin recipes that pack a healthy punch for snack time. If you are interested in the recipes let me know and I will gladly send you some options!

Do you want to know more? Are you struggling with more than just snacks? Would you like some support with meal ideas and weekly meal plans? Let’s chat about how holistic nutrition consulting and health coaching can help you organize your life and make things simpler. I can provide recipes, meal and snack ideas and support changes to transform your health! Schedule an initial complimentary consultation with me today—or pass this offer on to someone you care about! Visit www.noshoesnutrition.com and sign up for a FREE consultation.  I work with individuals from all over the world individually or in groups so don’t let anything hold you back!