June Snack Ideas

Apple Sandwich
Who ever heard of an apple sandwich? Try this for something different.
What you need:
1 apple
Peanut butter, cream cheese, or cheddar cheese spread
Dull knife for spreading
What to do:
Slice apple across, making six to eight slices
Spread peanut butter or cheese spread on one slice, then top with a second slice to make a sandwich.
*Please note: Infants and young children can choke easily on some foods, such as nuts, popcorn, fruit seeds or pits, pieces of hot dogs or bacon, and some raw vegetables and fruits, such as carrots, celery, apples, and grapes. Using grated or finely chopped foods may reduce the risk of choking. Never leave an infant or young child alone while eating.
Fruit 'n Cream Pie
This yummy concoction is full of good things to eat.
What you need:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup margarine or butter - softened
1 to 2 cups fresh fruit – strawberries, blueberries, peaches, etc.
2 eight ounce containers of flavored yogurt
Bowl, spoon, pie pan
What to do:
Mix graham cracker crumbs and softened margarine or butter in bowl.
Press the crumb mixture into a pie pan.
Place the fruit on the crust in the pan.
Pour yogurt over the fruit in to pie pan.
Place in freezer for at least an hour until yogurt is firm.
When ready to serve, cut slices, and allow to thaw for a bit until ready to eat.

Pick-and-Choose Popcorn — Add some variety when making popcorn for family snacks.
*Caution: Be aware that infants and young children can choke easily on some foods, such as nuts, popcorn, fruit seeds or pits, pieces of hot dogs or bacon, and some raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. Using grated or finely chopped foods may reduce the risk of choking.
What you need:
4 to 6 cups popcorn (about 1/4 cup unpopped)
Parmesan cheese
Taco seasoning
Cheese seasoning
Margarine
Parmesan Seasoning
Stir together 2 tablespoons melted margarine with 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese. Toss with warm popped popcorn.
Taco Seasoning
Stir together 2 tablespoons melted margarine with 1 teaspoon taco seasoning mix. Toss with warm popped popcorn.
Cheese Seasoning
Stir together 2 tablespoons melted margarine with 1 tablespoon grated American cheese food. Toss with warm popped popcorn.
Taco-Cheese Popcorn
Mix some of the taco seasoning mix with the American cheese mix and toss with the warm popped popcorn.

Pudding Pops
What you need:
1 small package instant pudding mix
2 cups skim or low-fat milk
6 three-ounce size paper cups
Aluminum foil
Wooden sticks
What to do:
Prepare pudding according to directions and pour into three-ounce paper cups.
Cover each cup with a small piece of foil and put in the freezer for about 15 minutes.
Remove the cups from the freezer. Insert a wooden stick through the foil covering each cup and push to the bottom of the cup.
Return the cups to the freezer and freeze until the pudding is hard.
When ready to eat, peel off the paper cup. If necessary, run hot tap water over the cup to loosen the pop.
Makes 6 pops.
(For vanilla/chocolate pops, make both vanilla and chocolate puddings and pour equal amounts into each cup. For a marbled effect, stir gently with the end of a spoon.)
Applesauce Pops2 (16 ounce) cans of apple sauceSpoon applesauce into 5-6 oz. paper cups (1/2 cup applesauce per cup). Insert a plastic spoon for a handle. Cover and freeze until firm. To remove the pop, hold the paper cup under hot water for a few seconds. Enjoy! Makes 7 servings.Cheese Spread1 pound American cheese, cubed1/2 cup plain yogurt1/2 teaspoon pepper1/2 teaspoon chivesBlend the cheese and yogurt together in a blender until smooth. Add seasoning and mix thoroughly. Allow your children to practice spreading their own cheese spread onto bread or crackers.
Orange Milk Drink2 cups fluid milk2 cups water1 (6 ounce) can orange juice concentrate, thawed1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)Combine all ingredients together in a covered pitcher. Beat or shake the ingredients until thoroughly mixed. Serve immediately. Serves 5-6.

May Snack Ideas

Try the following cool recipes as the spring heats up into summer!Creative Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Applesauce/Raisin Peanut Butter Spread
What you need:
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup raisins
Dash of ground cinnamon
What to do:
Stir together peanut butter, applesauce, raisins, and cinnamon
Spread on crackers, bagels, or bread
Variations:
Banana Peanut Butter
Stir together 3/4 cup peanut butter with 1 chopped small banana
Crunchy Peanut Butter
Stir together 3/4 cup peanut butter with 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
Tropical Peanut Butter
Stir together 2/3 cup peanut butter, one 8 ounce can of drained crushed pineapple, and 1/4 cup coconut.
Apple Peanut Butter
Stir together 3/4 cup peanut butter, 1 chopped apple, and 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Smoothies
Peach Smoothie
Blend together one 8 ounce carton of low-fat peach yogurt with an 8 3/4 ounce can of drained peaches. Add 6 to 8 ice cubes one at a time, blending to form a slush.
Makes 3 servings.
Oreo Smoothie
Blend together 1 cup chocolate ice cream and 1/2 cup milk. Add one Oreo cookie and blend until coarsely crushed.
Makes 2 servings.
Apple Gelatin1 heaping tablespoon of unflavored gelatin2 Cups apple juice, 100% fruit juice2 teaspoons sugarDissolve gelatin in juice. Stir until dissolved. Boil gelatin mixture and stir. If you have extra fruit you could add it to the gelatin mixture at this point (canned pears, fruit cocktail, or canned peaches work well). Pour into mold or pan and refrigerate until gelled (usually takes about 3 hours). Makes 6 servings.

Cottage Cheese and Pineapple3/4 Cup crushed pineapple, canned3/4 Cup cottage cheeseDrain pineapple and combine with cottage cheese. Makes 6 servings..


Fruity Coleslaw2 Cups shredded cabbage1/2 Cup shredded carrot1/4 cup crushed pineapple, canned2 teaspoons Raisins2 Tablespoons mayonnaiseShred cabbage and carrots and drain pineapple. Combine first four ingredient and chill. Add mayonnaise, mix, and serve. Makes 6 servings.

Fruit Shake2 large bananas1/2 Cup frozen sliced strawberries1-1/2 Cups orange juiceMix all ingredients in blender until smooth. If you do not have a blender available, you can try mashing the fruit in a plastic bowl with a tight fitting lid, add juice, cover, and shake vigorously. Refrigerate until time to serve. Makes 6 servings

April Snack Ideas

What you need:
2 cups dried apricots, or banana or apple chips
1 cup Chex cereal — wheat, rice, corn
1 cup peanuts or unblanched whole almonds
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
*Caution: Young children may choke easily on some foods, such as nuts, seeds, and raw vegetables like carrots or celery sticks. Carefully watch children while they are eating these foods.
What to do:
Combine fruit, cereal, nuts, and seeds in a plastic bag.
Shake well
Store in closed bag on airtight container
Keeps up to one month
Makes 4 cups
Rocket Ship Salad
What you need:
1 large banana
1 small can of pineapple chunks
2/3 cup low-fat cottage cheese
What to do:
Peel banana, cut in half crosswise and lengthwise
Place each banana quarter with long flat side down on plate, with the point at the top
Place a pineapple chunk on each side of the banana, near the cut side, to form the base
Spoon some cottage cheese around the bottom to resemble the rocket’s exhaust
Makes 4 servings

No-Bake Cookies2 cups sugar1/2 cup margarine1/2 cup milk1/4 cup cocoa1 teaspoon vanilla3 cups oatmeal (not instant)Boil sugar, margarine, milk, and cocoa together for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add other ingredients. Drop by teaspoonfuls on waxed paper. Makes 3 dozen.Fun With FoodThe children will have a great time on April Fool's Day with this snack activity. Have the children design a portrait of themselves with their food. Give them each a peach or pear for their bodies and a hard boiled egg for their heads. Hair can be made with grated cheese, carrots, or sprouts. If you don't have much to work with, put out what you do have and ask the kids to create something themselves. You will be surprised at what they come up with!Other snack ideas for April Fool's - Serve juice in a bowl and snacks in a cup!

January Snack Ideas

Warm Winter Refresher
Have this warm drink ready for your kids when they come in from the cold.
What you need:
3 cups apple juice
1 1/2 cups unsweetened white grape juice
6 orange slices – cut in half
What to do:
Combine juices in a large saucepan and heat until warm.
Pour into cups or mugs,
Float orange slice in each.
Makes twelve four ounce servings.

Saucy Waffles
A welcome warm snack on a cold winter day!
What you need:
4 frozen waffle sections
1 cup applesauce
What to do:
Heat applesauce over medium heat to warm it up.
Toast waffles in toaster.
Spoon some applesauce over each waffle.
Enjoy a yummy snack! Serves four.
Veggie Nuggets
1 egg3 tablespoons lowfat milk3 3/4 cups crushed corn flakes cereal2 cups of vegetables — cut in chunks(i.e. carrots, broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms)
Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
Mix egg and milk well in a bowl.
Put crushed cereal in a plastic bag, dip some of the vegetables into the egg mixture, then add to the bag of cereal. Seal the bag and shake to coat the vegetables. Place the coated vegetables on a baking pan. Repeat with the remaining vegetables.
Bake the vegetables for 15 minutes. Serve warm with dip (see recipe below) or your favorite lowfat ranch-style salad dressing.

Dip for Nuggets
8 ounce can pineapple1/4 cup barbecue sauce
Blend pineapple and barbecue sauce together in blender until smooth.Pour into saucepan and heat over low heat.Serve with vegetable nuggets.Serves four.

Gingerbread People2/3 cup margarine3/4 cup baking molasses1/2 tsp. salt1 tsp. cloves1 egg1/2 tsp. baking powder2 tsp. ginger3 cups flour1/2 cup sugar1 tsp. baking soda1 tsp. cinnamonMeasure and mix margarine, sugar, egg, and molasses. Sift together baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and flour, and salt. Have children cut out cookies with a cookie cutter. Bake cookies for 10 minutes at 375 degrees.Icing: Mix confectioner's sugar and water. Add a few drops of vanilla or lemon flavoring. Can add color to icing a few drops of food coloring. Use a separate bowl for each color.Applesauce6 tart apples1-1/4 cups water3-4 tbsp. sugarCinnamonPeel, core, and slice the apples. Put them into a pan and add water. Cover and simmer until the apples are tender - about 20-30 minutes. Add sugar and cinnamon to taste. Makes 12 small servings.