I always loved back to school time as a kid. The smell of new pencils and erasers, the vibrant selections of notebooks and the curiosity and excitement of learning something new are memories and senses I still enjoy reflecting on. As a mother I get to relive it all, but better yet with my kids!

There is one draw back to this time of year, that is BUSYNESS.

I thought this back to school round up would be a great help in planning this season to come.

Healthy back to school snacks are a must to keeping our kids growing, learning and performing in their life with the utmost success. I admit as a mom and Dietitian it can be a challenge.

To simplify this I am excited to share a healthy snack recipe roundup.

Blueberry Bran Muffins

Veggie Egg Rolls 

Homemade Granola

Homemade Hummus

Tropical Pinwheels

Veggies with Dill Dip

Citrus Fruit Dip with Berry and Banana Kabobs

Health Smoothie

Cheese and Fruit Kabobs

Mini Mozzarella Pizza 

Healthy eating can be simple and fun! With all the ideas I gave you, you will be prepared for back to school time. 

Here are a few other simple ideas to spend quality time with your kids or “dates” like me and my little ones like to call it:

• Visit your local library. My kids love loading up on books they get to pick. Best yet, it is FREE!
• Take time out to play sports outside WITH your kids. That extra time and attention is something you both with soak in.
• Get creative together. Keep it simple bring out the markers, crayons, paints and paper and “freestyle”.
• Get outside. Make up a game, scavenger hunt, or late season gardening.
• Pretend with them. If your kids are still young enough for this, this is something cherish with my kids.
• Dance party. The kids and I love to put on music and dance and be silly together. Another simple way to savor each other, laugh, de-stress and wear out the little ones.
• Go to the park. Be present at the playground with your kids or at minimum put down your mobile device and watch them as they play and laugh.
• Movie night. Check out this new movie as a family. It is fun to experience something new together,
• Snack together. Eat these healthy snacks i mentioned to you TOGETHER. Encourage your kids to reflect on their day with you and just TUNE IN and LISTEN.

There you have it friends, 20 Back to School Snacks and Activities that make eating healthy fun, simple and delicious. Dovidenia. XO

PS- Here is a BONUS 15 more activity ideas!

The post 20 Back to School Snacks and Activities appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

Life has been crazy this last week. I would like to say I have everything in order all the time but the reality is there seems to always come a week every month or so where I feel I am just treading water. This week has been one of THOSE weeks. You know the ones that make you want to finish your day off with sprinkled donuts because the sugar seems to offer just the right sedation needed to alleviate stress. Well, I have found a healthier way to indulge on the go and I am excited to share!

As a mom, busy entrepreneur and Dietitian I know self care is key to survival of the fittest in this world called “mom-life”. 

Classroom parties, treats I nearly forget, homework to help children complete, doctors appointments, crafts to make at the moment of sunrise for children’s school contests, TAXES (Lord help me!), “wifery”, teaching art classes (my bliss) and sharing products I love are just a few of life’s gifts and duties this week. Have you ever had a week like that? You know, the type that make you feel like you are crawling across the finish line, knees scuffed up, hair a mess with traces of last nights sweet treat on your breath. I am laughing out loud as I type this just realizing how much I do this to myself. I am the force behind my own hot mess self!

Saying “no” to things and reviewing my schedule is for another blog post in the future. Today I reflect on the beauty of indulgence foods and saying yes. There is nothing wrong with finding something you enjoy to eat at the end of  a long day or to offer as a snack on the go. I found VitaTops new product MuffinTops! They are savory and delicious and offer a sense of the treat you crave but without all the things YOU KNOW you don’t need. These yummy puppies are full of vitamins, higher in protein and fiber and around 100 calories per treat. My kids would not keep their hands off of them either!

I found this product to be perfect for a quick breakfast with milk for my kids. I just tossed them in the toaster and in minutes there were ready for munching! They also are perfect for that late night sweet tooth craving. I find these perfect because they are just the right amount of sweetness.

It is so easy to find yourself in the pendulum of excessive high calorie indulgence and other times dietary restriction. To avoid this its important to allow indulgence in your diet. It allows you you to stick closer to your healthy dietary intentions. With how on the go life is for us moms WE DO NOT have time for poor self care and destructive eating habits. With VitaTops you can get a treat in moderation that also offers a multitude of vitamins. Killing two birds with one stone is efficient and I LOVE EFFICIENCY!

A few other healthy ways to indulge on the go:

• Strawberries with dark chocolate or cocoa chips
• frozen grapes
• fruit parfaits’
• no bake protein cookie balls
• frozen banana rolled in smooth peanut butter in chocolate chips

Find your VitaTops in the freezer section and breakfast/frozen entree aisle at your local Target, Publix, Stop & Shop, Shop-Rite or Kroger. Will you try these out and share what you thought with me? I think you will enjoy them as a healthy treat. You can use this coupon when you go to save $1!

Dovidenia. Xo

When your stomach craves a treat and your mind reasons a few vitamins, a satisfying compromise can be made with VitaTops!

The post Healthy Ways to Indulge On The Go appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

As a busy mother (aren’t we all) I want quick and easy snacks to feed my children. I also want tasty and above all healthy snacks. I want a snack that will keep them going, but not fill them up so much that there won’t be room for my tasty healthy dinner.

It’s a great idea to stop thinking of snacks as “snacks”. The word “snack” conjures up images of chips, cookies and cakes. A better idea is to think of a snack as a “mini meal”.

In the same way that a meal offers different food groups, grains, veggies, protein and fats, we can offer different food groups in a snack too.

Offer Different Food Groups

For example, greek yogurt and dried fruit, a sandwich with some cheese and tomato, some cookies and cut up fruit. By giving them a bit of each food group, you’re making your snack more healthy and it will probably keep them full for longer. A small amount of fat is a great way to keep them full up.

Offer Lots of Fruit and Vegetables

Another great tip is to always offer your children fruit or vegetables. You might think that if you offer them a biscuit and some cup up pear, that they’ll just eat the biscuit and leave the pear. Actually, sometimes it’s the other way around. When children are in the habit of eating healthy food, they enjoy it and choose it.

Children don’t make the distinction of “healthy” or “not healthy”, they choose the food they like and often that is fruit (especially if it’s good quality, sweet fruit).

My Favorite Healthy Snacks for Kids

Here are some of my “go-to”, really easy snack that you can grab out of the cupboard. They are quick too, the most you have to do is cut up a piece of fruit.

• Nuts and Dried Fruit. Little pots of nuts, seeds and dried fruit. Look for products that don’t have sugar or salt added. I buy separate bags and empty all the different types into a big pot. It’s great fun and the kids love it.
• Yogurt. Plain yogurt is the best, with no added sugar. It’s surprising how much sugar is added to flavored yogurts. Generally for children who are eating a healthy diet I recommend full fat yoghurt. (If your child has weight issues, you may like to talk to your doctor about using low fat products.) I give my children half a pot (50 mls) of yoghurt as a full pot is a large portion. We like to mix our yogurt with lots of different things, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, fruit puree, fresh fruit. One of our favorites is to mix a little vanilla essence or cinnamon into the yogurt and have a sliced apple or pear.
• Toast. Toast can make a really nutritious snack, especially if you use homemade wholegrain bread. Think of the topping and try to avoid high sugar or salty products. A mashed up banana is full of natural sugars. Or a nut butter (look at the label to see what it has, some are very healthy and others have lots of added salt) but the nut itself is full of great, natural fats that will keep little tummies full until meal time.
• Cut up Fruit. So easy and the kids love it. If you like, you can serve it with a cookie or two (depending on the size of the cookie.) Often my children will eat fruit just by itself. Easy and healthy!
• Hummus and Vegetable Sticks. This is another family favourite. Hummus is made from chickpeas and is really easy to make. Chickpeas are a great source of fibre and of protein. Hummus keeps in the fridge for a few days too. I always make double quantities, half to eat now, half to save in the fridge for later. Hummus and vegetable sticks makes a fun and healthy snack.

If your children eat healthy snacks through out the day, you won’t be so worried about them eating their vegetables at dinner time.

Offering your children healthy snacks is one of the keys to helping them eat a healthy diet. And once you’re in the habit of healthy snacks, it’s really easy.

Written by: Dr Orlena Kerek

If you would like to know more about offering your children healthy snacks she has a Snack Guide to help you!

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