It’s almost that time again – back to school! And although many of us are more than ready for our little darlings to head back to class, we aren’t super excited about packing lunches every day. Or is that just me (**I doubt it!**)?
This post was written in partnership with my friends at Made with Local. As always, all opinions are genuinely my own 🙂
Lunch packing needs to be simple and quick–especially when you’re packing multiple lunches like me this year. Forget the perfect Pinterest-worthy lunches that you can only sustain for about a week (until you give up).
Who has time for that anyways?
For me, finding nutritious and easy lunchbox options is key–especially ones that my kids actually want to eat–so I’m always on the lookout for products that I can feel good about, with real, nutrient-dense ingredients and not too much added sugar or any funny ingredients.
When I discovered Made with Local’s Real Food Bars, I was thrilled both as a busy mom and dietitian, because these bars are not only delicious, but also have a really nutritious and simple ingredient list (rarely is there a boxed packaged snack bar that I approve of you guys!!).
And the best part is that they have a Real Food Bar Mix, which you can use to make your own school-safe bars (see recipe # 3 below), or other tasty snacks (recipes #1 and #2).
I love that this mix is made with local Canadian ingredients like organic oats, seeds, and dried fruit And contains NO additives, preservatives or funny ingredients. What I love about this company too is that every bag of Real Food Bar Mix is made by a local social enterprise (right in Nova Scotia!) they’ve partnered with, that supports and employs people with disabilities.
My kids and I made these three recipes together (ok, they pretty much did everything) and we enjoyed them so much that we wanted to share the love.
Choco-Chia Protein Bites
Kids will love these little snack bites. Chia seeds add healthy fats and fiber for staying power!
Ingredients
- 1 bag Real Food Bar Mix (choose your favourite variety)
- 1/4 cup protein powder of choice
- 1/3 cup ground chia seeds (I used part ground, part whole)
- 1/4 cup flaked coconut
- 1/4 cup ground flax seed
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3/4 cup nut or seed butter of choice
- 1 tsp vanilla
- pinch of salt
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips, melted
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and blend well. Roll into balls and place on a cookie sheet. Cover in plastic wrap and chill for 4 hours - store in fridge for up to one week.
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Flourless Apple, Oat Cinnamon Breakfast Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 package Real Food Bar Mix
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- dash of salt
- 2 eggs
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 1/4 cup milk (your favourite kind)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 apples, grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F and grease 2 muffin tins.
- In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork. Add eggs, vanilla, brown sugar and milk and blend well (we used a fork).
- Melt coconut oil in the microwave and allow to cool a little bit. Add it into the mixture and stir until well blended.
- Add dry ingredients (real food bar mix, BP, salt) to the wet mixture and blend well. Add chopped apple and stir a little more.
- Fill muffin tins 2/3 cup full and bake at 375 F for 22-25 minutes.
- Allow to cool and enjoy!
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Real Food Bar Mix Bars (as indicated on package)
Ingredients
- Real Food Bar Mix
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/2 cup nut or seed butter of choice
Instructions
- Grease or line an 8 X 8 baking pan and preheat your oven to 325 F
- Combine ingredients well, pour your mix into the baking pan, and press down with a spatula.
- Place your bars into the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.
- Bake for 10-12 m until edges lightly browned
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These recipes look interesting. Can the protein powder be left out of the first recipe?
Yes it can! I would just add a little more ground flax or chia 🙂
Love these ideas. This is my first year packing lunches for my learning eater. He and his sister love making snacks with me we would love to try Real Food Bar Mix in our home to make things easy with a newborn in arms! # MwLBarMixcontest
Good morning Sarah. I really like the segment about lunch kits and I always have a hard time finding a good one. The recipes look great also!
Glad you enjoyed it!
#MwLBarMixcontest
Pick me please!!
I would love to try this !! Can you let me know where I can buy this ? #MwLBarMixcontest
#MwLBarMixcontest These look so yummy!
Excited about trying these inspiring recipes. Thanks so much!
These recipes look good!
#MwLBarMixcontest
These all look so yummy!!! Thank you for posting the recipes! I will have to try them for my kiddies! #MwLBarMixcontest
Just bought 6 bags of the mix online – thanks for the ideas! #MxLBarMixcontest
You’ll love them!!
Me! Me! I used to do so much baking and now I just don’t have the time. This would make baking healthy school snacks so easy!! In case I don’t win….. where can I buy it?
You can order online at madewithlocal.com!
These recipes look great, thanks! #MwLBarMixcontest
This is such a good recipe, of course I tweaked it a bit with the added ingredients. Some days dried cranberries, or cherries, raisins, sunflower seeds… Etc.
I just love that this is the kind of home made snack that blows away the ADDITIVE FULL BARS punched at consumers as “healtbh” when really, they are as nuclear as a TWINKLE.
Most Soft bars commercially marketed have toxic ingredients that keep them soft.
I love baking and breathing for my grand girls and they LOVE WHAT GRAMMA FINDS TO MAKE IN THE INTERNET, sheltering thwn from GMO foods and toxic chemical additives.
Love your recipe, BRAVO!!!
JADE
Sound yummy #MwLBarMixcontest
Sounds great! I’d love to try this #MwLBarMixcontest
Can’t wait to try ALL of these. We already LOVE the Made With Local products. Definitely a Win Win!! #MwLBarMixcontest
First year packing lunches over here! My daughter was a picky eater but she is doing soooo good at trying new foods! She now enjoys seeds, which is a new food to her! I am having a hard time finding granola bars she likes, so this mix might do the trick!
So far, she has enjoyed fresh fruit crackers and cheese in her lunch box (snacks only for now!).
Thanks! 🙂
#MwLBarMixContest
I have a bag of this mix in my cupboard right now! My little one is heading to school for the first time on Wednesday, so tomorrow, we’ll make these for the first day. She’s also picked out a laughing cow cheese and some cucumber slices to take with her. #MwLBarMixcontest What a great contest, and thanks for the tips!
You’re very welcome!
This is such a best recipe. However, I added walnuts to increase the amount of protein and fat for my son’s lunch.
wow thanks for sharing this with us.