Want an easy and fun meal or snack idea that both parents and kids alike are guaranteed to love? Try making these nutritious snack boards!
This post was written in partnership with my friends at Made with Local! All opinions are my own.
We are ALL about snack boards these days because you really can’t go wrong! They’re easy, fun, colourful, and nutritious. What parent doesn’t love just throwing a bunch of snack items onto a board or into muffin tins and calling it a meal?! This dietitian mom is a HUGE fan!
Here’s why I’m such a huge fan of snack boards:
They are super fun for kids to eat: Kids love snacks (a lot – we all know this!), so why not make a meal out of snacks?! Kids love to pick and choose from platters and compartments, so using muffin tins, egg cartons, containers or a bento box, or even just a cutting board to organize a bunch of yummy snacks on is a super fun meal idea that can be nutritious too!
They’re nutritious and balanced:
You don’t have to compromise nutrition just because you’re serving snack items. Think nutritious finger foods: berries, cheese cubes, leftover cut-up meat, crackers, veggie sticks and dip, homemade mini muffins or energy bites… all nutritious (mind you, there’s no problem adding some treats in there too!). I’m not talking packages, processed snack foods here, I’m talking a variety of nutritious finger foods that you create a meal out of!
They’re great for picky eaters:
Have you ever noticed that you eat more at a buffet or when you’re at a potluck dinner? Most of us do! It’s because there’s more variety! The more variety and the more choices you have, the more you tend to eat. So if you’ve got a selective or picky eater on your hands, and you’re looking to entice them to eat more without pressuring them, this is a great way! Need more tips for picky eating? Check this out.
They help to decrease food waste:
I find that I make snack boards when I’m trying to use up foods from the fridge and pantry that may be wasted – the last of the berries or the ends of the cheese brick or leftover cooked meat that might spoil if not used up etc. – it’s a great excuse to clean out your fridge!
They’re simple, easy and fast:
These take a few minutes to throw together and don’t require much brain power at all. SO. EASY! When you’re busy juggling your kiddos, work and household tasks, this is simply the best meal idea.
You can eat them pretty much anywhere!
Is it a nice day outside? Serve a snack platter on a blanket and call it a picnic! On a road trip? Give each of your kids empty egg cartons filled with snack foods and watch their eyes light up when they open them up!
What to include in snack boards:
To make a snack board meal-worthy you need at least 6 items:
- 2 protein-rich choices
- 2 whole grains
- 2 fruits
- 2 veggies
This will give your kids enough variety nutrition-wise that they’ll have a balanced meal. Try to include at least one food that each child accepts and likes too, but don’t avoid serving new or previously rejected foods as well – you never know when kids will be brave and try something that they haven’t before!
Some of our fave snack board items are:
- Berries
- cheese
- trail mix
- whole grain crackers
- cut up veggies and dip
- roasted chickpeas or lentils
- nuts and seeds
- homemade cookies
- mini muffins and or energy balls (more on this later!)
- and sliced Made With Local Real food Bars (which brings me to some exciting news!)
Our friends at Made With Local are launching their new Peanut Butter Brownie bar NATIONALLY with Real Canadian Superstore at the end of June (until then, order online at madewithlocal.com and use the code Sarah20 to receive 20% off your order!). This is our favourite new bar (featured in our muffin tin snack board). As a dietitian I love that they’re packed full of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, and as a mom I love that my kids devour them. Win win!
Here are some of our favourite muffin and energy ball recipes if you’re looking for some to add to your snack boards:
- One-Bowl Whole Grain Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Flourless Chocolate Lentil Protein Muffins
- No-Bake Coconut Almond Energy Bites
- Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Energy Bites
- Flourless Peanut Butter and Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Easy Gluten-Free Blueberry Lemon Muffins
Have you made snack board meals for your kids? If not, do you think you will now?!
![CLOSED *GIVEAWAY*
[AD] Even this dietitian Mom is guilty of getting caught up in the busy morning school rush and totally missing breakfast. (🙋♀️) Once the kids are off, it’s straight to coffee and work until I realize I’m starving.
Everyone’s breakfast routine is different, but it’s important to honor your hunger and take the time to sit down and eat in the morning - seems simple, doesn’t it?! But it can feel overwhelming when you’re juggling a million tasks and to-dos–I get it!
To make your life easier, I’ve partnered with @naturesbakery to share some easy go-to breakfasts:
1. Breakfast Snack Plate: Grab a hardboiled egg, fruit, cheese cubes, and a Nature’s Bakery Bar—perfect for mornings on the go. 🥚🧀
2. 3-Ingredient Pancakes: You can find the recipe on my blog! I add dairy-free yogurt, chopped fruit and fig bars and enjoy!
3. Breakfast Bowl: Layer yogurt with granola, chopped Nature’s Bakery fig bars, chia seeds, and your favorite fruit. So filling and delicious! 🍓🥣
4. Smoothie + Fig Bar: Toss fruit, veggies, and yogurt (or non-dairy alternative) into a blender, and pair it with a Nature’s Bakery bar for a balanced breakfast. 🍓🥬
5. Overnight Banana Chia Oats (my fave!): Prep oats, chia seeds, and oatmilk the night before. In the morning, add chopped fig bars and fresh berries. Great grab-and-go option! 🍒🥛
Recipe for overnight banana chia oats:
To a glass/mason jar or container add:
* ½ cup rolled oats
* 1 tbsp chia seeds
* ½ ripe banana mashed
* 1 cup of oat or almond milk
Cover and store in the fridge overnight and enjoy with some cut up fruit, chopped up Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars and cinnamon!
For a chance to win a month’s worth of Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars, here’s how to enter:
1. Like + save this post
2. Follow @naturesbakery and @sarahremmer
3. Comment below tagging 1 friend per comment (no limit entry)
4. Bonus + 10 entries: share this post to your IG stories tagging both @sarahremmer and @Naturesbakery
Good luck!! Contest closes at 11:59pm MST September 23rd, 2024.](https://www.sarahremmer.com/wp-content/uploads/sb-instagram-feed-images/460549247_331678436633783_4952507500425988441_nfull.webp)
![[AD] Who else loves a quick, one-pot meal for the busy back-to-school season? 🙋♀️
As a dietitian and mom, I’m all about recipes that are quick, affordable, nourishing, and of course, delicious. That’s why I’ve teamed up with my friends at L’Ancêtre Cheese to bring you my Homemade One-Pot Hamburger Helper—perfect for weeknight dinners and makes awesome leftovers for lunchboxes too!
What I love most? You can toss everything—beef, pasta, veggies—into one pot, saving time and dishes! Plus, @ancetrecheese , made locally here in Canada from pasture-fed cows, adds that perfect cheesy touch. It’s organic, sustainably produced, and absolutely delicious. 🧀
What you need:
* 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
* 4 cups uncooked whole grain, regular or gluten-free pasta noodles (like rotini or macaroni)
* ½ yellow onion, diced
* 2 cups veggies of choice, diced (eg. mushrooms, bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower etc.)
* 1 cup frozen peas
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 tsp pepper
* 1.5 cups milk of choice
* 1.5 cups chicken broth
* 1-680 mL jar tomato pasta sauce
* 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
* Tsp red pepper flakes
* 3 cups L’Ancêtre’s Marbled Mild Cheddar
Put it all together:
1. Cook beef in a large pot over medium-high heat until browned, then drain. Add onion, garlic, red pepper, mushrooms, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper; cook until veggies are tender-crisp.
2. Mix in milk, broth, tomato sauce, and uncooked macaroni. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook for 15-18 minutes, stirring often. Adjust liquid as needed.
3. Remove from heat, stir in frozen peas and 1 cup of cheese until melted. Transfer to a casserole dish, sprinkle with remaining cheese, and bake at 375°F for 5-10 minutes until golden. Cool before serving.
Make sure to pick up L’Ancêtre cheese (either a family-sized block or pre-shredded) at a local retailer near you! Visit https://www.fromagerieancetre.com/en/cheeses/ to find out more!
#Ad #Partner #BackToSchool #LunchboxIdeas #OrganicCheese #FamilyMeals #LAncetreCheese](https://www.sarahremmer.com/wp-content/uploads/sb-instagram-feed-images/459558167_1543212989903442_998663133378052381_nfull.webp)
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