Snacks With A Zing

Finding healthy snacks for little ones can be quite challenging. For me, I feel like I am always purchasing the same snacks over and over again. My daughters on-the-go snack staple is always raisins and crackers. Though it seems like she never gets tired of them, I get tired of watching her eat them.

Recently we got the opportunity to try freeze dried fruit snacks from Funky Monkey Snacks. Freeze dried fruit. What is that? It is a process in which fruit is dried by freezing. By using this process, the fruit keeps all of the nutrients and flavors unlike dried fruit or other fruit snacks. Plus, these snacks do not have any preservatives, colors, flavors, or added sugars.

At first I was a little hesitant because it just does not sound or even look all that appetizing. And everyone knows that kids only really eat things that are super delicious! Despite my concern, we ate them, and ate them, and ate them......

Now let me tell you that my first thoughts quickly vanished when my daughter scarfed down the entire package of Bananamon! Wow, a NEW and healthy snack that she loves. Hurray, now I can buy a bunch of different staple snacks for her on-the-go needs! Funky Monkey Snacks come in scrumptious flavors such as Bananamon, Carnival Mix, Jivealime, and Purple Funk.

While my little one was speedily eating the Bananamon (organic bananas with cinnamon) Funky Monkey Snacks, I decided to try the Purple Funk (organic bananas with acai). After my first bite, I was even hooked on these snacks. It was like a firework went off in my mouth, and my tastebuds decided to do a little jig! These snacks are so amazing that I want to keep eating them too!!!

To get a healthy and yummy snack for you and your little ones, go to www.funkymonkeysnacks.com. Add a little zing to your eating habits!

Project Extravaganza...

I love crafts and projects; however, I am not that great at creative thinking. If you are like me, then you should definitely check out Cut Out and Keep. This is a website where people give step-by-step instructions on how to make all kinds of things from food to clothes.

Cut Out and Keep is also great for tackling and reusing stuff that is just lying around your house. For example, I have so many baby, fitness, and clothes magazines that it is not even funny! So instead of just throwing them away, I could follow the step-by-step instructions on how to make eco coasters from magazines. Another fabulous idea is taking plastic shopping bags and fusing them together in the form of a purse or bag.

Not only does Cut Out and Keep have many amazing crafts and projects to share, but it also has an online magazine that has many neat stories and ideas. I have spent so much time at this site exploring all of the creative wonders. Visit www.cutoutandkeep.net and get your creative juices flowing!

Food That Melts A Heart

Imagine the aroma of steamy organic sweet potatoes with a dash of cinnamon and a splash of vanilla. Makes your mouth water, huh? If you are eating such a delectable food, wouldn't you want your baby experiencing the same thing?

Well, this is exactly what Jack's Harvest has created? They take 100 % certified organic fruits and vegetables handpicked from local farmer's markets, add a few spices and herbs here and there, and viola - the most wonderful baby food ever made. Yes, I said baby food! Jack's Harvest baby food is so delicious, that my daughter was literally begging for more after each bite. It seemed as if I could not feed her fast enough! I would also like to mention that I even had a few bites, and let me tell you that it is the best tasting baby food that I have ever put in my mouth!

These fruits and vegetables are made in small batches in a certified organic kitchen. Once the food is prepared, it is then quickly frozen into the shape of a heart. Freezing the baby food captures the nutrients, flavors, and colors that nature intended. You can get the 12 - 1 ounce cubes of So Smooth baby food for babies beginning to eat solid foods, or you can get the 4 - 3 ounce cubes of A Little Lumpy baby food for the babies exploring textures. Jack's Harvest has a variety of yummy baby foods from Blueberrytastic Banana to B'nut Squash-ed Apples.

Not only does Jack's Harvest make healthy baby food for your precious child(ren), but they also believe in being eco-friendly. I love the fact that after the food has been prepared, the peels of the fruits and vegetables are composted!

To give your baby the most delicious and nutritious baby food possible without the pesticides, fertilizers, and genetic modifications, then check out www.jacksharvest.com. You can also find Jack's Harvest in many metro Atlanta retail stores such as Whole Foods Market. So, start giving your baby a great food experience today!

Edible Play Dough

Tired of watching your little ones like a hawk with store bought play-doh? Afraid that they will eat what they make? Well, fear not, there is edible play dough that you can make with ingredients found in your pantry. Your kids will have fun making things from this play dough as well as eating while creating. All you need:

1 c. creamy peanut butter
1 c. non-fat dry milk powder
2/3 c. honey

Combine all ingredients and knead well on wax paper. For extra fun edible creativity, give your child(ren) raisins, sunflower seeds, cereal, etc. to add as accents to their master pieces.

For a different kind of edible play dough fun, you can do the following:

1 part flour
2 parts oatmeal
1 part water

Mix ingredients together and form into shapes. The items made from this play dough recipe can be painted when they are dry. So not only can your child(ren) have fun eating and creating, but when they are finished, they can paint their master pieces and keep them as memories!