September's Recipe Theme

My third grader has to take a snack to school every day. They have "snack recess" in the morning, and all of the kids sit on the steps and eat their snacks. It seems like being in this agricultural, hippy land (not really... we're not that far north) everyone is super healthy. I like to think I do a pretty good job in this department. We eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, hardly any processed foods, and minimal high fructose corn syrup. But, I also buy fruit snacks, pretzels, and (gasp!) Quaker chocolate chip granola bars. Last year I kind of got away with sending the easy packaged snacks, because I just slipped it in the backpack and hoped no one associated the Fruit Gusher's eater with me. Unfortunately, this year when the kids hang up their backpacks, they have to set out their snacks so they are ready to take outside. Now I have to own up to what I bring. Next to the array of pita chips and hummus, dried organic apples, and dehydrated snap peas, my Oreo 100 Calorie Pack might as well be rat poison under a neon sign that says, "This Lady Hates Her Kid."

So, this month's theme is snacks. Not necessarily snacks like you'd find at my son's school, but snacks that work every time to make you and/or your kids satisfied and happy. If you have healthy ideas that would make me look like a better mom, feel free to share (even if no one would ever eat them).