email this pageThese easy-to-pack balls can go anywhere, from school lunches to soccer practice. They’re best really cold and will keep up to a week sealed in a zip-top plastic bag stored in the refrigerator. And best of all, you’ll feel good knowing that your kids are noshing on nutritious snacks.
So grab a bowl, call the kids, and crunch, mash and roll away. From coconut to peanut butter to chocolate, there’s a flavor for everyone.
Top Toss-ins Customize these snacks by mixing and matching your kid’s favorite foods. Add Cocoa Puffs in place of Rice Krispies or peanuts in place of cashews. In addition, toss in any of these nutritious extras:
- Sesame seeds add a soul-satisfying crunch. These little powerhouses boast more protein than any nut, as much iron as liver, plus vitamin E, phosphorus, niacin and thiamin.
- Sunflower seeds burst with plentiful vitamin E, magnesium and selenium. And kids love to crunch on them.
- Dried cranberries, cherries, raisins or dried fruit bits add natural sweetness, fiber, potassium and a satisfying chew.
- Whole grain cereals add crispy crunch plus fiber, vitamins and minerals.
- Nut butters are high in monounsaturated fats and Vitamin E, interchangeable and rich in flavor—try peanut, sesame, soy nut or cashew and almond butters.
* In the above pic...
Crunchy Coconut Balls, left; PBJ Crunchers, middle; and Cocoa Chewies. right.
Crunchy Coconut Balls
Ingredients
¼ cup cashew (or soy nut or almond) butter
1 tablespoon honey
½ cup crispy rice cereal (such
as Rice Krispies)
2 tablespoons nonfat dry milk
½ cup shredded coconut
1. Combine cashew butter and honey with fork. Add cereal and dry milk, mashing well with fork. Form 3⁄4-inch balls and roll in coconut, pressing firmly. Makes 10 balls.
Recipe by Christine Gable, "Hands-on Snacks," Relish Cooking with Kids, March 2008.
Per serving: 70 calories, 4.5g fat, 0mg chol., 2g prot., 7g carbs., 0g fiber, 65mg sodium.
Nutter Butter Nibblers
To crush pretzels, place in a bowl and mash with a potato masher.
Ingredients
½ cup crushed fat-free
pretzel sticks
1⁄3 cup mini chocolate chips
½ cup peanut butter
¼ cup nonfat dry milk
1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
Ingredients
½ cup crushed fat-free
pretzel sticks
1⁄3 cup mini chocolate chips
½ cup peanut butter
¼ cup nonfat dry milk
1 tablespoon honey
1. Place half the pretzels in medium bowl; add chocolate chips, peanut butter, dry milk and honey. Mix well with hands or fork. Form 3⁄4-inch balls and roll in remaining pretzels. Makes 10 balls.
Recipe by Christine Gable, "Hands-On Snacks," Relish Cooking with Kids, March 2008.
Nutritional Information
Recipe by Christine Gable, "Hands-On Snacks," Relish Cooking with Kids, March 2008.
Per serving: 135 calories, 9g fat, 0mg chol., 5g prot., 11g carbs., 1g fiber, 76mg sodium.
PBJ Crunchers
Ingredients
½ cup peanut butter
1 cup crispy rice cereal
(such as Rice Krispies)
¼ cup nonfat dry milk
2 tablespoons grape jelly
1. Combine peanut butter, cereal and dry milk in a medium bowl with hands or fork, mashing well. Spread jelly over top of entire mixture and mix in slightly. Form 3⁄4-inch balls. Makes 12 balls.
Recipe by Christine Gable, "Hands-On Snacks," Relish Cooking with Kids, March 2008.
Per serving: 85 calories, 5g fat, 0mg chol., 3g prot., 7g carbs., 1g fiber, 79mg sodium.
Cocoa Chewies
Ingredients
1⁄3 cup tahini
1 tablespoon cocoa
2 tablespoons honey
¼ cup currants or raisins
¼ cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup crispy rice cereal (such
as Rice Krispies)
1. Combine tahini, cocoa and honey with fork. Add currants, chocolate chips and rice cereal, stirring until well combined. With oiled hands, form 3⁄4-inch balls. Freeze at least 15 minutes. Makes 12 balls.
Recipe by Christine Gable, "Hands-on Snacks," Relish Cooking with Kids, March 2008.
Nutritional Information
Recipe by Christine Gable, "Hands-on Snacks," Relish Cooking with Kids, March 2008.
Per serving: 95 calories, 4.5g fat, 0mg chol., 1g prot., 12g carbs., 0g fiber, 27mg sodium.
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