I love Pinterest as much as the next gal, but some times I just don’t have it in me to make an elaborate snack that resembles zoo animals or algebraic equations. It’s handy to have some simple snacks that I can whip up quickly—because there are days I am serving my gajillionth snack by 10 a.m.
Banana-Peanut Butter-Coconut Blobs
I thought about trying to call these something cute, like Coconut Hedgehogs, but honestly? They’re blobs. Albeit they are tasty blobs, but they are indeed blobs all the same. Slice a banana, spread peanut butter on top of each slice, and then dip and press each slice (peanut butter side down) into a bowl of coconut (I used sweetened coconut flakes), so that the peanut butter becomes covered with coconut. Serve with toothpicks for stabbing fun, layer on a skewer for a kabob effect, or eat with fingers.
How Kids Can Help: Kids can slice, spread, and dip. Work, my little minions, work! (Insert evil cackle here.)
Variations: Substitute another nut butter for peanut butter. Substitute Nutella for peanut butter. Substitute sprinkles for coconut. Put a chocolate chip on top (though, in truth, that might end up looking like a Nipple Blob). Drizzle with chocolate. Dip in chocolate. Freeze the blobs.
Frozen Peas in a Bowl
This snack is super easy peas-y. (See what I did there?!) Open a bag of frozen peas, and pour some in a bowl. That’s it. I was first introduced to this snack while babysitting—way back before I had my own kids. It really is tasty, and it’s a great way to work in some vegetables to your kids’ diets. Even if someone doesn’t like cooked peas, they might still like these. They have a completely different taste, and the frozen aspect is just plain fun.
How Kids Can Help: Depending on your child’s age, it is entirely possible they can serve themselves this snack. Sit back, and put up your feet, mama!
Variations: Pick up peas using small tongs, chopsticks, or tweezers. Add small pieces of frozen carrot.
Fruit Circles
Slice fruit. Lay on plate. Boom! Kids are not immune to the power of presentation. Orange segments and kiwi slices are colorful and work great. Strawberries and grapes cut lengthwise won’t roll. Banana slices are also a hit.
How Kids Can Help: They can slice as well as arrange the fruit on a plate. Put them to work!
Variations: Use toothpicks or chopsticks as eating utensils. Drizzle chocolate syrup, caramel, or fruit sauce on the plate for dipping. Place fruit in circles, spirals, letter shapes, etc. Try freezing various fruits (after slicing)!
What are your favorite super simple snacks?
