Healthy Kid Snack Ideas

Sometimes it's just difficult to get our kiddos to eat... but feeding them with chemicals and artificial sweeteners is not the answer! I know, it's fast, easy, and convenient to stop at a fast food restaurant or buy easy snacks at the grocery store, but have you ever stopped to think how easy it is to feed our kids fresh healthy food? 

Our job is not only to "feed" them, but we need to give them FUEL their little bodies so they grow big and strong, not big (overweight) and weak.   As the parents, WE must be the ones to take action and do whats best as their role models!

So I am going to share some really simple KID FRIENDLY SNACKS that have been a savior for me!!  Mind you, I have a very picky 4 year old, but as I am committed to my plan, he knows mommy is the boss and he either eats what mommy puts down, or "he wont grow big and strong like a football player or Batman"---> Feel free to use whatever super hero or sports player they like! :) 

• Grapes, cucumbers, and hummus- This is a perfect combo of food!! Cucumbers with some hummus (if they refuse the hummus, I also use Greek yogurt Ranch), and a little fruit to top it off!! The sugar content in grapes is slightly high, but compared to candy with sugar is no competition! Go with the fresh grapes!!

Yup, he is one happy camper!! 

• Greek Yogurt- You can do a lot with this!! I usually do 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, add some fresh fruit (my kids live strawberries), then top it off with a little Agave Nectar, which is a great sweetener that is low on the glycemic index, so it is great for diabetics! 

• Rice Cakes and Peanut Butter- Who doesn't love a little crunch with some rice cakes?! My boys LOVE them!! They are light, and easy for them to handle! Add a tablespoon of Natural Peanut Butter (I use Jiff), and wallah! 

• Apple and Peanut Butter- Ok so maybe I like peanut butter and the addiction has rubbed off on my boys lol?! A little healthy fat won't hurt!! Slice those apples up, and if your kids are crazy like mine, they need the skin off too, then put 1 tablespoon of Natural Peanut Butter in a little bowl, and let them dip away!!

• Peanut Butter & Banana Bites- Ok I am almost done with the peanut butter lol!! So much you can do with it!! Healthy fats and healthy protein!! 

When it comes down to it, my kids are getting lots of fresh veggies, that they can dip (Greek yogurt ranch, peanut butter, etc), or fresh fruits to dip!! Easy finger foods that do not have to be cooked are usually healthier and easier to handle!! Make it fun & simple for both you are your lil munchkins!!

Spicy Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Hummus

 Home made Spicy Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Hummus

Ingredients:

15 ozs garbanzo beans (drained)

1/2 cup feta cheese (crumbled)

4 ozs red bell peppers (roasted, drained)

3 tbsps lemon juice

1 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp salt ( I use Himalayan Salt)

Directions:

Place the garbanzo beans, feta cheese, drained red peppers, lemon juice, parsley, cayenne pepper, and salt in the bowl of a food processor; blend until smooth.

I like to put my feta right on top, but you are free to do what you like! 

I also use both veggies or black bean chips to dip my hummus, so you have different options whether you can use extra carbs or would rather stay away and have some more veggies!!

You can tell Im a mommy, dont mind the binki on the side haha!! 

FOCUS T25 WEEK 4 DAY 1~

It’s the start of week 4!! Holy cow, I just realized it’s been almost 30 days since I started FOCUS T25!! I feel great and am loving every bit!! Today, I did my meal prepping since yesterday I did not have a chance.  But just because your busy, doesn’t mean you cannot make it up the next day right??!  So today was my day to plan and prep!! I have some new meals!!

Today, my meals were as follows:   Artichoke Lemon Pesto Chicken Pasta

• Veggie egg white omlette with 1 slice Ezekiel Toast
• Snack: 2 fat free graham crackers with 2 tbsp natural peanut butter
• Lunch: Artichoke Pesto Chicken Pasta (amazing)
• Snack: peppers and hummus and edamame
• Dinner: SHAKEOLOGY (APPLE PIE~ YUMMY)

We also had FIT club tonight and did some insanity!!! What a workout!!! I seriously could never get sick of insanity!!! I burned almost 500 calories in 40 minutes!!!

Today I want to leave you with this... As a coach, my job is NOT to put you on a diet.. I live by lifestyle.. I want to help people get their results AND KEEP THEM!! In my fitness challenge you eat, you workout, you drink SHAKEOLOGY once a day... you get into a habit and you stick with it!! Its a process.. mistakes are to be made, there may be a workout or 2 missed... BUT the point is to make a change from where you started and change your thought process on how to live healthier and a more fulfilling life!

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T25 WEEK 3 DAY 3!

T25 WEEK 3 day 3!

Today was yet another awesome day!! I did feel like I did not get enough calories because I was slightly lightheaded throughout the day.  I woke up bright and early and did LOWER FOCUS.  For 25 minutes, it definitely gives you a great workout when you give it your all!!

Here was my meal plan for today:

Breakfast-  SHAKEOLOGY I tried my new Cinnamon-Bun recipe with VANILLA SHAKEOLOGY!! It was sooo yummy and was definitely a great treat!!!

Snack: ½ cup oatmeal, ½ cup fresh blueberries, 1 tbsp  almond butter, 1 tsp flaxseed.  I switched up my first 2 meals and this was the first time I had this snack and it was great!!

Lunch: Quinoa salad (used from the Ultimate Reset) and ½ medium sweet potato.  I did add a tbsp. of feta cheese with the quinoa salad to give it a little extra taste!

Snack: raw peppers with ¼ cup hummus and a small apple.  This picture shows a little bag of apples, but don’t worry, the caramel was thrown away J!!

Snack: I was starving before dinner so I had a string cheese and 5 red bean triscuits. 

Dinner: Grilled chicken with stir fry veggies (from Ultimate Reset)

I drank 80 oz of water and I am literally going to the bathroom every 5 min! TMI but its definitely working!! Eating every 3 hrs and not snacking in between really makes a huge difference, esp when you write down your meals!!  I am learning so much self-control and it is such an awesome feeling!!

Is there something you can change to help yourself gain self-control?? Whether it be allowing yourself to eat only every 3 hrs?? Not eating 2-3 hrs before bed?? Make yourself drink your daily dose of water that you need??

If you learn self-control, you will feel such a great sense of accomplishment and will feel so much better emotionally, mentally, and physically!!

Prep Day!!

PREP DAY!!

I especially love Sundays because I get myself ready for the upcoming week.. It is all about preparing for success!! First thing in the morning, I make my meal plan for the week.  This way, I know exactly what I need ahead of time. Next is going to the grocery store and getting all my goodies!! I only get what is on my list, so this prevents any extra spending.  I go home and get right to prepping my food.  I cook everything, even the meats (yes they stay fine for the week), and separate everything by meal in PORTION SIZES! That is extremely important!  Many people may have something come up or are late and just throw a huge heaping size of whatever food they have and end up eating it all because it is there, not even thinking about the extra calories.  So I separate according to portion sizes so I only have what I need. 

For proteins like fish, chicken, lean meat, I separate into 4 oz sizes.  Yes, protein is great for you, but protein is higher in calories, so you just need to make sure you are getting the right amount!

What I love about veggies is they are a free food!! What this means is you can really have as much as you want and it will not affect you in a negative way.  They are low in calories and even can be used as a snack in the evening if you are in the mood for a snack!!

When I prepare my meals, I make sure I have my complex carbs (breads, pastas) earlier in the day when I am moving around and staying active.  My oatmeal, whole wheat pasta, bread, and wheat wraps are usually in my 1-3^rd meals.  I do 2-3 servings per day of the heavier carbs.  Some people like to stay away, but as long as they are not refined (processed), they are healthy for you and you need them for energy!!! 

YUMMO!!!!

I always make my meal plan so I can keep myself accountable during the week!!
This is part of my lifestyle, but also now my job! I love to do this, especially to post in my challenge groups to give ideas and for people to use it as a guide for themselves. 

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Meal 1	Shakeology w PB2 almond milk	Shakeology w PB2 almond milk	Egg whites , turkey sausage and ¼  c oatmeal	Egg whites, turkey sausage ¼ c oatmeal	Shakeology w PB2 and almond milk	Egg whites, ¼ c oatmeal	Egg whites, ¼ c oatmeal
Meal 2	1 green apple w ff string cheese	1 green apple, 1 ff string cheese	1 oz almonds ff string cheese	1 oz almonds ff string cheese	Yogurt with fresh fruit drizzle with pure maple syrup	1 oz almonds, ff string cheese	1 oz almonds, ff string cheese
Meal 3	Chicken salad made with greek yogurt on lentil chips, spinach salad w feta, cranberry, walnuts, vin oil	Chicken salad made with greek yogrt on lentil chips, spinach salad feta, cranberry, walnuts, vin oil	Mexican salad w meatless crumbles/ Spinach, black beans ff shred cheese, salsa, peppers	Mexican salad w meatless crumbles, spinach,  black beans ff shred cheese, salsa, peppers	chicken salad on whole wheat wrap, veggie stir fry	Shakeology w PB2 almond milk	Chicken salad with spinach , tomato, feta, cranberry, walnuts, vin and oil
Meal 4	Mixed edamame and goji berry,  2 hard boiled eggs without yoke	Mixed edamame and goji berry,  2 hard boiled eggs without yoke	Veggies w hummus	Shakeology w PB2 and almond milk	Veggies w hummus	Westons 1st Birthday party- OFF MEAL, making veggie pizza w whole wheat crust, fruit salad, lean burgers/dogs, taco salad	Lentil chips w chicken salad made with greek yogurt
Meal 5	Turkey burger w veggie stir fry	Turkey burger w veggie stir fry	Spinach salad w chicken, cranberry, walnuts, feta, oil n vin	Wedding- ordered chicken will have vodka with water and lemon to drink	Mexican salad w meatless crumbles spinach ff shredded cheese black beans	Broccoli/cauliflower salad made with greek yogurt, ff shredded cheese, turkey bacon	Broccoli/cauliflower salad left over with lean burger
Meal 6	Raw peppers w hummus	Raw peppers w hummus	2 hard boiled eggs without yoke	2 hard boiled eggs without yoke	2 hard boiled eggs without yoke		Shakeology w PB2 almond milk