10 Easy Snacks..

..(alternative extension to title: That Won't Require Cooking or Eating Cheez-Its On A Daily Basis [AND Please Stop Being That Mom Who Sends Goldfish To Preschool Every Time You Have The Snack Bucket, kthanks.])

1. Sun Chips OR Wheat Thins

(Yes I could have broken these down into 2 different numbers, but I have an even 10 here.. so sue me).

Don't lie ... you love these things. But for some reason beyond me (this is mostly applicable to the Wheat Thins), parents consider them "diet" food and forget that they are just baked wheat crackers that taste super yummy. Offer these as a just-as-salty, but waaaay healthier version to chips as a side item or a quick snack.
My boys love them.

2. Garden Cheddar Goldfish

Yes, I just complained about Goldfish crackers approximately 20 lines up. Mostly because Conner goes to a preschool where we split the "who brings snack to school" responsibility up, each person taking 1-2 days each month and bringing one snack for all the kids.

BUT IF MY KID COMES HOME ONE MORE DAY AND SAYS "WE HAD GOLDFISH...AGAIN" I AM GOING TO HAVE TO VAGINA PUNT YOU, OK?

Jesus people, kids get bored with that crap.

SO. For those times when you do feed them those golden little fishies, why not have them consume a veggie or two?

Garden Cheddar has 1/3 serving of veggies (peas, carrots, tomatos and sweet potatos) in each serving (lol @ the fact that a "serving" is 56 crackers.. but still).

3. Fruit Cups

Here's the kicker... ONLY buy those that say "packed with natural juices". Otherwise? You are basically serving your kids "fruit" swimming in a 4-6 ounce pool of thick, corn syrup. Ew.

4. Go-Gurts (but frozen)

This is SUCH a huge life saver. Many of you might recall our "little incident" with Dora and her berries on my son's berries.. *cough*. The issue there was a) Chase hated eating yogurt and thus got numerous infections and b) Putting yogurt on areas other than your tongue is nasty to watch.

I digress. I feel like my whole life was saved when I found these (thanks to the boys' Aunt Ann for that). Basically, I freeze them like you would a popsicle, and when they want one... I run it under water for maybe 4 seconds (any longer and they start to get mushy), cut the top, push the "pop" out like a push pop ("wow Amanda, I would have never been able to guess that...") and serve with a paper towel around the bottom.

Conner and Chase go through a box every 5 days or so. They have NO idea they are eating yogurt and as a result, Chase has been infection free since summer. Thank. God.

Noteworthy: Don't look at them. Just eat. :) (Yes, it looks *just* like your dog.) (double vomit)

5. Quaker Oats Rice Cakes in Caramel.Corn


No fat. No cholesterol. Made with real multi-grains. DO I NEED TO KEEP GOING. Oh, and they taste amazing.

6. Iced Oatmeal Cookies 

Ok, we all give our kids cookies (it says on the package that cookies extend your sanity.. true story). Why not throw them a "cookie" that has something healthy in it? Bonus points for those that sneak in raisins or nuts. (Or try dark chocolate).

Recipe courtesy of Moms Who Think for Oatmeal Cookies.

(picture ALSO courtesy of Moms Who Think)

7. Dried Cherries

Not a raisin lover? Me either. Yuck. Neither are Chase or Conner and I don't blame them. As an alternative, might I suggest dried cherries?

or use your dried cherries in... maybe...

8. Trail Mix

(see what I did there? clever.)

Trail mix:
Mini Pretzels
Dried Cherries
Mini Marshmellows
and a FEW Mini M&Ms
Kix or Chex

9. 100% Juice Pops

10. Nutella or Dark Chocolate 

Craving chocolate but you've already drained your supply want to opt for something a smidge more healthy? Try: A) Nutella on toast or saltines or B) Dark Chocolate.

I only recently found Nutella and Conner LOVES it.

..Um. Ew... -->

(A Hazelnut spread w/ cococa.. nuts are healthy, no?)

Thanksgiving Suggestions I Don't Suggest Passing Up. Hint, Hint

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and if your 4-year-old is anything like my 4-year-old, they are talking approximately 6.784 million words per minute about the impending holidays.

Conner, in particular, wants to know everything he can about Indians or pilgrims or turkey or more Indians. Can’t blame him either, I dream of Thanksgiving and all it’s delicious accompaniments from basically the first good cold breeze.

But being a young mom and new to the whole family traditions process is a difficult transition. Which is why we tech-savvy individuals should take advantage of all that Moms Who Think have to offer.

I’ve personally combed their resources for a few heavy-hitting Turkey Day helpers, and here are a few of my favorites. (Thank me now, or later... I sure love cashmere) (and money)

First up, Thanksgiving activities. Let’s face it - it’s darn right chilly outside (if we aren’t going through some freak 80+ “heat wave”… *aghem* I’m looking at you, last week…). Nothing says “indoor Crazy Feast” like cooped up kiddos. So I suggest this time-consuming activity to breath some sanity into your life, keep those children busy AND personalize your Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving Place Mats instructions.

Place mats! It’s really a great idea. First, and most importantly, it’s a wonderful conversation piece that the grandparents will swoon over. You rack up Mom Of The Year points, and have an adorable souvenir for years to come.

I’d recommend laminating them (try your local library or hit up a teacher friend).

Of course, there’s also the Preschool Favorite hand print turkey. Maybe you could do hand turkeys on each place mat !

Also, I’d suggest using thicker stock paper, such as scrapbook paper. It’s thick enough to handle multiple Handprint Turkeys on the finished woven creation from your little Pilgrims. If you plan on putting hand print turkeys on the woven mats, I'd also suggest "backing" your mats with a solid piece of paper. Once completed, glue the woven mat to the solid piece, concentrating on the edges. This will preserve the structure. Look at me... I sound all crafty....

Next up, a few of my personal favorite recipes. Moms Who Thinks have a plethora of helpful recipes.

I’m no stranger to the traditional holiday dessert, Pecan Pie.

My mom’s is the world’s best and this recipe is oddly familiar to it. (I’m looking at you, mom)

Are you responsible for the dressing? I’d suggest this one: Old Fashioned Bread Stuffing.
It incorporates all of the classic ingredients that are sure to please your picky mother-in-law.

Of course, letting the kids help out can be a hassle, but they are more likely to eat that cornbread if they helped make it. This is a fabulous idea from Moms Who Think that encourages you to let the wee hands help out. I know Conner would enjoy being my helper. (Helpful suggestion: Instead of using all white bread, mix white bread and cornbread, using the cornbread the kids helped you bake for the stuffing.)

Instead of scouring the internet for other helpful Thanksgiving recipes, just check out the MomsWhoThink recipe section.

* Edible photos courtesy of MomsWhoThink
**Please see my Full Disclosure. MomsWhoThink.com provided a small monetary compensation for this post.  I only take paids gigs for sites or products I endorse. That means I both enjoy MomsWhoThink AND was paid to talk about it. It’s a win-win.