Kids are
constantly eating, aren’t
they? This is an important key to their development. Kids are chock
full of energy, and their growing bones and developing minds and
muscles need the nutrients that frequent eating provide.
If
you’re like a lot of parents and day care providers, however,
you’re probably getting tired of slicing up bananas for kids
snacks and tossing fish shaped crackers in a bowl.
And
I know we’re all tired of graham crackers and apple juice
(brings back a few Sunday School memories, doesn’t it?). And
just think…if you’re tired of serving it,
what’s the chance the kids are tired of eating it?
Let’s explore another option for
the kids’ munchy
time.
The freezer is your friend! Make a few
batches of muffins, and when they’ve completely cooled, peel
off their paper cup liners and toss them in a zipped freezer bag.
When
it’s snack time, wrap them in a slightly dampened paper towel
and put them in the microwave for a few seconds. Serve with low-fat
margarine or butter-flavored spray, and you’ve got a yummy,
warm kids snack!
Fruity Muffins
-1 cup whole wheat flour
-1 cup all purpose flour
-1/2 cup granulated sugar (if you don’t mind artificial
sweeteners, make this ¼ cup sugar & ¼ cup
Splenda)
-2 teaspoons baking powder
-2 teaspoons cinnamon
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1/2 cup canola oil
-1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
-1 egg
-1 cup chopped dates
-1 apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
Combine first seven ingredients thoroughly.
In a separate bowl, mix oil, banana and egg. Add the dates and apples
to this mixture, then combine with the dry ingredients.
Mix just until
blended. Pour into muffin cups/tin that have been sprayed with cooking
spray and bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, or until a
toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean.
These muffins are also fabulous cut open and
spread with low fat cream cheese. Serve them with a small cup of very
cold nonfat (skim) milk, and it’s an incredibly filling kids
snack that should tide them over until dinner with no problem!