If your kids are spending the summer in various activities outside of the house, chances are you’re packing them lunches.  You may be caving to the pressure to buy pre-packaged convenience foods but the truth is:  they aren’t healthy and they’re a waste of money.  Here are my suggestions for lunches on the go for the summer and during the school year.

Ditch the soda:  It’s way overpriced and kids shouldn’t be drinking it anyway (or adults either!).  Buy a cool refillable water bottle.  Buy the individual powdered water flavorings.  Most of them have almost no calories and they are a great way to get kids to drink water.  Plus, kids will love opening the tiny package and pouring it in to the bottle themselves.

Keep it all cold with an ice pack:   Nobody likes warm lunch meat.  Get an insulated bag that fits an ice pack.

Dip it:  You know all those dipping sauces you get at the Drive-Thru?  Save them!  Throw them in the lunch bag with veggie sticks.  What a great way to entice kids to eat veggies!  You can also save your fast food condiments so that kids can spread them on their sandwiches at lunchtime!

No ordinary sandwich:  Use a whole grain tortilla, lettuce wraps, a pita…the possibilities are endless!  You can even use cookie cutters to turn a plain and boring sandwich into something fun!

Sweet treats:  Don’t load up the lunch bag with cookies and candy.  Try dried fruit or homemade granola.  It’s okay to indulge now and then, but a homemade chocolate chip cookie is always going to be more wholesome and healthy than anything made by a magic elf in a tree.

Be a copycat:  You know those boxes of individually sliced cheese, meat and crackers that your kid throws a fit for every time you go to the store?  They’re way expensive considering the amount of food you get.  Make your own!  Do you own slicing and carefully package it all together and you’ll not just make your kid happy, you’ll save money.

Another must have food item among children today is drinkable yogurt.  Again, the cost is sky high!  You can buy a small yogurt and throw it in the blender with enough milk to make it thin and smooth and serve it in your own cool container.  You can even freeze it in ice cube trays, add some toothpicks for handles, and make it into frozen yogurt pops!

You may be thinking “My kid wants what he sees on commercials and whatever his friends have.”, but I think you will quickly find that children really do appreciate the extra care you provide when you prepare their lunches yourself.

Images: oprah.com, missoulian.com

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop through a variety of affordable lunch boxes.

Easter Brunch Pizza from FamilyFun.com:

Teacup Cupcakes from Parents.com:

Easter Bunny Cake from BettyCrocker.com:

Check out the Making Chocolate Easter Eggs Video from AllRecipes.com:

Easter Egg Cakes from MarthaStewart.com:

Enjoy!  I’m starving now.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for baking supplies.

Healthy Hearts recipe from FamilyFun.com:

Lollipop Cookie Valentines from AllRecipes.com:

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Fluffy Meringue Icing from FoodNetwork.com:

Black Forest Sweet Heart Tarts from RecipeZaar.com:

Easy MINI KISSES Choco-Cherry Pie from Hersheys.com:

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for baking supplies.

So, go here to check out a cute recipe found on I Heart Food for Thought featuring 80’s style Pac Man and ghosts.  You use upside down tulip cookie cutters for the ghosts and chocolate chips for the eyes.  So fun!

Image Source:  Funny-Potato.com

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for baking supplies.
Discounts on Pac-Man video games.

Ice Cream Trees from FamilyFun.Go.com:  It requires edible glitter for a more frosty look!

Clause Cupcakes from FamilyFun.Go.com

Reindeer Faces from Kaboose.com

This is really fun!  You could help them make a gingerbread house with the directions found on ForkandBottle.com.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Mouse from Parents.com.  Tell the story as you are making these delicious treats.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for baking supplies.

Here are some links to some fun Thanksgiving recipes the kids will enjoy making:

                                                                Fruit Gobbler from FamilyFun.com

                                                           Oreo Turkey Snack from DLTK-kids.com

                                                       Pilgrim Hats from Kids-Cooking-Activities.com

                                                               Aut-yum Leaves from Family.Go.com

Shop for affordable baking supplies at Smarter.com.

Pumpkin Pot Pies:

Ingredients:

6 sugar pumpkins or acorn squash (1 to 2 pounds each)
Salt and ground black pepper
6 tablespoon butter
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups canned chicken broth
8 ounces frozen mixed vegetables
8 ounces frozen pearl onions or chopped onions
4 cups cooked chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried leaf sage
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1 refrigerated pie crust
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon milk for egg wash

Preparation:

1.    Preheat oven to 375°F. Slice tops off pumpkins. Remove seeds and pulp. Sprinkle insides of pumpkins with salt and pepper. Place pumpkins cut side up on a baking sheet. Cover pumpkins tightly with foil. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or just until skin is easily pierced with knife. Remove from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
2.    Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly until well blended, about 1 minute. Add broth and stir constantly until mixture is thick and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Add vegetables, onions, chicken and herbs. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and divide mixture evenly among cooled pumpkin shells (approximately 1-1/2 cups per pumpkin).
3.    Unwrap pie dough and place on lightly floured work surface. With a sharp paring knife, cut (12) 6-inch-long, 1/2-inch-wide strips, and roll dough to resemble tendrils. Cut small leaf shapes, and with back of knife, gently press lines into leaf to resemble veins.
4.    Use egg wash as glue to attach dough strips, twisting gently to form coils. Attach leaves. Brush all decorations with egg wash. Return pumpkins to oven and bake about 30 minutes, or until pie dough is golden and filling is hot and bubbly.

…and for dessert.

Spider Cakes:

Ingredients:

18 to 20 chocolate cupcakes
1 box (4-serving size) white chocolate pudding mix, prepared according to package directions and dyed green
1 container (16 ounces) fudge frosting
Halloween cupcake liners
Black licorice, cut in half for spider legs
Red cinnamon candies for eyes
2 black licorice strings, cut into 1/4-inch pieces for eyelashes (optional)

Preparation:

1.    Poke small hole in the bottom of each cupcake with toothpick. Snip off a corner of a freezer bag with scissors, making a hole just large enough for a small, round piping tip to fit through. Place tip through bag and into hole. Spoon green pudding into bag.
2.    Insert piping tip into bottom of cupcake. Pipe some pudding gently and slowly into upcake. Repeat with remaining cupcakes.
3.    Frost tops and sides of cupcakes with frosting. Place each cupcake unfrosted-side down in a slightly flattened cupcake liner.
4.    Place 4 cut licorice sticks on each side of cupcake to form legs. Press in cinnamon candies for eyes. Press licorice strings about cinnamon candies to create eyelashes, if desired. Serve immediately.

Check out more Halloween recipes here. 

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for baking supplies.
                                        Discounts on bakeware.
                                        Buy Halloween party supplies.

I found a homemade face paint recipe on Recipezaar.com.  What is more safe than homemade?!

Ingredients:

-3 tablespoons cornstarch
-1 tablespoon flour
-3/4 cup Karo light corn syrup
-1/4 cup water
-food coloring, liquid or gel

Directions:

1. Mix cornstarch and flour together in a bowl.
2. Gradually stir in Karo syrup and water until smooth.
3. Divide mixture into individual containers as needed (Mix and store in baby food jars or discarded film canisters - or Glad plastic ware cups/lids — see pictures).
4. Color each one with the food coloring of your choice until you reach your desired color (I like mine darker — they seem to show up on the skin much better).
Leave one batch untinted.
5. NOTE: I felt the mixture was thin so I added another tsp or so of cornstarch. The recipe didn’t say to do this, but the face paint still worked.
6. NOTE: If using the gel food coloring (I find the colors are more vibrant), you will want to mix with your spoon first and then put the lid on the container and shake, shake, shake to mix it all up. Otherwise, your paint will be speckled with “pieces” of the gel food coloring.

-From Recipezaar.com

Here is a face painting stencil set:

                                                               Face Painting Stencil Set: $3.98

Here are some books that teach you how to face paint with kids:

                                              Gymboree Face Painting Book & Paint: $10.35

                                                          Face Painting Book & Paint: $16.47

If you don’t feel like making your own face paint here is some safe face paint options found on Smarter.com:

                                                      Snazaroo Face Painting Sticks: $3.95

-Easy to use.  No need for paint brushes.  Washes off with soap & water.

                                            Crafty Dab Face Paint Jumbo Crayon Set: $2.94

                                                          Palmer Face Paint: $1.29 for 2 oz bottle

                                               6 Big Pots Face/Body Paint-Brush Included: $11.99

 

BabyGadget.net features the cutest Kids’ Play BBQ!  They can cook with you on those nice sunny days.

Sweet Find Day gives a recipe for Shrimp with Bacon & Coconut.  YUM! 

Check out Mom Finds’ Guide to Recycled Finds in celebration of the upcoming Earth Day (April 22th).

This week on Smarter Babies & Kids we covered:

The sun is shining & your kids are antsy!  Here are some great kids’ outdoor furniture sets on sale!

When your child won’t sleep & you don’t know what to do, here is what NOT to do to get your baby to sleep.

Being a parent is pretty expensive.  Here are some great online coupon codes for baby & maternity stores that will help!  They expire by the end of this month so HURRY!

Check out these fun & girly tutus from Bella Symphony!

Many toy & product recalls:

      Plush Insect Toys Recalled

      Magnetic Dart Boards & Children’s Board Book Sets Recalled

      Toy Robots Recalled

      Fake Teeth & Seasonal Pens Recalled

                                                       

Kids are the easiest to fool.  They believe anything you say so why not run with it on April Fool’s Day?!

1) This is an oldie, but a goody. Grab some change and super glue it to the floor.  Watch as your kids spend their precious time trying to pick it up off the floor.  Kids’ love change even though they don’t fully understand the value of money.

2) My dad used to pull this one on us as kids.  Take a gift box with the cotton lining or cover it with grass & dirt, and poke a hole in the bottom center on one of the shorter sides.  Take one finger from either hand and either use fake blood or make your finger look pale & discolored.  Stick your finger in the box and close the lid.  Go to one of your children & tell then you “found something outside.”  While you both are ”observing” the finger move it quickly towards them and laugh as they scream in horror!

3) Place a rubber band on the kitchen sink spray nozzle so it stays on & when your children turn the sink on to rinse out their dinner dishes they will get sprayed!  And the great part of this prank is that it doesn’t require much clean up because it’s just water.

4) Tell your kid(s) the principal called about their rude & disruptive behavior at school & that they can’t play video games for a month.  The funny part about this one is that your child may apologize or confess to something they did, but thought they didn’t get caught!

5)  Make these yummy, but disgusting looking dirt cup cakes from JustJennRecipes.com for dessert tonight.  It will be a gross surprise at first glance, but they will surely enjoy it after they realize they’ve been fooled!

Ingredients:

Chocolate cake
Chocolate frosting
Crushed chocolate cookie crumbs
Chocola


“Start by baking a chocolate cake. I don’t think I need to give you a recipe here, just make a nice regular old one. Also make a batch of chocolate frosting. Frost the cake and ready your decor. I like to use crushed up cookies for the ‘dirt.’ Just crush up a bunch of Oreos, then throw them in the blender. Yes, cream filling and all.
I also like to add chocolate sprinkles to make it look like little pebbles. Gummi worms are the final creepy touch.”

Image Source: FamilyFun.com & JustJennRecipies.com