Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Barlean’s, as a part of my ongoing partnership as part of their Blogger Team. As always, all opinions here are my own.
I don't think I ever fully realized the true importance of the roll that snacks would play in my life as a parent.
Even pre-parenthood, I was the kind of gal who was always toting something to nibble on in my bag in case hunger struck during an inopportune moment. But now, as a mom, I've learned that having an ample supply of healthy snack options readily available can actually make or break a situation. It can mean the difference between a fairly uneventful morning of errand-running, and a meltdown of epic proportions that makes you question everything you ever thought you knew in life. Believe me: You don't want to be caught unprepared.
The constant need for a well-stocked snack reserve also gave way to the realization that not all snacks are created equal. It's one thing to gobble down a sugary granola bar as an adult, but a whole other thing to feed my sweet baby some of the questionable things that are marketed to kids on the regular, especially when it feels like snacks make up about 75% of a child's diet. {At least that's the case with my kid who prefers to nibble all day than to sit down and eat a proper meal.}
There are definitely decent options out there that don't require making all of your own portable eats {thank goodness}, but it's also nice to have some simple, go-to recipes for foods that you can make at the start of the week and have as an easy grab and go option whenever you need it.
But the fact that many times snacks are eaten while on the run presents an entirely new conundrum: Storage. Unless you want 34 individual bags of food floating around in your {already overstuffed} bag, you might want to find ways to consolidate those morsels in a clever way!
You can imagine my excitement when my friends at Barlean's partnered with LunchBots for the latest blogger challenge and I discovered these nifty little stainless steel containers. They are absolutely perfect for packaging snacks and kid's lunches in a safe, easy-to-clean, CUTE way! They have a completely stainless steel interior with compartments that are ideal for keeping snacks separate, and easily fit in a bag, lunchbox or glove compartment.
With fall's official start taking place this week, I was inspired to create a tasty autumn snack using some of my favorite Barlean's products. This Spiced Apple Pecan Granola is like a handful of fragrant autumn air! {Ok, that may be a bit poetic for granola, but you know what I mean. It's fall-ish.}
Made with Barlean's Organic Culinary Coconut Oil and Energy Blend super seeds, this granola packs a powerful punch of fiber, essential amino acids and healthy fats that will keep you going even on the busiest of days. {Parents: This particular super seed blend contains Ginseng, which is a naturally energizing ingredient that heaven knows we could all use, so maybe stash this snack for yourself.} The warm spices, pecan bits and dried apple add a hint of seasonal flavor that will quickly make this your preferred fall snack whether you much on it by the handful, enjoy it as a cereal or sprinkle it over yogurt for a delicious treat.
If you want to get your hands on your very own LunchBots Trio Bento, make sure to follow me on Instagram where I'll be giving one away to a lucky winner!
So tell me, what are your favorite healthy snacks to pack and your favorite ways to stash them?? Feel free to leave me links to your favorite recipes and products!
T
Spiced Apple Pecan Granola
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup toasted chopped pecans
- ¼ cup Barlean's Energy Blend
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup chopped dried apples or apple chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375. Line a baking pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, pecans and Barlean's Energy Blend. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, bring coconut oil, maple syrup and honey to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and allow to simmer for about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Pour the mixture over the oats and quickly stir until everything is coated and combined.
- Scoop out onto lined baking pan and bake for about 15 minutes or until just golden and fragrant. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before stirring in dried apples or apple chips. Store in an airtight container.
