Fun and Healthy After School Snacks For Kids AND Some Exciting News | Life Love and Hiccups: Fun and Healthy After School Snacks For Kids AND Some Exciting News
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Monday 8 September 2014

Fun and Healthy After School Snacks For Kids AND Some Exciting News

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This post is brought to you by Coles

I am really excited to tell you guys about a new partnership between Life Love and Hiccups and Coles.

This super exciting arrangement sees me acting as an every day Mum’s voice for Coles, which basically means over the next year I will be bringing you all the latest news and ideas, tips and tricks from Coles and delivering them to you in way that will help you understand the many ways you can get the most bang for your buck for your family.

Cause that's what matters most to us Mum’s and Dad’s isn't it? Our families…. and saving bucks ;)

Okey Dokey Artichokey, so one of the things I get all hyper about in Spring (apart from the longer days and warmer weather) is when I start seeing all the fresh new produce appearing in store.

Strawberries, Pineapples and avocados are firm family faves in our abode and lucky for us they are included in Cole’s September Line up of Fresh Fruit & Veg Heroes - a selection of the best quality and most flavoursome in season produce, 100% Australian grown and at the best prices.

Each week Coles promotes 12 fresh fruit and veg specials from Friday to Thursday – 12 ways they help us Aussie families eat healthily and stay on budget!

That means that we can start cramming our kids full of all the good stuff right? You know, the stuff they like to eat and the stuff we want them to eat to give them enough energy to play until the sun goes down and totally wear themselves out and fall into bed exhausted….

WHAT?

We all dream about that don’t we?

Healthy sleepy kids makes me a happy mama and I love the fact that Coles is all about helping us Aussie families feed our kids more of the fresh ‘good stuff’ by making fresh fruit and veg produce more affordable.

It makes my wallet happy too.

Pina colada anyone?

Pineapples are back in season so why the hell not I say!



Oh OK then … this is supposed to be about treats for kids isn't it. So how about a Pineapple smoothie that the kids can enjoy and we can chuck a little something extra in it for us if we um feel so inclined?

Deal!

Check out our healthy Pineapple & Banana Smoothie recipe along with a few other breakfast or after school treats I’ve been making for my kids this week. I’ve been busy loading them up with scrummy fresh fruit and veg snacks and they haven't even noticed it’s good for them.

It’s a win you guys. A Mum style win!


Now pass me that Pina Colada… *ahem* I mean Pineapple & Banana Smoothie.



INGREDIENTS
1 Cup of Pineapple Pieces
1 Banana
1/2 cup vanilla yoghurt
1 and 1/2 cups coconut milk
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup of crushed ice

METHOD
Chuck it all in a blender and blend. Easy as!
Serve with some strawberry, pineapple and banana fruit kebabs for extra smiles or brownie points. Whatever floats your boat.


Want a quick brekkie or after school snack that looks all fancy pants but takes only minutes to make? I've got you covered with my Strawberry and Yoghurt muesli.

INGREDIENTS
Vanilla yoghurt
muesli
Chopped strawberries
Blueberries (optional)

METHOD
Scoop 2-3 tablespoons of yoghurt into the base of a cup.
layer over the yoghurt 2-3 tablespoons of chopped strawberries
Cover with a tablespoon of muesli

Top with a small dob of yoghurt, a few blueberries and a strawberry on top.



This really isn't a pizza anything, it’s a toastie. Whatevs. If your kids are anything like mine, just having the word pizza in it is all the encouragement they need to wolf it down.

INGREDIENTS
Sourdough or crusty bread
Ham slices (we use turkey ham)
Avocado
Pineapple sliced thinly
Swiss cheese slices
  
METHOD
Butter one slice of bread with the avocado and layer over the top a slice of ham, then a slice of cheese, then a slice of pineapple. Top with another piece of bread and cook in a sandwich press until the cheese melts and the outside of the bread is toasty. Serve hot.





Pikelets always go down a treat and if you top them with some friskily stewed strawberries and apples then they become a healthy treat too… kinda. Whatever. Just work with me on this.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups self-raising flour
1/3 cup of caster sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 tbsp butter
1 pinch of salt

For the stewed strawberries and apples
1 teaspoon castor sugar
1 tablespoon water
1 small apple peeled and diced
1/2 cup shopped strawberries

METHOD
Pikelets: In a bowl sift together your flour and salt into a bowl and add your lightly beaten egg, sugar and milk.
Beat until you form a smooth thick batter.

Melt your butter in frypan or skillet over a medium heat and cook your pike lets in batches (1 tablespoon of batter roughly per pikelet)

Stewed Apples and Strawberries:
In a saucepan over medium heat cover your diced apples with sugar and water bring to the boil until water reduces and add your strawberries. Heat through until strawberries soften but maintain their shape.
Serve your strawberries and apples warm or cold over your pikelets with a little cream for added brownie points… and calories.

Sift flour and salt, add sugar, drop unbeaten egg into the middle of the bowl and stir.

Slowly add enough milk to make a thick batter. Beat well until smooth.

Heat a non-stick pan over a medium heat, melt half a teaspoon butter and drop heaped tablespoons of mixture into the pan.
  
So are you keen to give any of these a go?
What homemade after school treats send your kids into a “Mum you’re awesome” frenzy?