Green: Use 1 cup spinach, 1/2 cup green applesauce, 1/2 cup fresh juice from cucumbers and kiwi.
Grape berry: Use 1 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup pear sauce, 1/2 cup grape juice.
More: Antioxidant-Rich Juices and Smoothies
Nutty Oat Power Bites
Basic recipe
- 1/2 cup nut butter
- 1/3 cup raw honey or agave nectar
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 teaspoon spice or spices
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds, blitzed in a food processor (optional)
- 1/2 cup dried fruit, nuts or seeds
In a large bowl, combine nut butter, honey, vanilla, salt, spices, flaxseeds and chia seeds, if using. Stir in oats, coconut and dried fruit, seeds or nuts. Mix well. Place bowl in refrigerator to set, about 30 minutes. Remove from refrigerator and, using a melon baller (or just eye ball it), scoop out bite-sized amounts of dough and shape into balls by rolling dough around in your hands. Place balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a week, or freeze for up to four weeks.
More: 9 Portable Protein Snacks
Nutty Oat Power Bites Variations
Peanut and banana balls: Use peanut butter, ground cinnamon, 1/4 cup chopped peanuts and 1/4 cup pulverized banana chips (place banana chips in a resealable bag and pound with fists or a rolling pin to break into pieces).
More: Date Balls Recipe
Tropical balls: Use sunflower seed butter, ground ginger and cardamom, 1/4 cup chopped dried mango and 1/4 cup chopped dried pineapple.
Chocolate almond berry balls: Use almond butter, 1/8 teaspoon orange or lemon zest in place of spices, 1/2 cup dried raspberries or strawberries and 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips.
Cherry pie balls: Use cashew butter, ground cinnamon and 1/2 cup dried cherries. Roll balls in crushed graham cracker crumbs.
More: 2 Healthy Pie Recipes
Fruit Parfait Bowls
Basic recipe
- 1/2 cup fruit puree
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed
- 1 tablespoon nut butter (optional)
- 1/4 cup sliced fresh fruit or 1/4 cup chopped dried fruit
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts, granola, shredded coconut, seeds or toasted oats
In a small bowl, stir together fruit puree, yogurt, flaxseed and nut butter until well combined. Top with sliced fresh or dried fruit and your choice of nuts, granola, seeds, etc. You can make this in the morning, cover with plastic wrap, and leave in the refrigerator so your kid can enjoy it when he or she gets home from school.
Fruit Parfait Bowl Variations
Pumpkin pie bowl: Use 1/2 cup pumpkin puree, 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, skip the nut butter, add 1/8 teaspoon each cinnamon, cloves and ground ginger, and top with 1/4 cup pumpkin granola (Nature's Path Organic makes a good one).
More: 3 Kid-Friendly Pumpkin Recipes
Acai bowl: Use 1/2 cup defrosted acai berry puree, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, skip the nut butter, add 1/4 cup sliced bananas, 1/4 cup granola or toasted oats and drizzle with 1 tablespoon honey.
Berry peanut bowl: Use 1/2 cup pureed strawberries, 1/2 cup plain or vanilla yogurt, 1 tablespoon peanut butter, 1/4 cup sliced bananas and 1/4 cup mixture of granola, chopped dried strawberries or banana chips.
Blueberry cobbler bowl: Use 1/2 cup pureed blueberries, 1/2 cup plain or vanilla yogurt, 1 tablespoon almond or cashew butter (optional), 1/4 cup sliced blueberries and 1/4 cup mixture of crushed graham crackers and toasted oats.
