Frugal and Nutritious Summer Snacks

Lately, there has been a lot in the news concerning
obesity in America. And not just in adults--our
children are over-weight, also.

It's not surprising, considering the advertising
dollars that are spent each year aimed at persuading
children that potato chips, candy bars and other
"junk food" are good for them.

While we may not be able to change the world, we can
change what is available to our children in our own
homes.

Here are a few healthy alternatives to those fat and
sugar laden "store-bought" snacks.

Please note that snacks and foods containing honey are
not suitable for those children under 2 years of age.

>Peanut Butter Balls

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1 cup toasted wheat germ
1 tablespoons powdered milk

Mix ingredients well, shape into balls.
Roll in coconut if desired.
Store in refrigerator.

>Popcorn is a great snack food. It is a good source
of fiber and low in calories--until you add toppings.
Don't add salt, but try sprinkling grated Parmesan or
American cheese on top.

Zipper top bags of popcorn are handy for taking along
on picnics and other outings.

>Honey "Cracker Jacks"

6 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup butter or margarine
6 cups popped popcorn
1 cup peanuts

Melt honey and butter in microwave until melted and blended.
Let cool. Mix peanuts and popcorn; pour honey mixture over and
stir till coated. Spread in single layer in shallow baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes. Stir several times
during baking. Watch closely so it doesn't burn.

Store in airtight container.

>Apricot Nectar

Soak 1/2 cup dried apricots in 2 cups of pineapple juice
for about 1 hour. Process in blender till smooth.

>Fruity Soda Drink

Combine equal amounts of carbonated water with fruit juice.
Sweeten with honey, if desired.

>Banana Smoothie

1 1/4 cups milk
1 banana
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Process in blender till smooth. This is a good way to use
up bananas.

With summer coming up, frozen snacks will be on our grocery
lists. Why not try these alternatives?

>Homemade Frozen Pops

1 6-oz. can frozen juice concentrate, softened
try orange, grape, or fruit punch
1 juice can water
2 containers of plain yogurt
popsicle sticks and cups

Process in blender. Pour into cups and insert
sticks. Freeze.

Small paper cups work pretty well as molds for
these recipes.

>Make Your Own Pudding Pops

1 small pkg. instant pudding mix--any flavor
1 3/4 cup lowfat milk

Mix as directed on package. Once again, pour
into molds and add sticks. Freeze.

These ideas should help feed those hungry kids on these
warm spring and summer days!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Could it be a mistake that "STRESSED" is "DESSERTS"
spelled backwards?

About the Author

Cyndi Roberts' website, "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" will
show you ways to save money everyday. Receive a free
e-course on saving money at the supermarket!
To learn more, visit
http://www.cynroberts.com

written by: Cyndi Roberts

Related Frugal Articles:

Frugal Outdoor Cooking
Firing up the grill is a great way to cook in the summer! Here are a few grilling tips and a couple of recipes, too. For great grilled burgers, form the patty gently. Smashing the meat forces out moisture. Sear both sides of the...

Gardening--Fun and Frugal!
Whether you are an avid vegetable gardener, a beginning herb gardener or just like to have a pretty yard, these frugal tips may help you save a little money! 1. Stale coffee and coffee grounds make great organic fertilizer. They provide many...

10 Fun & Frugal Beauty Tips
I'm ready to unload some the best secrets and tips that even your salon professionals use. Of course they would like for you to buy their products and will tell you they are the best in order to make the sale, but I'm pretty sure they're not being...

Frugal Kitchen Spruce Ups
Frugal Kitchen Spruce Ups By Kathleen Wilson Most of us spend a good deal of time in our kitchens these days, and it’s not just for cooking. More homes are being built with the kitchen as the hub of the home, and even if you’re on a tight budget,...

Easy, Frugal Tuna Casserole Recipes
Tuna casseroles are one of the most frugal dinners you can make. Most picky kids will eat them, and most picky husbands will too! Whenever you can't think of something for dinner, you can bet you will probably have the ingredients on hand to make...

Frugal, Kid-Friendly Recipes
It's always a challenge to come up with meals that are easy, quick to fix and frugal, yet appealing to families, especially children. Here are a couple of recipes that are ideal for summertime lunches or suppers. Children can even help in...

Decorating Frugally
The trend these days is to discover extremely innovative ways to decorate interiors on a budget. The tips provided below are just a few of the many ways one can inexpensively achieve a truly original look for a room. Borders on a wall are an...

Easy, Frugal Breakfasts!
We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And that children that eat breakfast do better in school than those who don't. However, we also all know that it isn't always easy to find time to prepare that all-important meal or...

Perfect Picnics - Frugal Food Safety Tips
Summer is finally here and for a lot of us that means heading out to the lake or to the park for a picnic with friends or family. Unfortunately, if we're not careful when we plan, transport and serve that picnic, our outing might not end up...

Frugal Cooking With Herbs
Herbs are fun to grow and easy to use. Herbs can be a frugal cook's best friend because they can enhance even the simplest fare making it seem grand! Herbs are easy to grow--you can even grow them on your kitchen windowsill. The addition...

www.NotMadeOfMoney.com
home :: Frugal Tips Frugal and Nutritious Summer Snacks Lately, there has been a lot in the news concerning obesity in America. And not just in adults--our children are over-weight, also. It's not surprising, considering the advertising dollars that are spent each year aimed at persuading children that potato chips, candy bars and other "junk food" are good for them. While we may not be able to change the world, we can change what is available to our children in our own homes. Here are a few healthy alternatives to those fat and sugar laden "store-bought" snacks. Please note that snacks and foods containing honey are not suitable for those children under 2 years of age. >Peanut Butter Balls 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2 cup honey 1 cup toasted wheat germ 1 tablespoons powdered milk Mix ingredients well, shape into balls. Roll in coconut if desired. Store in refrigerator. >Popcorn is a great snack food. It is a good source of fiber and low in calories--until you add toppings. Don't add salt, but try sprinkling grated Parmesan or American cheese on top. Zipper top bags of popcorn are handy for taking along on picnics and other outings. >Honey "Cracker Jacks" 6 tablespoons honey 1/4 cup butter or margarine 6 cups popped popcorn 1 cup peanuts Melt honey and butter in microwave until melted and blended. Let cool. Mix peanuts and popcorn; pour honey mixture over and stir till coated. Spread in single layer in shallow baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes. Stir several times during baking. Watch closely so it doesn't burn. Store in airtight container. >Apricot Nectar Soak 1/2 cup dried apricots in 2 cups of pineapple juice for about 1 hour. Process in blender till smooth. >Fruity Soda Drink Combine equal amounts of carbonated water with fruit juice. Sweeten with honey, if desired. >Banana Smoothie 1 1/4 cups milk 1 banana 1/2 teaspoon vanilla Process in blender till smooth. This is a good way to use up bananas. With summer coming up, frozen snacks will be on our grocery lists. Why not try these alternatives? >Homemade Frozen Pops 1 6-oz. can frozen juice concentrate, softened try orange, grape, or fruit punch 1 juice can water 2 containers of plain yogurt popsicle sticks and cups Process in blender. Pour into cups and insert sticks. Freeze. Small paper cups work pretty well as molds for these recipes. >Make Your Own Pudding Pops 1 small pkg. instant pudding mix--any flavor 1 3/4 cup lowfat milk Mix as directed on package. Once again, pour into molds and add sticks. Freeze. These ideas should help feed those hungry kids on these warm spring and summer days! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Could it be a mistake that "STRESSED" is "DESSERTS" spelled backwards? About the Author Cyndi Roberts' website, "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" will show you ways to save money everyday. Receive a free e-course on saving money at the supermarket! To learn more, visit http://www.cynroberts.com written by: Cyndi Roberts Related Frugal Articles: Frugal Outdoor Cooking Firing up the grill is a great way to cook in the summer! Here are a few grilling tips and a couple of recipes, too. For great grilled burgers, form the patty gently. Smashing the meat forces out moisture. Sear both sides of the... Gardening--Fun and Frugal! Whether you are an avid vegetable gardener, a beginning herb gardener or just like to have a pretty yard, these frugal tips may help you save a little money! 1. Stale coffee and coffee grounds make great organic fertilizer. They provide many... 10 Fun & Frugal Beauty Tips I'm ready to unload some the best secrets and tips that even your salon professionals use. Of course they would like for you to buy their products and will tell you they are the best in order to make the sale, but I'm pretty sure they're not being... Frugal Kitchen Spruce Ups Frugal Kitchen Spruce Ups By Kathleen Wilson Most of us spend a good deal of time in our kitchens these days, and it’s not just for cooking. More homes are being built with the kitchen as the hub of the home, and even if you’re on a tight budget,... Easy, Frugal Tuna Casserole Recipes Tuna casseroles are one of the most frugal dinners you can make. Most picky kids will eat them, and most picky husbands will too! Whenever you can't think of something for dinner, you can bet you will probably have the ingredients on hand to make... Frugal, Kid-Friendly Recipes It's always a challenge to come up with meals that are easy, quick to fix and frugal, yet appealing to families, especially children. Here are a couple of recipes that are ideal for summertime lunches or suppers. Children can even help in... Decorating Frugally The trend these days is to discover extremely innovative ways to decorate interiors on a budget. The tips provided below are just a few of the many ways one can inexpensively achieve a truly original look for a room. Borders on a wall are an... Easy, Frugal Breakfasts! We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And that children that eat breakfast do better in school than those who don't. However, we also all know that it isn't always easy to find time to prepare that all-important meal or... Perfect Picnics - Frugal Food Safety Tips Summer is finally here and for a lot of us that means heading out to the lake or to the park for a picnic with friends or family. Unfortunately, if we're not careful when we plan, transport and serve that picnic, our outing might not end up... Frugal Cooking With Herbs Herbs are fun to grow and easy to use. Herbs can be a frugal cook's best friend because they can enhance even the simplest fare making it seem grand! Herbs are easy to grow--you can even grow them on your kitchen windowsill. The addition... Related Frugal Links: Frugal Kid Friendly Recipes Frugal Kitchen Spruce Ups Frugal Outdoor Cooking Perfect Picnics Frugal Food Safety Tips Decorating Frugally Easy Frugal Breakfasts Easy Frugal Tuna Casserole Recipes Frugal Cooking With Herbs Gardening Fun and Frugal	[includes/feature-box-2.htm]
[includes/menu-btm.htm]