www.alysonhorcher.com: healthy snacks for kids

@alysonhorcher - Instagram

@alysonhorch - Twitter

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Peanut Butter & Honey Oat Bars

On the lookout for more healthy snack ideas that not only will I enjoy but my family will enjoy too. During one of my searches I came along this new recipe and although it is not one my son can take to school (his classroom is peanut free) it sounded really tasty. Best of all I had all the ingredients at home so I liked it even better!! Finding recipes that don't require me to make an extra trip to the grocery store is a SCORE in my book!!

Peanut Butter & Honey Oat Bars

Ingredients...

1/2 cup honey

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1/3 cup peanut butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

2 cups oats (I used old fashioned oats)

1/2 cup chopped honey roasted peanuts (although I used almonds instead)

Directions...

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

2. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper, making sure the paper hangs over the sides.

3. Either in microwave or stovetop (personally I prefer stovetop), melt honey, coconut oil, and peanut butter. Heat and stir until it gets runny and peanut butter is completely melted. Mix in vanilla and cinnamon and continue to stir.

4. In a large bowl combine oats, nuts and liquid mixture until everything is combined and mixture is completely coated.

5. Pour mixture into prepared pan and press down with back of spoon, bake in oven for 20-25 minutes until lightly brown.

6. Once you take bars out of oven, press down with the back of spoon again to insure the oats are pressed firmly together. Let the bars cool slightly and carefully take out bars by grabbing onto parchment paper and cut into 16 slices. Let bars cool completely and harden at room temperature.

Store bars in air tight container in the refrigerator.

Last but not least ENJOY!!

If you try this recipe, please let me know your thoughts. My first batch I made I thought it was too sweet so the next batch I decreased the honey to 1/4 cup. MUCH BETTER! I have been eating clean for over a year now so my level of sweetness has definitely decreased. Some people might like it with the full 1/2 cup honey so play around with it and see what you like best.

Whether you are a clean eater or not, having this type of snack, which not only tastes great but is good for you too, you are fueling your body right!!

You should be proud of your choices!!

For those that are interested in eating healthy or want to compare how well they are eating, I invite you to join me in my Healthy Eating challenge group. Everything is done via the Internet so no in person meetings are necessary. We discuss ways to stay motivated so you are not falling off the wagon every other day, we meal plan, discuss tips to incorporate planning and prepping into your already busy schedule, healthy recipes, snacking idea, tips for travel, and so much more. If you would like more information about this type of group, my other health and fitness groups, or would like to join please CONTACT ME and we will set up a time to discuss your specific needs and wants.

Now is the time to learn how to live a

FIT, HAPPY, and HEALTHY Life

and we will do it

TOGETHER!!!!

~Alyson

@alysonhorcher - Instagram

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Keep it Cool Cucumber Melon Ice Pops

Well you should know by now my family is my everything and so I not only want to be healthy and fit but I want my kids to be healthy and fit too. How do I do that? Well I make sure the food and drinks I am giving them are healthy. I also aim to get at least 30 minutes of outside play a day and if it is a raining day then I make sure we have a dance party. When I see them getting all sweaty but having lots of fun I know I did my job. Getting back to the food they eat though this recipe today I tried because I have been looking for ways to get around having the sugar filled traditional freeze pops. Here is on alternative and it was approved with smiling faces from my kids.

Keep it Cool

Cucumber Melon Ice Pops

this was what they looked liked before I put them in the freezer.
I didn't have ice pop molds so I used dixie cups and appetizer picks.

Ingredients...
1/2 cup cucumber, chopped
1/2 cup ripe cantaloupe, chopped
1/2 cup watermelon, chopped

Directions...

1. In a food processor(I’m sure you could use a hand blender), process cucumber until blended. Pour into a small bowl and set aside. Rinse out the food processor and repeat with cantaloupe and watermelon, keeping each seperate.

2. Spoon in blended cantaloupe , cucumber, and then watermelon into ice pop mold. Place sticks in mold.

3. Put mold in freezer for at least three hours or until completely frozen. To serve, place ice pop mold sideways under warm running water until they loosen.

Nutrition facts...
Calories: 19, calories from fat: 1, protein: 0.5g, carbs: 4.7 g, total fat: 0 g, fiber: 0.5 g, sodium: 5mg, sugar: 4g.

So if you try this recipe, please let me know your thoughts.

I love love love Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet Stripped book, it not only have helpful information but it is jam packed with amazing recipes. I have not found one I didn't like yet!!

If you are interested in learning how to eat healthy I highly recommend Tosca's books. They have helped me so very much and the more I read the more I learn. Also if you want more one on one interaction you could also join me in my Healthy Eating & Shakeology group. Everything is done via the internet so no in person meetings are necessary. We discuss ways to stay motivated so you are not falling off the wagon every other day, we meal plan, discuss tips to incorporate planning and prepping into your already busy schedule, healthy recipes, snacking idea, tips for travel, and so much more. If you would like more information about this type of group, my other health and fitness groups, or would like to join please CONTACT ME and we will set up a time to discuss your specific needs and wants.

Now is the time to learn how to live a

FIT, HAPPY, and HEALTHY Life

and we will do it

TOGETHER!!!!

~Alyson

@alysonhorcher - Instagram

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Greek Yogurt Cookie Dough

Hmmm, I am all about the clean "treats" this week! I didn't even realize it until now!! I guess it is a good thing I stopped counting calories and stick to good ole clean eating!!

Tomorrow I am making Zucchini brownies so be sure to stop by and check out that one too!!

So this recipe I made tonight I have had many times before but have not posted it. This is so stinkin good and let me tell you your kids will LOVE it!! What is so great you can feel confident having it and giving it to your little ones because look at the ingredients - hello CLEAN!!

Greek Yogurt Cookie Dough

Ingredients...
3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips
pinch of sea salt

Directions...
Mix it all together and enjoy!!
and of course if you want to make it look pretty put a few extra chocolate chips on top!

If you try this recipe I would love to know your thoughts. Also if you have any kid friendly recipes to share please do so. I am always looking for my kiddos!!

Now is the time to learn how to live a

FIT, HAPPY, and HEALTHY Life

and we will do it

TOGETHER!!!!

~Alyson

@alysonhorcher - Instagram

@alysonhorch - Twitter

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

Trying to find healthy snacks for my kids has been a bit of a challenge. Actually the real challenge was weaning them off of all the unhealthy snacks they had been having. I know not the best mom moment for me but I too had been eating not so healthy for a long time and well my habits spilled over to my children. I do all the food shopping, prepping, and cooking so I am responsible for what goes into my family's mouths. I am happy to say we are moving in the right direction and when I find recipes like these today I get excited. I get excited for two reasons 1. healthy "treats" 2. another step in the right direction

Ingredients:

2 15 ounce cans of chickpeas, well-rinsed and patted dry with a paper towel

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup natural peanut butter

Note: do not use regular peanut butter the bites will be too oily

1/4 cup honey

1 teaspoon baking powder

a pinch of salt

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions...

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Combine all the ingredients except for chocolate chips in a food process and process until very smooth. Make sure to scrap the sides and the top to get the little chunks of chickpeas and process again until combined. You want this VERY smooth.

3. Mix in the chocolate chips and stir if you can or pulse in the food processor. The mixture will be thick and sticky so I found it easier to remove the mixture from the food processor and combine chips in a bowl.

4. With wet hands, form mixture into small balls and place on a piece of parchment paper. If you want the bites to look more like cookies (that is what we called them in our house) press down slightly onto the balls so they are flat.

The bites do not rise.

5. Bake for 10 minutes

This is a recipe that had been circulating the internet on facebook. I had often seen it but thought hmm chickpeas? I finally decided okay I am going to try it and see and was pleasantly surprised. Kids tested and approved!! That's a win in my house!!

If you try this recipe I would love to know your thoughts. Also if you have any kid friendly recipes to share please do so. I am always looking for my kiddos!!

Interested in more clean eating recipes or maybe you want to get on the healthy train? Join my next 30 day Clean Eating and Shakeology challenge group. This type of group is great for someone who is not yet ready to start incorporating exercise but wants to learn how to eat better....healthier!! I will teach you everything I have learned and more!! We will talk about what foods to eat and what not to eat, meal plan, incorporate shakeology into your daily regime, daily doses of motivation, recipes, tips, etc. If you would like more information regarding this group pleaseCONTACT ME and we will discuss what would best fit your needs!!

Now is the time to learn how to live a

FIT, HAPPY, and HEALTHY LIfe

and we will do it

TOGETHER!!!!

~Alyson

@alysonhorcher - Instagram

@alysonhorch - Twitter

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Pizza Roll Ups

Lunchtime for my kids usually consists of Peanut Butter and Jelly. This week as I was making my meal plan I was looking for kid friendly meals and I came across this recipe on thegraciouspantry.com (love this site for clean eating recipes!) I modified the recipe a bit as I was also looking for something

quick and easy.

Ingredients...
4 whole wheat tortilla
1 jar clean marinara or pizza sauce
2 cups shredded or finely chopped veggies of choice ( zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms,etc.)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions...
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a parchment lined cookie sheet.
2. Lay each tortilla out flat and cut into triangles with a pizza cutter
3. Spread a thin layer of sauce over each triangle and sprinkle on some veggies and cheese.
4. Roll up the triangles and place on cookie sheet
Note: If the roll ups are not staying rolled because you fill them too much place a toothpick in them to hold together
5. Bake for 20 minutes (this can vary depending on how thick and how full the rolls are, so keep an eye on them).

Optional: In place of the whole wheat tortillas, ou can make your own batch of whole wheat pizza dough. If so you wold cook your dough accordingly and then roll it out into a rectangular shape. Then proceed cutting dough into triangles.

Not only did my kids enjoy these Pizza Roll ups, I did too. They were my lunch today and I paired it with a spinach salad with vinaigrette dressing.

If you try this recipe I would love to know your thoughts. Also if you have any kid friendly recipes to share please do so. I am always looking for my kiddos!!

Now is the time to learn how to live a

FIT, HAPPY, and HEALTHY LIfe

and we will do it

TOGETHER!!!!

~Alyson

@alysonhorcher - Instagram

@alysonhorch - Twitter

Monday, May 20, 2013

Banana and Peanut butter mini sandwiches

So I know I don't take the best pictures and I should have probably cleaned up the plate a bit to make it look pretty but come on the moment I put these little guys in front of my kids, they devour them!!

This was our morning snack today - yes myself and my two kids.

My daughter would eat these at every meal if I let her, she loves them!!

Introducing Banana and Peanut Butter Mini Sandwiches...

Ingredients...

1 banana

1-2 tablespoons natural peanut butter

Directions...

Cut banana into round slices (I always count out an even number so I have a top and bottom)

Spread peanut butter on top of half the banana slices

Top each with remaining banana slices

Voila healthy snack for you and the kiddos - complex carb, protein, and healthy fat all in one!!

Now is the time to learn how to

Live a Fit, Happy, and Healthy life

and WE will do it

TOGETHER!!!!

~Alyson

beachbodycoach.com/alysonh