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Calcium Cereal Bark

Calcium Cereal Bark
Prep Time
5 minutes, plus 2 to 3 hours freeze time
Number of Servings
8 to 10 bars
Ingredients
Directions
  1. Mix ChildLife Essentials Liquid Calcium with Magnesium with yogurt
  2. Line a flat pan with parchment paper and spread yogurt mixture evenly on top (about [q:3/8] inch in thickness)
  3. Sprinkle your favorite cereal on top (we used fruity cereal!)
  4. Place in the freezer for 2 to 3 hours until frozen.
  5. Remove from parchment paper, break into pieces and serve immediately.
Nutrition Info
100 calories

Caramel Apples

Caramel Apples
Number of Servings
Serves 6
Ingredients
  • 1 (11‑ounce) bag soft caramel candies (about 40 candies)
  • Vegetable oil spray
  • 4 medium or 6 small Granny Smith apples, stems removed
  • [q:1/4] cup
  • heavy cream
  • [q:1/2] teaspoon vanilla extract
  • [q:1/4] teaspoon salt

 

Directions

Caramel

  1. Place caramels in freezer for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray lightly with vegetable oil spray. Set parchment-lined baking sheet next to stove.
  2. While caramels freeze, insert 1 popsicle stick into stem end of each apple, pushing stick about 1 inch into apple.
  3. Unwrap caramels and place in small saucepan. Add cream, vanilla, and salt.
  4. Cook over medium-low heat until caramels begin to melt, about 5 minutes. Use rubber spatula to stir and scrape bottom of saucepan. Continue to cook, stirring often, until caramels are melted and mixture is completely smooth, 5 to 7 minutes. Turn off heat and slide saucepan to cool burner.

Apple Dipping

  1. Working quickly, carefully dip apples to mostly cover with caramel, following photos below. (If caramel becomes too thick to dip easily, reheat over medium-low heat, stirring often, until loosened, 2 to 3 minutes.)
  2. Hold handle of saucepan and carefully tip to one side. Use other hand to hold popsicle stick and carefully dip apple into caramel, turning to coat most of the apple on all sides (ask an adult for help).
  3. Lift apple out of caramel and gently shake to let extra sauce drip into pot, about 10 seconds.
  4. Turn apple upright and gently twist back and forth to even out coating. Hold upright for 30 seconds to set coating.
  5. Place apple, with stick pointing up, on greased parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat dipping with remaining apples.
  6. Place baking sheet in refrigerator and chill until caramel is firm, about 30 minutes. Serve. (Caramel apples can be refrigerated in airtight storage container for up to 3 days.)
Nutrition Info
307 Calories, 3 g Protein, 15 mg Cholesterol, 56 g Carbohydrates, 46 g Total sugars (34 g Added sugars), 3 g Fiber, 9 g Total fat (4 g sat), 228 mg Sodium, [nut:1] Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Phosphorus

Cherry and Toasted-Pecan Quinoa Cookies

Cherry and Toasted-Pecan Quinoa Cookies
Prep Time
20 minutes
Number of Servings
2 dozen cookies
Ingredients
  • [q:1 1/2] cups white whole-wheat flour
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • [q:1/2] tsp baking powder
  • [q:1/2] tsp baking soda
  • [q:1/2] cup coconut oil, room temperature
  • [q:1/4] cup sugar or [q:1 1/2] Tbsp maple syrup
  • [q:1/4] cups (packed) light brown sugar
  • [q:1/4] cup clover or orange blossom honey
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • [q:1/2] tsp almond extract
  • 1 cup cooked quinoa, cooled
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1 cup dried cherries
  • [q:1/2] cup toasted shredded coconut (unsweetened)
  • [q:1/2] cup toasted pecans, chopped
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 375°.
  2. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl.
  3. Using an electric mixer, beat coconut oil, both sugars, and honey in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs and extracts; beat until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in flour mixture, [q:1/2] cup at a time. Stir in quinoa, oats, cherries, coconut, and pecans.
  4. Spoon dough in portions equal to 2 tablespoons each onto prepared baking sheets, spacing cookies 1 inch apart.
  5. Bake cookies until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.
Nutrition Info
179 Calories, 3 g Protein, 25 g Carbohydrates, 3 g Fiber, 8 g Total fat (5 g sat, 2 g mono, 1 g poly), 120 mg Sodium, [nutrition:1] Iron

Peanut Butter S'Mores English Muffins

Peanut Butter S'Mores English Muffins
Number of Servings
Serves 4
Ingredients
Directions
  1. Preheat the broiler.
  2. Place English muffins on a baking sheet, cut-sides up. Divide peanut butter between them, then sprinkle evenly with chocolate. Top with marshmallows, pressing down on them slightly.
  3. Broil until chocolate is melted and marshmallows are browned.
Nutrition Info
479 Calories, 13 g Protein, 1 mg Cholesterol, 45 g Carbohydrates, 16 g Total sugars (14 g Added sugars), 9 g Fiber, 29 g Total fat (11 g sat), 196 mg Sodium, [nut:3] Iron, Zinc, [nut:2] Magnesium, Phosphorus, [nut:1] Vitamin B3 (niacin)

First Day of School Bento

First Day of School Bento
Make the day an even more special one.
Prep Time
10 minutes (plus one hour or overnight cooling)
Number of Servings
2
Ingredients
  • Homemade Fruit Snacks
  • Cut-out sandwiches (nut-butter and jelly sandwiches, cut with cookie cutters)
  • Hard-boiled egg, shaped in a mold
  • Cheese of choice, cubed
  • Vegetable of choice, cut into sticks
Directions
  1. Make a large batch of fruit snacks ahead of time and keep them in the refrigerator.
  2. Hard-boil the egg, cut the vegetable sticks, and cube the cheese the night before.
  3. In the morning, make the cut-out sandwiches.

Homemade Fruit Snacks

Homemade Fruit Snacks
Adorable, easy, healthy, and tastier than store-bought!
Ingredients
  • [q:1/2] cup juice of choice
  • 1 Tbsp gelatin
  • 1 Tbsp honey
Directions
  1. In a small saucepan, add the juice and sprinkle with the gelatin. Let the gelatin bloom for 3 minutes.
  2. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until the gelatin melts. (Do not boil.)
  3. Transfer the liquid to silicone candy molds. Refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight and remove from the molds.

Taco-Spiced Mixed Nuts

Taco-Spiced Mixed Nuts
Prep Time
30 mins prep time + 7 hrs soak time for nuts
Number of Servings
8
Ingredients
  • [q:2/3] cup raw macadamia nuts
  • [q:2/3] cup raw pecans
  • [q:2/3] cup raw walnuts
  • [q:2/3] cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • [q:1/2] tsp turmeric powder
  • [q:1/2] tsp ground cumin
  • [q:1/2] tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 275°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. If desired, soak nuts.*
  2. Place macadamia nuts, pecans, walnuts, and pepitas in a single layer on baking sheet and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, mixing halfway through roasting time. You can also roast on the stovetop in a cast-iron skillet over low to medium heat. (This process usually takes 8 to 10 minutes on the stove, but watch closely so they do not burn.) You know they are done when you can smell the nuts and they become golden on the outside.
  3. Remove baking sheet from oven and place mixture in a bowl. Toss nuts with chili powder, turmeric, cumin, black pepper, salt, and oil to evenly coat.
  4. Allow nuts to cool before serving. Store them in an airtight glass container or glass jar. They will last for 1 month in the fridge or 1 week on your counter.
Nutrition Info

Per serving: 230 Calories, 5 g Protein, 5 g Carbohydrates, 3 g Fiber, 23 g Total fat (3 g sat), 81 mg Sodium, [nutrition:2] Magnesium, Phosphorus, [nutrition:1] Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Iron, Zinc

Spinach-Cheese Dip

Spinach-Cheese Dip
Prep Time
25 min prep time
Number of Servings
4
Ingredients
  • 10 oz baby spinach
  • 1 Tbsp plain low-fat Greek yogurt
  • [q:1/2] lemon, juiced
  • [q:1/3] cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
  • [q:1/3] cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Pinch of ground nutmeg
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
  1. Blanch spinach in a large pan of salted, boiling water for 1 minute. Drain spinach. When spinach is cool enough to handle, place it in a clean dish towel and wring to remove as much water as possible.
  2. Add spinach to a food processor along with yogurt and lemon juice. Blend until almost smooth.
  3. Transfer spinach mixture to a saucepan set over medium-low heat. Add cheeses, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Heat until cheeses melt.
  4. Serve immediately with baked tortilla chips, crackers, and raw sliced veggies.
Nutrition Info
99 Calories, 8 g Protein, 4 g Carbohydrates, 2 g Fiber, 6 g Total fat (4 g sat), 248 mg Sodium, [nutrition:5] Vitamin K, [nutrition:4] Vitamin A, [nutrition:3] Folate, [nutrition:2] Vitamin B1 (thiamine), C, D, Calcium, Phosphorus, [nutrition:1] Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), B6, E, Iron, Magnesium

Double Chocolate Brownies

Double Chocolate Brownies
Prep Time
45 min prep time
Number of Servings
makes 24 brownies
Ingredients
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • [q:1/2] lb sweet potatoes, peeled, cubed, and boiled until fork-tender
  • [q:1/2] cup unsweetened almond butter
  • [q:1/2] cup coconut oil or unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
  • 1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk
  • [q:1/4] cup maple syrup
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • [q:3/4] cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
  • [q:1/2] tsp salt
  • [q:1/2] tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp semisweet chocolate chips ([q:6 3/4] oz), divided
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving 2 inches of overhang on each side and coat with cooking spray.
  2. Combine sweet potatoes, almond butter, coconut oil, egg, and egg yolk in a food processor. Process until very smooth, making sure no chunks of sweet potato remain, about 1 minute.
  3. Scrape down sides of bowl and add maple syrup and vanilla. Process until combined, about 30 seconds.
  4. Add cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda. Process until all dry ingredients are incorporated, about 1 minute more. Fold in 1 cup of the chocolate chips.
  5. Pour batter into prepared pan, spread it into an even layer and sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons chocolate chips. Bake until top is set and a toothpick inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs, 27 to 30 minutes. Let brownies cool slightly. Cut into 24 bars.
Nutrition Info
Per serving (1 brownie): 138 Calories, 2 g Protein, 12 g Carbohydrates, 2 g Fiber, 11 g Total fat (6 g sat), 84 mg Sodium, [nutrition:1] Vitamin D, E, Magnesium, Phosphorus