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Peppermint Sweet Potato Brownies

December 11, 2019 by Lindsay 2 Comments

These Peppermint Sweet Potato Brownies are the perfect holiday dessert! They’re gluten-free and sweetened with dates. Add them to a Christmas cookie tray or bring them to a potluck or party.

Hi friends!

These Peppermint Sweet Potato Brownies are likely the only new holiday recipe you’ll get from me this year but man are they delicious. They’re basically just a slight twist on my Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Brownies. I made a couple of small changes and BAM! A perfectly festive recipe that would make a fun addition to a holiday cookie tray and would also be perfect at your Christmas party, office potluck, etc.

These beauties are made in the food processor. Have I mentioned I love my Cuisinart food processor (affiliate link). It’s by far my most used kitchen appliance and my absolute fav for baking because it’s so easy to add all sorts of nutrient boosters to baked goods.

So, using the food processor allows you to sweeten these with dates, which I love. It also lets you blend in a whole medium sweet potato! You don’t even need flour or oats for these.

My gluten-free sweet potato brownies have been our fav around here for several years…and then every time the holidays roll around, I find myself making my No-Bake Peppermint Chocolate Bites on repeat…because is there really anything more festive than white chocolate and crushed candy canes? I think not.

So this year I decided to do a little mash-up and give my brownies a mint twist. And guys, they turned out so well. I’ve made two batches this week and eaten almost all of them myself.

Here’s the recipe:

What do you think? Are you worried they’re going to taste like peanut butter or sweet potato? I promise you they don’t!

I can’t wait for you to try them! Be sure to let me know what you think!!

Let’s chat:

What staple treats go on your cookie trays every year?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

All-Time Favorite Gifts {For Babies, Toddlers & Mom}

November 26, 2019 by Lindsay 2 Comments

After three kids, here are my all-time favorite gifts for Babies, Toddlers and Moms! These are my most used items for everyday life and would make great choices for gifts, baby registries and more.

all time best gifts for babies, toddlers and moms

Hi friends!

I wanted to share my all-time favorite gifts with you guys. In case you missed any my previous gift guides, you can check them out below:

*Originally posted 11/2019. Updated 11/2023.*

Some of you have asked what my absolute favorites are. I tried to make my previous guides very robust with lots of options at different price points but if I was really going to boil it down to my very favorite things, I could pretty easily pick my top 10 favorites in a few categories.

So, I rounded up my favorites for baby’s first year, the toddler years (mostly ages 2-4) and my current mama favs that I use almost daily. So here are my all-time favorite gifts for babies, toddlers and moms.

Some of the links below are affiliate links from Amazon and other places. That means that if you purchase through them, I earn a small amount at no additional cost to you! Thanks for supporting The Lean Green Bean.

All-Time Favorite Gifts

all-time favorites for baby's first year

All-time favorite newborn items

Ergo Adapt – Hands down my favorite baby carrier. I have three of them and used them with all three kids. I love the adapt bc you don’t need an infant insert.
UpSimples Swaddle Blankets – These are THE softest blankets. Great for swaddling, spit up, lovies, cold weather covering, etc.
Lectrofan Sound Machine – A good sound machine is a must-have. I have this one in several rooms.
Newborn to Toddler Rocker – I used the rock and play with all three, but since it was recalled, this is my next most-used chair. It got plenty of use with all three as well.
Boogin’ Head Pacifier Clip & Zutano Booties – If baby takes a pacifier, boogin’ head is a must to keep from loosing them. But only one of mine really took a paci so I’d also recommend the booties.
Gootensil – The perfect first utensil. Easy to load and great for them to practice with or just chew on when teething.
B’apron Baby – The best bib. It goes over the shoulders and ties in the back so they can’t yank it off their neck.
Summer Infant Popup Playyard – We used this ALL the time when we owned a gym while my oldest was a baby. Even now we use it in our living room to keep the baby away from the big kids when they’re building, doing train tracks etc. They have a newer model with a sun shade which is great for outside.
Laugh and Learn Table – All my kids have loved this. You can put it on the floor without the legs when they’re little and it’s great when they start to stand. Even my big kid still play with it!
Sit to stand walker – Another one that’s been highly used with all three kids when learning to walk!

Check out my Baby’s First Year Gift Guide here.

All-time favorite toddler gifts

Wooden train tracks – My oldest was non-stop trains from ages 1-3. Most of the brands work together so snag them on sale and build your collection.
Anything that encourages open-ended play and has more than one use: trucks/cars +babies/stuffed animals – great for any age. They don’t have to be fancy…the simpler the better so they can use their imagination
Play tools and doctor kit and vet set – our three most used “pretend” sets
Play kitchen – all my kids have loved this from age 1 and it’s still being use by my 9 year old
Duplos – skip the mega blocks big builders and just get Duplos. Big enough for 1-year-olds and my kids used them until they were 4 or 5 before switching to smaller sets.
Nugget – Great pretty much as soon as they start crawling but I’d say 2.5 or so is about the time mine started using on their own without needing parent help to set it up and move it around. Big hit from ages 3-6 and still being used by my older kids as well to make forts, cars and more.
Magnatiles and/or wooden blocks – Blocks are great for any age. Magnatiles are one of my favorite gifts for 2nd birthday because my kids started using them independently around 2.5. My 9 year old still builds castles etc for his army men with them. Get the 100 pack. Several of them. Just trust me
Scooter – Tricycles are great but if you only want to buy one, I’d go with a scooter for ages 2+. My daughter mastered it around 2.5 and with practice probably could have been good at it even younger.
Ultimate fort builder – easy to snap together but if you want to build some of the designs they suggest, you have to position the connectors a certain way so ages 3-4 might be a better age to start if no older siblings
Art supplies/playdough/water table/sensory bins – check this post for a list of our most used supplies

Find all my favorite Toddler Gift Ideas here.

All-time favorite gifts for kids ages 4-7

If your kids are no longer toddlers, I have lots of toy ideas for kids ages 4-7 here:

Kids Gifts Ideas – Ages 4-7

Mom Favs

Able purse – Hands down my favorite crossbody purse. I have 3 of various sizes and love them all.
Yeti Coffee Mug – To keep your coffee hot and also minimize spills and potential burns from little hands that are grabbing for your mug.
Stitch Fix – Since going shopping is hard! I also love my Lululemon Dance Studio Pants.
Slippers – On my feet every day for fall, winter and spring.
Pop Socket– A must-have for your phone.
Audible or Kindle Unlimited membership- When I have the time and energy to read for fun, this comes in handy for access to a lot of books and Audible makes it easy to listen to books while doing other things.
Food processor – Instant Pot – Air Fryer – Nutribullet : My four most used kitchen appliances.
Heating Pad – For all your mom aches and pains and also to make your bed warm and cozy.
Birkenstock Mayari – My go-to shoe all summer long. Stylish, comfortable and long lasting.
Dumbbells – You can get a great workout, even in your living room, with a good pair of dumbbells.
Shark Hair Dryer – Saves so much time drying my hair
Airpods – Cannot live without them!

Find all my favorite Gift Ideas For Busy Moms here.

So there you go! I’m sure I forgot something but this should get you started!

After three kids, here are my all-time favorite gifts for Babies, Toddlers and Moms! These are my most used items for every day life and would make great choices for gifts, baby registries and more.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Apple Cheddar Turkey Meatballs

November 6, 2019 by Lindsay 5 Comments

These Apple Cheddar Turkey Meatballs are kid-friendly and perfect for food prep! They’re full of flavor and make a great party appetizer or family dinner.

Apple Cheddar Turkey Meatballs with green beans and sweet potatoes

Hi friends!

Whenever I find myself in a dinner rut, meatballs are a go-to of mine! Over the years I’ve come up with quite a few flavor combinations that are on repeat around here. These Apple Cheddar Turkey meatballs are on of our current favorites. After we went apple picking this year, I was looking for new ways to use up some of our apples and the idea for these were born.

My kids love them because they’re full of cheese and the apples add a little sweetness. I love dipping them in bbq sauce! Since meatballs are so easy to double or triple the recipe, these would perfect for a football tailgate!

overhead shot of apple cheddar turkey meatballs

When I polled my audience on Instagram, the majority preferred shredded cheese mixed into the meatballs but you could also make a stuffed version of these Apple Cheddar Turkey Meatballs by stuffing a cube of cheddar cheese into the middle of them!

I served mine with some roasted veggies so that I could do everything on a couple of baking sheets in the oven for dinner, but you could also serve with pasta, baked sweet potatoes or another favorite side dish of yours!

If you’re not ready to try apples and cheese in your meatballs, try these High Protein Turkey Meatballs.

Here’s how you make them:

What do you think? We love them!

These Apple Cheddar Turkey Meatballs are kid-friendly and perfect for food prep! They're full of flavor and make a great party appetizer or family dinner.

Looking for other meatball recipes? Try these:

What’s your favorite meatball flavor combo?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Dairy-Free Pumpkin Bars

November 1, 2019 by Lindsay 24 Comments

These Dairy-free Pumpkin Bars are so easy to whip up for a snack or dessert! They require just one bowl and one measuring cup!

Hi friends!

We’re knee-deep in pumpkin season over here…although if you’ve been following for any length of time you know that we are team year-round pumpkin! However, I accept the fact that a lot of people only enjoy it in the Fall…which is why I knew I had to share these easy Dairy-free Pumpkin Bars with you guys as soon as possible. They just might become your new favorite dessert. Who knows! Maybe this will be the recipe that converts you to year-round pumpkin loving!

Dairy-free Pumpkin Bars

I’ve been making these bars for several years now and when I shared them over on Instagram a couple of weeks ago, you guys went wild for them! The recipe is so so easy. All you need is one bowl and guess what? You only need one measuring cup as well! My kids love helping me make these and they’ve been a huge hit at football parties, potlucks etc as well!

Here’s how you make them:

See what I mean? You just grab a 1/3 cup measuring cup and you can make the whole recipe! It doesn’t get any easier.

Looking for more pumpkin recipes? Try these:

What’s your favorite pumpkin dessert?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Best Toys for Multiple Ages

October 28, 2019 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

Looking for the best toys for multiple ages? Here’s a roundup of toys that all of my kids have played with for many years. They’re great for entertaining a wide range of ages and perfect for keeping siblings entertained!

Hi friends!

When you have 3 kids, you find toys they all love out of necessity. No matter how much space you have, there’s simply not room for everyone to have all their own toys. A common question I get from parents who just had their second or third kid is for a list of toys that all of my kids play with.

I put together a list of my favorites. These are forever toys. The ones you can buy when your first kid is one or two and save until your youngest kid is heading to middle school! Some are expensive, but I think the fact that you can keep them around for many years gives them a lot of bang for their buck!

If you want more gift ideas, check out these posts:

So, here are my top 10 recommendations.

This post contains affiliate links where noted. That means when you purchase through my link, I receive a small amount of money, at no additional cost to you! Thanks so much for supporting The Lean Green Bean!

*Originally posted 10/2019. Updated 11/2023*

10 Best Toys for Multiple Ages

Play Cushions

Nugget Comfort

We got this when my older two kids were 4 and 2 and have used it daily since. I even have a whole Instagram highlight of the different ways we’ve used it. It’s great for obstacle courses, forts, watching tv, saving your couch cushions, monster truck ramps, and endless other things!

Magnetic Tiles

Magnatiles are my absolute favorite.

I always recommend people splurge on the name-brand ones because I feel they work the best…and also splurge on the 100 pack because you’re going to want as many pieces as possible. But if you’re on a budget, Picasso Tiles works fine too and they do work with Magna-Tiles – we have some of each kind and use them together.

I also recommend a magnetic board to build on (aff link). If you’re on a budget you can use an old cookie sheet!

Building Block Toys

Duplos

These really depend on the ages of your kids. I recommend skipping Megablocks and going straight to Duplos. With my kids, Duplos were great for the middle years – ages 2-5 – because they’re easy to stick together.

It can be tricky to move to smaller legos with older siblings while you still have younger ones that they can be a choking hazard for. My oldest was happy playing with these until he was about 5.

Classic Legos

Starting around age 4 or 5, smaller lego sets can be a better choice.

Other options: Playmobil — Erector Set — K’Nex

Blocks

Jumbo Cardboard Blocks – a pain to assemble but once you only have to do it once. They’re sturdy and
kids will love to build with, knock down, crash into, jump over etc!

If you want something smaller, go with standard wooden blocks.

Fort Builder

Ultimate Fort Builder – We love this one from Lakeshore Learning and love it. This one from Amazon is similar. These are easy to snap together.

The only thing to consider is that to make some of the designs in the booklet that comes with it, the red connectors need to be oriented a certain way (there are arrows on them) so I often need to help my kids (almost 3 & 5) set them up.

If they just want to build a big square or rectangle, or their own design, they can connect them however they want. Just throw a sheet over the top and voila!

If you want something easier, consider an Air Fort.

Train Tracks

Wooden Train Tracks – Most of the wooden tracks – Brio, Obrium, Melissa and Doug etc are interchangeable so I’d look for whichever brand you can find the best deal on and you can add more later!

You can set them up in endless patterns and can easily add to your first set to make longer and more complex tracks. They’re also great for traveling. I always pack a ziploc bag full in my suitcase with a few trains because you can set them up anywhere.

Play Kitchen

Step 2 Play Kitchen – There are tons of different models out there so you can browse around and find a design you love, one to fit your decor etc.

We got ours when my oldest turned 1 and all my kids still play with it daily. I highly recommend adding some food, this shopping cart and cash register to the mix as well.

And then you can save your food and diaper boxes and set up your own grocery store like I did here.

Doll House

Hape Doll House – I found mine on FB marketplace…a great place to look for any of this stuff, but both my older kids use it.

I’ve found it’s a common thing to have in preschool classrooms and both of my kids started playing with ours at home more after they were introduced to it at school.

Ours was from Plan Toys but this one from Hape is also great.

Occupation Toys & Dress Up Clothes

My kids love their doctor kit, vet set and all of their dress up clothes (order slightly big so they can grow into them and use for multiple years).

They also love their pretend tools, cleaning supplies and explorer set (binoculars, compass, flashlight, etc).

Obstacle Course Equipment

In addition to our Nugget, we also use a balance beam and floor dots to make homemade obstacle courses. You could also add rings, cones and bean bags!

If your kids are slightly older and you have the space, a ninja course can be great for multiple kids.

Sensory/Fine Motor

Playdough – use it by itself, give them some scissors or butter knives to cut it with, use a rolling pin and cookie cutters etc
Sensory bins – fill them with kinetic sand, water beads, dried beans or noodles, water, scoops, cups, spoons etc and let them go to town
Whiteboard and dry-erase markers
Spray bottles
Water/Sand table

Arts and Crafts:

Pipe cleaners
Clothespins
Straws
Pom poms
Washable paint
Balloons
Popsicle sticks
Paint Brushes
Kwik Stixs Solid Tempera Paints – perfect for when you need something bolder than a marker but want it to dry quicker than regular paint
Do A Dot Art! Markers
Glue Sticks – I like the disappearing purple ones because they can easily see where they’ve spread the glue
Markers
Crayons
Butcher Paper – for me this is so much easier than single sheets of paper because you can tear off as much or as little as you want each time
Construction paper
Scissors
Hole punches
Hot Glue Gun

Physical Activity

General

Vehicles – dump trucks, cars, construction vehicles, hot wheels…anything with wheels that you can build roads/garages/houses for
Puzzles
Balls
Wooden blocks
Dolls and barbies
Little people and toy animals/dinos
Marble Run (aff link)
Board games

Want to save these ideas? Pin this post for later!

Look for the best toys for multiple ages? Here's a roundup of toys that all of my kids have played with for many years. They're great for entertaining a wide range of ages and perfect for keeping siblings entertained!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Need more ideas? Check out these Toddler Gift Ideas geared at ages 1-3, Kids Gift Ideas {ages 4-7} Or my Small Business Gift Guide.

Introducing Peanut Butter to Babies

October 23, 2019 by Lindsay 1 Comment

Research shows introducing peanut butter to babies at an early age can help prevent allergies. Here are some simple ways to introduce peanut butter to infants.

Hi friends-

Introducing peanut butter to babies is one of my favorite parenting adventures. While it’s fun to start your journey with solids, introducing the top 8 allergens is often a bit scary. It’s been a hot topic in parenting for a while now, likely because the current recommendations are MUCH different than they were even just 5 years ago. The previous recommendation was to introduce the top 8 allergens until a child was at least a year old. That meant avoiding peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, milk, soy and eggs for the first year of life.

However, in early 2015, just as I was getting ready to start feeding my first baby solids, a growing body of research supporting earlier introduction. I started working my way through the top 8 allergens as soon as he started solids at 5.5 months and peanuts were one of the first we introduced. Peanut allergies are on the rise and have definitely gotten the most media attention in recent years. Most schools are peanut-free at this point but the hope is is that people will utilize the new guidelines for introducing peanuts at an earlier age and that the prevalence of peanut allergies will start to decrease.

Current Recommendations

As you get ready to start solids, be aware of the current recommendations for introducing peanut butter to babies:

For the highest risk infants, those with severe eczema or egg allergy, peanut allergy testing is recommended. This group should be introduced to peanuts in an infant safe way (under the supervision of a doctor) as early as 4-6 months of age.
Babies with mild to moderate eczema, also at increased risk, should be introduced to peanuts around 6 months of age.
Infants without eczema or other food allergies, who are not at increased risk, should be introduced to peanuts freely along with all other solid foods around 6 months of age. Ie, no need to do it early, but don’t wait until they’re one. Just start introducing at the same time they start solids, whenever they are developmentally ready.

If an early introduction is needed, before babies are developmentally ready for solids, a small amount of powdered peanut butter can be mixed with formula or breast milk and put it in a bottle. Remember, this would be something you would work closely with your doctor on.

In addition, before introducing any solids to your child, familiarize yourself with the signs of an allergic reaction, watch children closely during and after introduction and seek medical attention if needed. More on food allergies and allergic reactions here.

Introducing Peanut Butter to Babies

Here are some simple ideas for introducing peanut butter to babies. Be sure your child is developmentally ready for solids (sitting unassisted, showing interest in food, etc):

Make oatmeal or baby cereal and stir in peanut butter or powdered peanut butter.
Cut sweet potato into fries and roast until soft. Mix peanut butter with a little bit of water to thin it out and serve as a dip for the fries.
Cut a banana into chunks. Warm peanut butter until it’s easy to stir. Dip banana chunks in peanut butter, place on a baking sheet and freeze. Place in a mesh or silicone pouch and let baby suck on it. We like this silicone feeder from Boon (affiliate link)
Mix mashed sweet potato, prunes and peanut butter and spoon into small popsicle molds to freeze. We use these Nuby popsicle molds (aff link)
Mix applesauce and breast milk or formula with powdered peanut butter and serve with a spoon.
Try Bambas or other peanut puffs.
Add a little peanut butter to any pureed fruits or veggies.
Spread thinly on soft crackers or toast.
Mix peanut butter into pancake batter and cut pancakes into strips when serving.
Try this recipe for Peanut Butter Teething Biscuits from the National Peanut Board

Since tree nuts are another of the top 8 allergens, you’ll want to expose your babies to a wide variety of nuts. Try these suggestions with almond, walnut or cashew butter too! You could also use things like pesto, cashew “cheese”, nut-based dipping sauces and African Peanut Stew to introduce peanuts and tree nuts!

As babies continue on their journey with solids, continue to expose them to the top 8 allergens! I love adding peanut butter to my baked goods like muffins and bars for a dose of healthy fats!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Roasted Squash Fall Salad

October 18, 2019 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

This Roasted Squash Fall Salad is perfect for lunch or dinner. Packed with vegetables and protein, it’s full of flavor and easy to customize. A great way to enjoy seasonal produce! Keep it vegetarian or add your favorite meat or fish.

Hi friends!

Allow me to present this Roasted Squash Fall Salad to inspired your weekend food prep! I’ve been eating this salad on repeat around here because it’s just so dang good. I think I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a huge fan of lettuce based salads. More likely I’ll take a little salad and then gimme ALL the toppings! They’re the best part…am I right?

That being said, you can serve this salad with pretty much any combo of greens you like. Regular leaf lettuce works. Massaged kale would be great. Spinach would also work. Or any combo of the above.

As with most of my salad recipes, you don’t really need exact quantities here. I’m just sharing the ingredients because I think it’s a great combo of flavors.

Roasted Squash Fall Salad

I’m calling this a Roasted Squash Fall Salad but you can see I use both squash and sweet potatoes. I like the combo but you could use one or the other. And choose your favorite squash here. I love delicata but you could also use butternut squash or any of the other many varieties that are in season right now.

Similarly, pecans scream fall to me, but if you’re not a fan you could use walnuts or almonds, or toss on some pepitas! I added farro because I like my salads with a grain component. You could skip that if you wanted. And I kept it vegetarian with just hard-boiled eggs but you could easily add some grilled chicken or salmon. Both would be delicious with the honey mustard dressing that I highly suggest you use!

Here’s the rundown of ingredients!

Salads are my favorite way to highlight seasonal produce while still serving something that’s totally customizable to personal size and ingredient preferences!

Need more salad inspiration? Try these:

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Pumpkin Apple Lentil Muffins

October 3, 2019 by Lindsay 32 Comments

These Pumpkin Apple Lentil Muffins are perfect for Fall. They’re lightly sweetened and full of fiber, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Plus they’re kid-friendly and nut-free, making them perfect for breakfast, snack or school lunch!

Hi friends!

I’m so excited to share these Pumpkin Apple Lentil Muffins with you guys today. They’re my current fall favorite and I just know you guys are gonna love them! ESPECIALLY if you’ve already made and love my Lentil Banana Muffins. As you guys know, I make those weekly for my kids. They’re Squish’s favorite and Lyssie likes them as well. They’re perfect for lunch boxes and snacks and I promise that you can’t taste the lentils at all.

These Pumpkin Apple Lentil Muffins are very similar, just with a fall twist. We went apple picking last weekend and came home with a gigantic basket of apples so I’m currently on a mission to find ways to use them up. I’ve been craving a batch of pumpkin muffins so that was my starting point. If you’re looking for a non-apple version try these Healthy Pumpkin Muffins with red lentils. My favorite are my Pumpkin Gingerbread Muffins but the kids don’t like those. I use shredded apples in my Zucchini Apple Carrot Muffins so I thought this might be an easy way to use some up in a healthy pumpkin recipe. I actually prefer shredded apples to chopped apples in most baked goods because you can squeeze out the excess moisture before baking! If you prefer pumpkin bread, try my Easy Pumpkin Bread or this Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bean Bread.

Pumpkin Apple Lentil Muffins

So, I took out the banana and added pumpkin and apple to this recipe. I also swapped sugar for maple syrup. These are very lightly sweetened muffins. They’re not overly sweet and that’s just the way I like it. I prefer to sweeten them lightly and then add chocolate chips. If you leave the chocolate chips out and want a sweeter muffin, you’ll need to increase the maple syrup. If you want to make a no sugar added version, you could swap the maple syrup for a mashed banana or you could use dates to sweeten them like I do in my Zucchini Oat Bars.

Like most things I’ve baked recently, I made them in my food processor (aff link). It just makes baking so easy and I can simply throw stuff in, turn it on and everything gets nice and smooth and blended together and you’d never know all the good stuff that was mixed in there! My kids love helping me make muffins and they especially love helping me add everything to the food processor and then watching it “disappear” when they turn it on!

Here’s how you make them:

Easy right?! Let me know if you try these Pumpkin Apple Lentil Muffins or the banana version!

These Pumpkin Apple Lentil Muffins are perfect for Fall. They're lightly sweetened and full of fiber, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Plus they're kid-friendly and nut-free, making them perfect for breakfast, snack or school lunch!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Date Sweetened Chocolate Chip Cookies

September 20, 2019 by Lindsay 28 Comments

These Date Sweetened Chocolate Chip Cookies are naturally sweetened with dates and made with just a few simple ingredients! They’re perfect for dessert or an afternoon snack!

Hi friends!

I’ve been testing this recipe for date sweetened chocolate chip cookies for you guys for a couple of weeks now. After 5 test batches before I perfected them but I must say they’re pretty darn good. Let’s talk about a few things when it comes to these cookies.

These cookies contain no added sugar aside from the chocolate chips. (You can find sugar-free chocolate chips if you want them).
That does not automatically make them healthy. They still contain sugar. Yes, the sugar is naturally occurring in the dates, but it’s still sugar.

My youngest was actually the inspiration for these cookies. I wanted to develop a no added sugar cookie recipe for him that I could use as a base recipe and these are perfect. Out of all three kids, the youngest actually likes these the best, which works out well for me. I’ll be tweaking the recipe slightly and serving these to him often.

Date Sweetened Chocolate Chip Cookies

For him, I’ll likely add some ground flax and hemp seeds. I’ll also probably try replacing some of the flour with baby cereal! And I may replace the chocolate chips with finely chopped raisins or chopped dried blueberries. You could also add peanut butter to these for some extra healthy fats!

Here’s how you make them:

So easy right?! I can’t wait to hear what you guys think of these!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

School Lunch Packing Tips

September 12, 2019 by Lindsay 11 Comments

Looking for some school lunch packing tips? Here are 10 tips and tricks from a Registered Dietitian mama of 3 to help make it a little easier to quickly pack your kids a lunch they’ll love!

Thanks to Horizon Organic for sponsoring this post.

Hi friends!

We’ve already been back in school for a couple of weeks here in Ohio, but I know some of you out there are just getting ready to head back so I wanted to pop in today to share a few school lunch packing tips. As you guys know, we have one more year until we start kindergarten over here so I’m not doing daily lunch packing yet, but I did get my fair share of practice this summer running my son around to various camps and activities all day long.

So, I’ve teamed up with my friends over at Horizon Organic and compiled a list of some of my best tips and tricks to help make your lunch-packing life a little easier. Horizon believes “real” is what matters and they’re all about powering up kids with the goodness of protein, vitamins and calcium without artificial colors or flavors. They help make packing protein-packed lunches so easy with their cheese sticks and milk boxes (Psst….both are also great for no-mess car snacks on the way to daycare, soccer practice, etc)

Before we start- a quick reminder about the #HorizonConfiDANCE campaign that’s running until the end of this month. Use the tips below to pack a quick, easy lunch without stressing and then celebrate that little life win with a quick dance. Post it on social media with the hashtag #HorizonConfiDANCE by September 30th and Horizon Organic will donate $5 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (up to $200,000).

The lunchboxes we’re currently using are these Bentgo Boxes (affiliate link) And now here we go! 10 school lunch packing tips:

1) Think beyond sandwiches! Yes, they’re easy to make but kids will get sick of them quickly if you pack one every day. Change things up by occasionally offering things like quesadillas, tacos, deli meat roll-ups, kabobs, snack plate style lunches, or even their favorite breakfast foods like pancakes or waffles.

2) Teach your kids the formula early! When I pack a lunch, I always try to include a carbohydrate, a protein, a fruit, a veggie and a snack/choice item. Bonus points for working a healthy fat into the equation! I always try to pack lunches when my kids are around. When they were younger, they just watched, but now (at ages almost 5 and almost 3) I’m pretty darn proud of their lunch packing abilities. The other day I asked my 2-year-old what she wanted for lunch and she rattled off hard-boiled eggs, blueberries, soft (roasted) carrots, crackers with hummus and skittles. Boom! Ask for their input early and often. Make lists of foods in each category (use pictures for younger kids) so they can easily follow your formula and choose what they want. And let them help assemble the lunches as well!

3) Make a snack food station- As much as I like to think my kids think seeing carrots in their lunch is fun, I know that’s not always the case. So, I always like to include something they’re genuinely excited about seeing – a granola bar, jerky, cookies, crackers, etc. Keep all of these items in a specific spot in the pantry so kids can easily go to that basket or bin and pick what they want. If the snacks come in bigger boxes, portion out a few servings into reusable bags at the beginning of the week. In case you didn’t know, Horizon Organic milk boxes are shelf-stable, so you can stock up your pantry for easy grab and go, too. They’re made with special packaging that locks in the great taste and nutrition of real organic milk, without artificial ingredients or preservatives.

4) Add some fun but don’t stress daily – We’ve all seen the Pinterest-worthy lunchboxes on social media. As much as I want to be that fun mom that cuts vegetables into flowers and sandwiches into fun shapes every day, I recognize that I likely won’t always have the time or energy. But that doesn’t mean I can’t do it occasionally! Buy a couple of cookie cutters and little food picks. If it’s fun for you, use them daily. If it stresses you out, aim to use them once a week on a night when you have a little extra time! Those adorable food picks in the picture are by Nutridashe.

5) If packing lunches is a struggle, plan ahead. Some people (like me) don’t stress about throwing lunch together on the fly. I just do it without really thinking too hard. But if it stresses you out, plan out what you’ll pack in lunches every day just like you might plan out dinners for the week. Sit down with your kids and do it together so you can get their input and ideas.

6) Pack at night- No matter how tired you are, just do it before you go to bed. It’s one less thing to worry about in the morning when things are crazy and you’re rushing out the door. I try to pack mine as I’m cleaning up the kitchen from dinner since things are already a mess anyways! Then all you have to do in the morning is add an ice pack and go.

7) Make a lunch packing area- Choose a drawer, cupboard, bin, cart, etc. to keep all lunch boxes, packing supplies, utensils, reusable bags, and more together. You’ll always have a place to put clean stuff when it comes out of the dishwasher and you’ll always know exactly where to look to grab stuff when you go to pack lunch.

8) Take photos. Even if you don’t share them with anyone, snap a photo of each lunch you pack. Then, when you get stuck in a rut in a few months, let the kids revisit the pictures and tell you what they liked!

9) The less packaging the better. Kids don’t get a ton of time to eat so by pre-peeling what you can and partially opening packages, etc, they can spend more time eating and less time fumbling around and getting frustrated. Sometimes I’ll unwrap Horizon cheese sticks – available in Mozzarella and Colby – and cut them into pieces. They’re an easy snack packed with 7g of protein.

10) Add a note! It’s such a simple thing and it literally takes 10 seconds to write a sweet word, a joke or quote, but your kids will love it and look forward to it (even if they would never admit it to you!)

What are your best lunch-packing tips?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

#HorizonConfiDANCE for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

August 19, 2019 by Lindsay 1 Comment

Thanks to Horizon Organic for sponsoring this post.

Hi friends!

Popping in today to share a super-easy way you can make a difference in the lives of some amazing kids! One of the best decisions I made when I was in college was becoming a mentor in our local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. In case you’re not familiar, BBBS has been providing children facing adversity with mentoring relationships that change lives for the better since 1904. There are currently over 150,000 Big and Little matches nationwide.

I was matched with my Little for 2 years in college and loved every minute. This organization has such a special place in my heart and I truly believe that something as simple as taking some time out of your day once a month to hang out with a kiddo going through a rough time can make SUCH a difference. My Little and I had all sorts of fun when we were partnered up. We played mini golf, did art projects, ate pizza, went shopping and more. It was fun for me and so important for her!

Currently, one of my favorite companies, Horizon Organic, is supporting BBBS with a fun little campaign called the #HorizonConfiDANCE. They recognize that every child has unlimited potential and want to help inspire them to grow, dream big and be confident. You can help by sharing your own #HorizonConfiDANCE! For every dance shared on Instagram or Facebook by September 30^th, Horizon Organic will give $5 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, up to $200k. Just use #HorizonConfiDANCE

Here’s our dance to give you some inspiration!

If your family is anything like mine, I’ll bet you and the kiddos have crazy little dance party at LEAST once a week, if not on the daily…like we do around here. This is such a simple way you can make a difference. Just snap a quick video of your next dance party and share it with the hashtag! Then refuel with a snack like we do!

Need some fuel to power your next dance party? String cheese is one of our go-to snacks! You’ll find 7 grams of protein in both the mozzarella and Colby cheese sticks from Horizon Organic. Plus, they’re super portable!

I toss them in our lunchbox for a picnic at the park or grab a couple for a quick snack after a swimming lesson or tae kwon do class. Or pair one with an apple to add some carbs and peanut butter healthy fats for a perfectly balanced snack!

If your kiddos like milk, Horizon Organic also offers single-serve, shelf-stable milk boxes. Stock your pantry and grab them when you need a quick snack that offers 8 grams of protein along with calcium, Vitamins D and B2. They’re also great for adding to lunch boxes!

We love Horizon Organic because it’s USDA certified organic, which means no added hormones and no antibiotics. Their products help power kids with a source of protein, vitamins and calcium without artificial colors or flavors because they believe “real” is what matters.

I would LOVE to see you and your kiddos do a little dance to benefit others. Be sure to tag me when you share!!

Enjoy!

–Lindsay–

Acts of Kindness for Kids

August 15, 2019 by Lindsay 5 Comments

Looking for some Acts of Kindness for Kids? Here are 75 simple ideas that can be done by kids young and old to help make the world just a little bit happier!

Hi friends!

Wanted to pop in to talk about random acts of kindness for kids. A couple of weeks ago, I shared the photo above on Instagram with the following caption:

Lately after swimming lessons we’ve been passing a lady on the corner with a cardboard sign. A few weeks ago Squish asked what it said so I told him, “Homeless. 2 kids. Need help”

We talked about how sometimes bad things happen and people need a little extra help. And about how lucky we are to have all that we do because there are a lot of people out there with less.

One of the biggest lessons I want to teach my kids is to always help when they’re able ❤️ whether it’s with their time, money or resources.

He seemed to understand but quickly moved on to another topic. This week we saw her again and totally unprompted, he said “Mom, we should get a snack for her and her kids.” And I couldn’t resist.

I recognize that there are people out there who hold signs like that as a scam. But in my heart I want to believe she’s a good person who just needs a little extra help right now.

So I turned around and we went into the store. He picked out some of his favorite crackers and I added granola bars and water and he marched across the parking lot and handed her the bag.

Talk to your kids. Have the hard conversations. Teach them to BE THE CHANGE. They’re listening.

In a world full of so much hate 💔 raise them to know the importance of being kind and helping others.

So here’s to hoping there’s a couple kids in my house learning this important lesson and a couple kids out there who are a little less hungry for the next few days.

family celebrating walking and biking 100 miles over the summer

Today Squish heads back to school and thus our #100milesummer challenge comes to an end. We hit our goal 12 days early. That means we did 100 miles in 72 days. Squish walked, biked or scootered every single one all on his own. He learned to ride his bike without training wheels. Little Miss mastered her scooter and did several miles completely on her own as well. I’m so proud of them.

Now that school is starting, we were looking for a new challenge. I realized that from the first day of school until Squish’s birthday is 75 days. After our random act of kindness after swimming lessons, I thought it might be fun to put together a list of 75 random acts of kindness so we could tackle one each day from no until his birthday.

Here’s the list I came up with-

75 Acts of Kindness for Kids

1) Pick up trash (this could be at a park, on the side of the road, in a store)
2) Send someone a card
3) Donate some old clothes or toys
4) Leave drinks for the garbage men (especially if it’s hot out!)
5) Leave cards for your neighbors on a walk
6) Pay for the person behind you in line
7) Leave a dollar in vending machine
8) Tell someone’s manager what a good job they are doing (maybe you had a great server at a restaurant or cashier at the grocery store)
9) Send a postcard to a friend (even if you’re not traveling, grab one for your fav local spot!)
10) Make meal or snack for mom or dad
11) Leave nice chalk messages on a walk (ie Have a great day! or Thanks for being a great neighbor!)
12) Make blessing bags for the homeless (fill a bag with a reuseable water bottle, socks, underwear, gloves, tooth brush and other hygiene items they might need)
13) Give a stranger a compliment
14) Invite someone to play with you (at school, at the park, for a playdate)
15) Leave crayons/ coloring book somewhere (the auto repair shop, the pharmacy, a cart at the grocery store)
16) Drop off food for firefighters or police officers
17) Make a fabric scrap blanket to donate (get a few scraps of fabric, make cuts along the edges and tie them together)
18) Make cards for sick kids at the hospital
19) Decorate a jar to save spare change to donate to charity
20) Bring your neighbor’s trash bins up driveway after trash day
21) Leave positive, empowering notes on the mirror in public bathrooms (You’ve got a great smile or you look fabulous in that color, etc)
22) Decorate a bookmark to leave in a library book before you return it
23) Bring allergy-friendly treats to a holiday gathering
24) Teach someone something new
25) Collect pop tabs for Ronald McDonald
26) Leave sand toys at park
27) Decorate hand sanitizer for nurses or teachers
28) Leave a note and flower on a windshield telling someone to have a great day
29) Bake cookies for someone
30) Hold the door for someone
31) Write a thank you note for a coach or teacher
32) Color pictures for nursing home residents
33) Hide a note in daddy’s wallet or mommy’s purse
34) Offer to take a pic of a mom and her kids
35) Record an “I love you video” for grandparents
36) Make playdough for friends
37) Bake muffins for your parent’s coworkers
38) Hide a new Hot Wheels car on the playground for a kid to find
39) Put away carts in the parking lot
40) Make birthday boxes for a food panty- include things like cake mix, frosting, balloons, candles
41) Support a local farmer (shop for some fruits and veggies at the farmers market)
42) Plant wildflower seeds by the side of the road, in a parking lot etc
43) Leave a jar of bubbles at the park for others to play with
44) Make sandwiches for the homeless
45) Leave pennies for Sandy or a quarter in the cart at Aldi
46) Let a parent sleep in
47) Take out the trash
48) Do something nice for your siblings
49) Paint “I love you” rocks or tokens
50) Hide a joke for someone to find
51) Tell someone what you love most about them
52) Donate old towels to an animal shelter
53) Donate old books
54) Leave snacks for the package delivery people
55) Spread holiday cheer for an upcoming holiday (mini pumpkins with happy faces on them, heart stickers, christmas ornaments)
56) Adopt a family for Xmas (Salvation Army, Angel tree etc)
57) Leave an envelope of coupons in a shopping cart
58) Make a homemade birthday present for someone
59) Turn a jar or can from recycling into vase and fill with flowers for someone
60) Buy someone a cactus or succulent
61) Make a card for the bus driver
62) Help do the laundry
63) Bake treats for a new neighbor
64) Make a busy box to leave at a restaurant (Get a lunchbox and fill with crayons, stickers, small toys and other things to entertain kids while waiting)
65) Mail a hug (Stretch your arms out wide and trace your hands, arms and head. Cut it out and fold it up to mail)
66) Park far away to leave closer spots for someone who needs them
67) Send a good luck card for back to school
68) Help rake leaves
69) Buy something locally made
70) Leave tennis balls at a dog park
71) Wash the car
72) Pick up toys without being asked
73) Ask someone how you can help them today
74) Draw a picture for a teacher
75) Read your sibling a book

I tried to keep these acts of kindness for kids pretty general but some of these are tailored slightly to our family, the time of year etc so feel free to adjust as needed. You could pick and choose from this list to make a smaller challenge if you wanted!

I wanted to turn our list into a book so we can bring us with it over the next couple of months and refer to it when we’re deciding which act of kindness to do. I also wanted to make it somewhat visual since my kids can’t read yet, so I found images that depict the acts to make it easier for Squish to identify the one he’s looking for or make a decision.

If you’re interested in that version, you can grab your free PDF copy below. To save paper, you can print 2 or 4 pages per page when you print it out and then just cut out all the pages and staple them into a book of 75 acts of kindness for kids! (Obnoxious amount of star stickers not included) Just enter your email below!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Blueberry French Toast Muffins

August 9, 2019 by Lindsay

These Blueberry French Toast Muffins are quick, healthy and kid-friendly. Make a batch over the weekend and serve them for breakfast or pack them for lunch! They can easily be customized with different mix-ins.

Hi friends-

Last weekend I whipped up these Blueberry French Toast Muffins on a whim and they turned out SO WELL! When I shared them on IG stories, so many of you asked for the recipe that I headed back to the kitchen to recreate them for you guys. They’re perfect for food prep – ie you can easily make a batch over the weekend and serve them all week! They’re also perfectly portable for a grab and go breakfast and they’re nut-free so you can toss a few in a lunch box and send them to school with the kiddos.

I’ve made french toast muffins before, but I’ve always used a loaf of bread from the bakery. The key to this version is that they use slices of sandwich bread. So you get some texture from the crusts but the middle part kinda falls apart when you mix the eggs and bread together, creating a muffin that sticks together really well!

I added some ground flax and hemp seeds to mine because you can’t taste them and it’s an easy way to add some extra nutrients. I also added some pumpkin seeds to them. They add a little crunch, but aren’t overly sharp or crunchy like chopped nuts can be so I find them easier for young kids to eat! But feel free to swap in something like slivered almonds if you don’t need to keep them nut-free.

I used fresh blueberries but frozen would work too! Here’s how you make them:

You may need to play around with the egg to bread ratio to fit your preferences. I like mine a little eggier but adding an extra slice of bread will make them a bit firmer.

Serve warm or cold, topped with syrup, yogurt or peanut butter.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Emergency Trunk Bag

August 6, 2019 by Lindsay 7 Comments

Stash an emergency trunk bag in your car so you’re never caught unprepared. As a parent, you never know when things like a change of clothes, an old towel, or a pair of scissors might come in handy!

Hi friends!

Earlier this summer, I finally put together an emergency trunk bag for my car. This is something that’s been on my list for ages but I’ve just never taken the time to pull it all together. Although this bag is similar to a diaper bag, it differs in the fact that it never leaves my trunk. Sometimes, despite my best intentions, I bring the diaper bag into the house to restock it and forget to return it to the car, or accidentally leave it in my husband’s car or at a play date. The emergency trunk bag is like a diaper bag on steroids. If I need to restock it, I bring the items directly out to the car so there’s no chance of me being caught without it.

Here are some things you can include:

Old towel
Baby wipes and a roll of toilet paper
First aid kit
Large Ziploc bags for holding dirty or poopy clothes or for a barf bag
Bottled water (and formula if needed). Try to use stainless steel bottles instead of plastic if possible!
A full change of clothes and diaper for each parent and kid
Pocket knife or pair of scissors
A few non-perishable snacks (I also included some juice boxes because my husband is a type 1 diabetic)
Personal care kit including hair ties, Tylenol, tampons, cough drops and an extra pair of contacts and contact solution.
A piece of paper with phone numbers and medical info written down in case you lose your phone or are hurt/can�t remember (You can also tape this info on car seats and put it in the glove box)
Sunscreen and bug spray
Phone charger
Duct tape
Flashlight
Lysol wipes and hand sanitizer
Trash bags
Lighter
Cash and quarters
Kid socks for trampoline parks and play gyms that require them
Other bigger items to consider: a portable potty seat, blanket

Remember to set a reminder on your phone or calendar to update your bag 2-3 times a year. Change out clothing so it’s seasonally appropriate, add a couple of spare coats or a blanket in the winter. Also, label the bag as your emergency kit so first responders can easily identify it if you’re in an accident.

Here in Ohio, it gets hot, but not as hot as some places and I know some people are concerned about certain items holding up in the heat. But in my opinion, having something that will maybe help is better than not having it at all. Checking the bag a few times a year will allow you to stock fresh water, replace wipes and snacks that may have dried out, change flashlight batteries etc!

Do you have an emergency trunk bag? What am I forgetting on my list??

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Zucchini Carrot Brownies

July 23, 2019 by Lindsay 12 Comments

These Zucchini Carrot Brownies are an easy way to add more vegetables to breakfast, snack or dessert. They’re easy to make, kid-friendly and made with simple ingredients! Plus they’re dairy-free, nut-free and can be made gluten-free.

Hi friends!

Allow me to introduce you to these Zucchini Carrot Brownies – ie my new favorite snack. If I’m being honest, I had a heck of time coming up with a name for these. I hesitate to call them brownies because they’re not like the real deal. They’re more like chocolate bars. And they happen to be full of vegetables. But part of being a food blogger is catering to the search engines and most people are not heading to google to search for a recipe for chocolate veggie bars…because most people don’t think those exist!

But I’m here to tell you that they do. If you’re looking for a rich, fudgy brownie…go make one. If you’re looking for a simple snack that’s chocolatey, not overly sweet, kid-friendly and full of good-for-you ingredients, make these!

Zucchini Carrot Brownies

I’m not even really that fond of chocolate to begin with. But a lot of people are. And these are a nice change of flavor from the Lentil Banana Muffins and Zucchini Oat Bars I’ve been eating lately. They’re so good, in fact, that I made three batches in two days.

I personally like them cold out of the fridge but they’re also good warm…maybe with a scoop of vanilla yogurt or ice cream on top?

I can’t tell you that my kids love these. They don’t like chocolate desserts. Cake, ice cream, cookies…doesn’t matter…give them plain vanilla all day long.

But I can tell you that I have a high opinion of these. I love the way the recipe turned out and will continue to make these as a snack for myself. Plus I’m convinced enough of you out there will like them that they’re worth sharing ASAP!

Here’s how you make them. You’re gonna need to pull out your food processor. Have I convinced you to get one yet? Just do it. My most used kitchen appliance by far. (I have a Cuisinart 11 cup that I love- aff link) You could probably make these in a powerful blender as well.

These are so easy! Grab the kids and head to the kitchen to whip up a batch today!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Scavenger Hunt Ideas For Kids

July 22, 2019 by Lindsay 2 Comments

Use these easy Scavenger Hunt Ideas For Kids to get them excited about spending time outside! They can help make walks more interesting, teach them about nature and are great for practicing things like numbers and colors!

Hi friends!

If you follow me on Instagram, I’m sure you already know all about our 100 Mile Summer challenge, but just in case you don’t, lemme fill you in!

At the beginning of the summer, I made it my mission to get my kids outside for at least a little bit every day. We have a perfect one-mile loop around our neighborhood which is nice.

So together, we set a goal to walk/ride/scooter/stroll 100 miles over the course of the summer.

This weekend we hit 75 miles! School starts August 15th so we have until then to knock out the last 25. It hasn’t always been easy to get them out the door. But honestly, it has pretty much become a daily habit at this point so they rarely put up too much of a fight. Sometimes they’re content to ride their bikes or scooters or just sit in the stroller. My 4.5-year-old isn’t allowed in the stroller. He has to be physically moving. But some days they need a little something to keep their interest.

Enter scavenger hunts. We use them to help distract the kids, make the walks more exciting and engage their brains!

Here are some of the different types of scavenger hunts we’ve done so far and a few we haven’t tried yet.

Scavenger Hunt Ideas For Kids

Make a nature scavenger hunt list with pictures if they can’t read, put it on a clipboard and give them a little bag to collect the things on their list.
Give them your phone and let them take pictures of the things on their list.
Search for colors, shapes or traffic things like stop signs or traffic cones.
Search for different colors or types of cars.
Search for all the letters of the alphabet on license plates, street signs etc.
Make it a “sounds” scavenger hunt so they’re listening for things like birds tweeting, horns honking.
Play “I spy” so you’re both looking for things.
Draw a basic map of the walk and have them mark where they find each item.
Take pictures on a walk one day and then have them look for the things in the pictures or the places in the pictures the next day on the same route.
Turn what they collect into an art project when you get back.
Have an indoor hunt if it’s rainy or too hot.
Make BINGO boards with things you might see on your walk and see who can get bingo on their board first.
Mark the halfway point on your walk. Collect a few things on the first half of your walk and see if you can find a “match” on the second half!

Have any ideas to add to our list? Leave them in the comments! Too hot to go outside? Check out these Indoor Activities For Toddlers and these 10 Cheap Toddler Activities!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Oat Bars

July 17, 2019 by Lindsay 9 Comments

These Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Oat Bars are the perfect summer breakfast. Make them ahead of time and enjoy all week long for a quick, healthy meal or snack!

Hi friends!

I’m sharing these Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Oat Bars today because they’re the perfect summer breakfast! We went blueberry picking a couple of weekends ago (one of my favorite summer traditions!) and came home with tons of berries so I headed straight to the kitchen to find a new way to use them up.

Lately, I’ve been all about the prep ahead breakfast. Mornings are loud and crazy and my kids always need me to get nine million things for them so having something I can just grab out of the fridge and eat while running around the house, preferably with one hand, has been my saving grace.

This recipe actually uses cream cheese. I’m personally not a big cream cheese person. I don’t really buy it. I never really use it..but my husband has been enjoying cream cheese bagels as his bedtime snack recently and due to a few grocery store miscommunications, we’ve ended up with approximately 5 containers of cream cheese in the fridge. So testing this recipe was a good way for me to use some of that up. I’d suspect that you could swap plain yogurt for the cream cheese but haven’t tried it myself!

These come together super quickly and then you just toss them in the oven, pull them out and let them cool. I personally like eating them cold, but you can also eat them warm!

Here are your directions:

Lemon blueberry is hands-down one of my favorite flavor combos so I just can’t get enough of these!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

PS: Want more oat bar recipes? Try my Zucchini Oat Bars or my Carrot Oat Bars!

Easy Peanut Butter S’mores Bars

July 8, 2019 by Lindsay 4 Comments

These Easy Peanut Butter S’mores Bars are the perfect dessert for a summer BBQ, cookout or party! Eat them plain or top with a scoop of ice cream for a treat everyone will love.

Hi friends!

We enjoyed these Easy Peanut Butter S’mores Bars over the 4th of July holiday weekend and I got several requests for the recipe. To be honest, I almost didn’t share them. I whipped them up on a whim and they’re not perfect. They haven’t been tested multiple times. They’re nice and sweet, but a little crumbly when you cut them. If you’re not careful, they can make a bit of a mess.

But isn’t that just pretty much the perfect description of my life right now?

Easy Peanut Butter S’mores Bars

Life with three little kids is definitely not perfect. It’s messy. There’s ALWAYS crumbs everywhere. There’s no time to test things a million times or spend hours taking photos. But it’s also oh so sweet.

So in this season of life, we’re embracing the perfectly imperfect. If I make something good, I’ll share it…without worrying about turning it into the perfect blog post. Because life’s too short to worry about stuff like that.

I took a poll on IG stories to see if you guys wanted the real deal dessert or a “healthier” version and almost 3/4 of you wanted the real deal. Which is good for me because that’s what I made! And I’ve got three kids who are waiting for mama to play with them and have no interest in watching me testing 4 versions of these bars because all they care about are the marshmallows.

So here you go. Make these bars with the expectation of perfectly imperfect deliciousness. There will be crumbs. There will be sticky fingers. But there will also be sweet summer smiles that make it all worth it!

You could experiment with cutting back on the sugar and butter to lighten them up a bit if that interests you!

Here’s how you make them:

Aren’t they pretty? I love the way they look when the marshmallow melts on top. I think that might only happen if you use normal marshmallows and cut them though, not if you use mini marshmallows so be warned!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Loaded Strawberry Spinach Salad

June 25, 2019 by Lindsay 1 Comment

This Loaded Strawberry Spinach Salad is a summer favorite. Serve it as a side dish or add some protein and make it an easy lunch or dinner.

Hi friends!

This Loaded Strawberry Spinach Salad has long been my favorite summer salad. I’ve been making it for at least 10 years now and it just never gets old. It’s the perfect combination of flavors and also easy to customize to fit your taste preferences. There aren’t even any specific quantities needed. You can make as much or as little as you want to feed your family or feed a crowd. I tried to give you a rough estimate for 4 servings but don’t stress over the amounts. They’re not exact.

I love this salad because it has so many flavors but you can throw it together super quickly. If you’re really in a hurry, you can leave off the roasted sweet potatoes because those are really the only thing that takes any time to make, but I’d highly suggest including them. I usually roast them a day or two before I plan to make the salad and then just toss everything together.

Loaded Strawberry Spinach Salad

This makes a great side salad to pair with your favorite dinner, but can also easily be turned into a meal of its own by adding your favorite protein. Add some grilled chicken or steak, some hard boiled eggs or even some chickpeas or lentils to keep it vegetarian.

Here’s how you make it:

Isn’t it just beautiful?!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

PS. Want more salad recipes? Check out these Salad Recipes for Lunch or Dinner or these 7 Easy Salads for Summer.

Pesto Lentil Balls

June 20, 2019 by Lindsay 6 Comments

These Pesto Lentil Balls are a great food prep option for an easy, vegetarian lunch or dinner. Make them ahead of time and serve with dipping sauce, over spaghetti noodles or on a salad!

Hi friends!

I’ve had these Pesto Lentil Balls up my sleeve for a while now and am excited to share them! My husband is not a huge lentil fan so after testing them myself, I had to wait for my parents to come into town so they could give the recipe a nod of approval as well.

They got the a-ok from my lentil-loving dad and from my mom as well! I’m still working on getting my kids to try them, but they do like pesto so I’ve started with pesto meatballs and will eventually try serving these to them with their spaghetti!

I love these because they’re quick and easy to make but also packed with flavor. I love making them ahead of time and using them in different dishes during the week. I use them like meatballs in spaghetti, but also throw them on my salads fairly often.

To make your life even easier, grab some pre-cooked lentils (Trader Joe’s has some in their refrigerated section) or make lentils ahead of time and freeze in one cup portions. I do this often so I have them cooked and ready to make these balls and my Lentil Banana Muffins.

Here’s how you make them:

Feel free to add more pesto if you like a stronger flavor. You could also sub something like red peppers for carrots if you wanted to!

If you like these, you might also enjoy my Asian Black Bean Burgers!
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–