Kids on the Zone/Paleo
I'm always looking for ways to keep Luke eating healthy mostof the time. It is definitely a challenge. I thought it would be good to post some recipes for some healthy and FUN snacks for kids. Most kids LOVE to help around in the kitchen. Try some of these fun snacks and let me know your favs. I think the special drink recipes look yummy!
Artic Oranges
4 oranges
4 cups orange juice 
4 cherries
Cut the tops off the oranges in a zigzag pattern. Hollow out the insides, remove the seeds and combine in a blender with the juice. Set the rinds in a muffin tin and fill with the mixture. Drop a cherry inside each orange. Freeze for 2 to 3 hours. Soften the treats for 5 minutes, then serve. Makes 4.
BANANA POPS
3 bananas
6 Popsicle sticks
1/4 cup peanut butter, softened
1/4 cup chopped peanuts or walnuts, granola, crispy rice cereal or sunflower seeds
Peel the bananas. Cut them in half, widthwise, and push a Popsicle stick through the cut end of each half. Spread peanut butter on the bananas, then roll them in the nuts, cereal or seeds. Wrap them in waxed paper and freeze for 3 hours. Makes 6.
FROZEN FRUIT SALAD
Freeze the following bites for a fast and frosty treat: grapes, pineapple chunks, peach slices, apricot slices, banana slices, apple slices, cantaloupe balls, watermelon chunks, peas, zucchini slices, cucumber slices, orange wedges and fruit leather.
SHRUNKEN SANDWICHES
2 slices ham
2 slices low-fat cheese
12 mini crackers, such as Ritz Bits
Cut ham and cheese (six from each slice) into small rounds the size of the mini crackers. A clean medicine bottle makes a good cutter. Place a ham round on six of the crackers, then add the cheese. Cover each with another cracker. Serves 2.
PEANUT BUTTER PINWHEELS
Spread creamy or chunky peanut butter and a little bit of honey on a fresh flour tortilla (available in the refrigerator section of most grocers). Sprinkle with granola, roll up the tortilla, then slice it into bite-size pinwheels.
WIGGLE WORMS
Fruit, such as grapes, melon, bananas or strawberries, cut into bite-size pieces
Pretzel sticks
Chocolate sprinkles (optional)
Spear about four pieces of fruit onto each pretzel, as if making a kebab, to create the worms. Leave a tip at the end for the tail. Parents, you can pre-spear the fruit.
Join two worms with a piece of fruit for a longer creepy-crawler. Use sprinkles to make eyes, spots or tiny feet.
GOBBLEDY GOOK
4 cups oat or crispy rice cereal
1 cup chopped peanuts
1 cup raisins or chopped dried prunes or apricots
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup chopped pretzels
3 tbsp. margarine, melted (optional)
Place all ingredients in a 2-quart sealable plastic bag, seal and shake until mixed. Serves 6 to 8.
BANANA SCREAM
3 bananas (the riper the banana, the sweeter the shake)
2 tbsp. nonfat milk 
Peel the bananas, cut in half width-wise, wrap in plastic wrap, and freeze until firm. Place in a blender,
add milk and puree until creamy. Serves 4.
JUNGLE JUICE
1 1/2 cups nonfat milk
1/2 cup grape juice
1 banana, sliced
Put milk, juice and banana in a blender and mix until smooth. For more vibrant color, add a few drops of purple food coloring. Serves 2.
MAKE-A-SHAKE
Combine two favorite drinks to create a refreshing new taste. Try grape juice and orange juice, strawberry nectar and pineapple juice, lemonade and soda water, or chocolate milk and 2 teaspoons of melted smooth peanut butter. For a frosty drink, add ice and blend.
FISH IN A POND
1/2 cup low-fat cream cheese or cheese spread
Fish-shaped crackers
4 celery ribs, stems removed 
Scoop the cream cheese into a bowl. (You can tint the cream cheese with blue food coloring to make it look like a pond.) Place the goldfish in a separate bowl, or surround the "pond" with them. Let the kids dip the celery sticks into the cheese, then into the bowl of crackers to "catch" a fish. Serves 2.
Some of these may need to be tweaked a little to make the perfect zone proportions and you will need to use substitutions for Paleo...but they are definitely healthier than a bag of Cheeto's!
Here are some good websites for healthy kids eating:
Family Fun
Parents
Have fun cooking snacks with your kiddos!
