Finding JOY in packing school lunches

Truth be told, packing school lunches can be bothersome, boring and relentless. If your kids go away to school each day, it can be even more dissatisfying since you don’t get to actually see them oohing and ahhing over your amazing culinary skills. But, what if we flipped the whole thing on its head?

What if coming up with school lunch ideas became not only tolerable but JOYFUL?

After all, we have the opportunity to fill our kids’ bellies with nourishing, delicious and even inspiring food day after day after day. We also get to “love” on our kids in this very simple and yet important way. That’s how I’m choosing to approach school lunches this year. (We’ll see how long that lasts ?.)

Tips for making school lunches easier

Since we have to make at least 200 lunches for our kids (and this includes homeschoolers too!), we might as well make it easier on ourselves… amiright?

Here are some simple things you can try:

• Involve your kids. Depending on your child’s age, have them cut up veggies, grab an apple out of the fridge, pack crackers, you get the idea. By having your kid help, you are teaching them to navigate the kitchen as well as boosting confidence and knowledge. You can also take the opportunity to teach them about healthy foods and macronutrient balance with each lunch! (If your kids don’t know how to prep food, consider enrolling in the Kids Cook Real Food course.) Also, let your kids come up with school lunch ideas, too!
• Cook in bulk. Consider making extra for dinner each night and pack leftovers for lunch. Or, make big batches of healthy gummy men, muffins, waffles, pasta, and rice & beans and store in freezer. Take out what you want to pack the night before to defrost and throw it into your kid’s lunch the next day.
• Use “convenience” foods. I’m not talking processed or fast foods but rather easy and very “packable” real foods like cherry/grape tomatoes, pitted olives, defrosted frozen peas/lima beans/corn, organic berries, clementines, organic grapes, string cheese, hard boiled eggs, organic jerky sticks, drinkable yogurt, healthy snacks like olive oil popcorn, seed crackers, or sprouted nuts & seeds
• Freeze a few “emergency” meals. For those occasions when you have a late night and have to scramble for a lunch the next day, consider freezing a few lunches that you can grab and go. Some school lunch ideas include: bean burritos, almond & honey sandwich, turkey roll ups, etc. Add a piece of fruit and a drink, and you’ve got yourself a balanced meal for your child.

Getting the right lunch gear

While there are literally dozens of portable food gear products out there, you want to find lunch supplies that are:

• made with non-toxic materials like stainless steel
• dishwasher safe (ain’t nobody got time for hand-washing!)
• leak-proof (or mostly leak-proof)
• easy to pack
• durable and not breakable
• keep foods heat/cold as appropriate

My Favorite Lunch Box System

After much research, I decided to go with PlanetBox. Here is the gear I own:

• Their ROVER PlanetBox, lunch bag, and big/small container set (where to buy)
• Non-toxic ice packs (where to buy)
• Non-leaking water bottle (where to buy)
• Reusable, cloth napkin (where to buy)

While the price tag of their products was steeper than I wanted, I do have to say that I’m very pleased with their products. I used exclusively last year and continue to use this year as well. (You can see their products below.)

My Favorite Water Bottles

For water bottles, I really like these from Thermos (where to buy). I also use these Thermos containers for when I’m packing warm/hot foods, which is much less common. (where to buy)

My Favorite Snack Bags

Because my kids also need a daily snack packed for school, I like to use LunchSkins bags. They work just like ziplocks but are reusable! Their reusable snack bags are lead-free, BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free, and moisture-resistant to keep your food fresher longer.

School lunch ideas video

You can see all my lunch ideas in the video above, or scroll down to see all the photos.

School lunch idea photos…

Special thanks to my friend Savanna, who shared (and snapped) some of her favorite school lunch ideas for this post!
Mama Natural kids school lunch ideas 01

Veggies with hummus, grapes, nuts and banana muffin with a pat of butter.
Mama Natural kids school lunch ideas 02

Cheese stick, chick peas and wild rice, peppers, nuts, and dip.
Mama Natural kids school lunch ideas 09

Hot lunch! Leftover pasta with meat sauce, a salad and apple.
Mama Natural kids school lunch ideas 06

Sharp cheddar, black rice crackers, pistachios, tomatoes, and berry medley.

Turkey wrap with pomegranate salad.

Veggie patties, grilled zucchini, fruit with coconut.

Chicken nuggets, chocolate strawberries with veggies.

Quinoa salad, hard-boiled bacon eggs, fruit gummy.

Grain-free sandwich, jicama & peppers, peas & pistachios.

Rice salad, plantain chips, fruit & veggies.

Roasted turkey, coleslaw, strawberries & coconut.

Black rice noodles, ants on a log, veggies & fruit.

Edamame strawberry salad, seeds, sauerkraut, & hummus dip.

Egg muffins, pesto dip & nut butter.
Mama Natural kids school lunch ideas 05

Hot lunch! Leftover pasta, berries, and cucumber slices.

Yogurt with honey, peas, black rice with olive oil, cheese, grapes, & nuts.

Chicken salad with lettuce wraps, rosemary potatoes, plantain chips, etc.

Pumpkin muffin, olives, nut rolled date, berries, cheese and zinc drop.

Chicken & beans, fresh mango and grape tomatoes.

Sprouted wheat pretzels, Bubbies pickle, seeds, berries, cheese & chocolate.

Apple, bacon & lettuce “sandwich”, various crackers, cheese, & goji berries.

Veggie pasta, cucumber salad, avocado, crackers, seeds and beans.

Blue potato chips, berries, cucumbers, cheese and nut/date bar.

Organic turkey on oat bread, tomatoes, Lara bar, berries and almonds.

Quinoa & beans, cheese, purple grapes, tomatoes, and date treat.

Veggie pasta salad, beef jerky, melon, avocado, and fruit/nut treat.

Yogurt with granola, almond butter sandwich, carrots, and strawberries.

Sprouted corn tortilla, trail mix, black beans, tomatoes, cheese, zinc drop.

Turkey sandwich, olive oil potato chips, berries, tomatoes & zinc drop.

Sprouted pretzels, tomatoes, grapes, cheese, walnuts, and ginger chew.

Beef jerky, berries, tomatoes, seed crackers with butter, & zinc drop.

Hot pretzel with mustard dip, salami/cheese, broccoli & dried fruit.

Rice & beans, tomatoes, cheese, walnuts & coconut-rolled date.

Homemade “goldfish” crackers, berries, tomatoes, & cheese.

BBQ chicken, coleslaw, carrots with dip, seeds & plantain chips.

Cheese crackers, peas, berries, cheese, seeds & elderberry drop.

Almond butter & jelly, slaw, bananas & strawberries, & carrot sticks.

Tortilla with butter, pineapple, red peppers, cheese & chocolate treat.

GF chicken nuggets w/ dip, sweet potato chips, veg/fruit & gummy star.

Rice pasta, hummus/veggies, pistachios, cheese, and chocolate.

Other pro tips for school lunch ideas:

Pack your lunches the night before.

While Papa Natural is getting the kids ready for bed, I’m in the kitchen making their lunches for the next day. (I eventually want to partner with Griffin to make lunches but for now, this is working for us.) I’m rather rushed in the mornings so prefer being free of this task. If you take a morning quiet time or do an a.m. workout, packing at night might also appeal to you so it doesn’t interfere with your spiritual or physical fitness ??

Buddy up with a friend or neighbor.

My dear friend and fellow foodie, Savanna, has the most amazing school lunch ideas (as you’ve seen above!). We snap pictures of our lunches each day and text to each other for moral support. We inspire each other and also commiserate on Fridays when we’re so done with packing lunches ?

Find a friend who is also committed to packing healthy lunches and share school lunch ideas regularly. Or better yet, buddy up with a neighbor and swap bulk food items to take some of the burden off of each of you. For example, you could make a big batch of healthy muffins and she could make extra rice & beans; you then swap portions to each other to help round out your lunches.

Taste the rainbow.

To ensure that your kids are getting a wide-spectrum of nutrients, try to bring lots of color into their lunches. Not only is it visually appealing but it provides a rich diversity of phytonutrients and other vitamins and minerals. Here is a list of food by color to get you inspired:

Purple
Plums
Red grapes ?
Kidney beans
Beets

Blue
Blueberries
Blue potatoes
Blue corn (high in selenium!)

Green
Broccoli
Green Peppers
Pear ?
Kiwi
Snap peas
Avocado
Seaweed (like these snacks)

Red
Pomegranate
Red meat
Most apples

Cherries

Tomatoes

Pink
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Rhubarb
Raspberries

Orange
Apricots
Sweet potatoes (these are delicious!)
Cantaloupe
Oranges/tangerines/clementines ?
Papaya

Yellow
Pineapple ?
Summer squash
Mango
Honey
Egg yolks
Butter

White/tan/brown
Mushrooms
Coconut
Chicken/turkey ?
Lentils
Dates

Black
Black beans
Blackberries
Black olives
Black rice (like these crackers)

Make your kids “snack” on any lunch leftovers.

After all of the effort that goes into making kid lunches, nothing feels worse that opening up a lunch box filled with half-eaten foods. When this happens in our household, I make the kids finish their leftovers before they can have other foods to eat, including dinner. This teaches them the value of not being wasteful and honors the work of others. ?

Find resources to help.

We all get into food ruts and need to break out of our old standbys. Consider joining a meal planning service to help you try new recipes that can be used as lunches. I like Real Plans because they create shopping lists (that you can use on your phone) and include lunch menus too. You can also follow awesome food bloggers like Deliciously Organic, Naturally Ella or Tasty Yummies. I also find inspiration in magazines and cookbooks like Nourishing Traditions.

Keep it simple.

While homemade sushi rolls and holiday-themed treats are fun to do on occasion, you want to also include regular, simple staples if you’re gonna stay in the game for the long haul. Simple foods are often best for younger, more delicate digestive systems, too. When coming up with new school lunch ideas, it can be as easy as just trying different foods, such as:

• Less popular fruits like kiwi, grapefruit, and golden berries
• Veggies like radishes, jicama, and plantains
• Well-cooked grains like millet, amaranth, and savory steel cut oats
• And healthy proteins like salmon jerky, Brazil nuts, and dried garbanzo beans

Infuse with LVE.

Researcher Kai Qin Chan showed that strong emotions like love or jealousy can impact the way food tastes (Love-infused food tastes better, btw ). So there is actually some scientific proof to the importance of food “made with love.” You can write a little love note or buy these cute cards to stick in lunches. I also like to throw in a little “treat” most days like these Zand throat drops (with added zinc for immunity!), these elderberry gummies, dark chocolate or ginger chews.

How about YOU?

I’d love to hear from YOU, mama! What do you regularly make for your little ones? Share any tips or tricks you might have on school lunch ideas!

The post School Lunch Ideas: 40 Healthy Kid Lunches to Keep You Inspired appeared first on Mama Natural.

And let’s face it; few things bring us more satisfaction than seeing our kids well nourished. Somehow I feel I’ve “failed” if this isn’t the case. But, alas, sometimes we get a picky one – or our good eaters go through picky stages. When that’s the case, try these 8 tips to get back on track.

How to get picky eaters to eat video

8 tips to get your picky eater to eat

1. Feed child three meals and one snack a day

As mamas, we often think that we need to be feeding our kids 24/7 to be sure they’re getting enough nourishment. But I’ve found that it’s important to let our kids actually get hungry before we set them down for a meal. So breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner. And a little nursing or drinks in between.

2. Let them feed themselves

I’ll admit it. I spoon-fed my guy until he was about 14 months old because I was sure I’d get more in him. It was becoming annoying for both of us so I stopped. And once I did, he started eating more! Kids enjoy the satisfaction of feeding themselves.

3. Don’t encourage, beg or even watch them eat

The more I pushed food on Griffin, the more he’d resist. With picky eaters, there’s usually a power struggle going on. So the best tactic is just let them be. By not interfering, your child will actually love satisfying his own hunger. It’s a beautiful thing!

4. Provide colorful, flavorful variety at each meal

Kids like to try different tastes if we start early. My goal is to rotate fruits, vegetables, starches and proteins as much as I can. I also dress foods with spices and condiments. (My guy loves spicy Dijon mustard! Who knew?) Avoid the easy food ruts like buttered noodles or blueberries, and expose your child to new flavors to avoid picky eaters.

5. Try some props for your picky eaters

Let’s face it, kids have the attention span of goldfish; a half hour in the high chair can seem unbearable. Try putting that chair in from of a window so they can look out and see birds, cars and life going on.

You can also put washable books on their high chair so they can look at pictures as they eat peas. Even a little car or doll can keep them company.

6. Keep challenging them with new eating behaviors

Towards the end of a meal, reward your child by letting them practice a more grown-up eating behavior. If she’s still eating with her hands, let her practice with a fork or spoon. If he still uses a sippy, let him drink straight from a glass. If she’s still in a booster chair, try dining without one. All of these boost confidence – and can help get a few extra bites in as well.

7. Allow them to be part of the food choices

As your child gets older, let them pick between two food options. Do you want corn tortillas or rice noodles? Do you want strawberries or pears? By allowing your child to pick which food, they’ll feel more in control and excited about eating.

8. Include your picky eaters in food prep

Can your child crack an egg? Stir yogurt or butter toast? Let them help as appropriate for their age. Don’t think just because they are 18 months they can’t take part in some way! By just watching me crack and cook an egg, Griffin now loves them!

It is possible to turn picky eaters into good (or at least decent) ones

I know this firsthand, and these tips helped me do it

Do you have picky eaters?

I know that many of YOU have your own tips and tricks up your sleeve. How about it? How did you approach the issue? Share with us so we can learn from each other.

The post How to Get a Picky Eater to Eat (Toddler) appeared first on Mama Natural.

But let’s not fool ourselves. Goldfish aren’t exactly nutrient dense.

So when my daughter discovered (and fell in love!) with these cute little crackers in her Sunday school class at church, I was pretty bummed.

Just as I did with my natural gummy bear recipe, I knew there had to be a way to make a healthy goldfish recipe.

Pepperidge Farm’s Goldfish Crackers ingredient list

Unbleached enriched wheat flour [flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin b2), folic acid], cheddar cheese [(pasteurized cultured milk, salt, enzymes), annatto], vegetable oils (sunflower, canola and/or soybean), contains 2 percent or less of: salt, yeast, sugar, spices, autolyzed yeast, leavening (monocalcium phosphate, ammonium bicarbonate, baking soda) and onion powder.

Enriched flour is one of my pet peeves. It really isn’t necessary to give our kids synthetic forms of vitamins unless they’re malnourished or in very poor health (and even then, it’s questionable how beneficial they are).

Could I create a healthy goldfish cracker recipe?

While I don’t like my kids snacking too often since it interferes with their mealtime appetites, I decided to accept the culinary challenge.

When you really break it down, the goldfish recipe consists of:

• • Flour (there are more healthy types)
  • Cheese (real cheese can be nutritious)
  • and some kind of fat (we know there are healthy fats out there!)

natural healthy goldfish crackers fishing pole image Mama Natural

Yes, I could!

I stumbled upon this recipe from Erin of Dinners, Dishes and Desserts and started tinkering in the kitchen to create a goldfish recipe that would make my daughter happy.

I decided to use cassava flour. This is a new Paleo darling that acts just like regular wheat or white flour in recipes (unlike almond and/or coconut). It’s also grain-free, gluten-free, and nut-free, which is great for those food allergies or compromised gut function.

Of course, there are plenty of organic, even grass-fed, cheeses that fit the bill. I like using a cheddar cheese to recreate the flavor of Goldfish. You can even use Sharp Cheddar for a stronger bite. Cheese is high in calcium, vitamin D, and good fat for growing kids.

Speaking of fat, I use organic butter since it bakes so well and is stable at room temperature. You could probably use refined coconut oil (that doesn’t have the coconut flavor) as an alternative. Despite what you may have of heard about saturated fats, these foods have nourished humankind for thousands of years. Breastmilk and colostrum, nature’s perfect and most nutrient-dense first food for baby, is over 50% saturated fat! So this is a great food for kids. Pastured butter is also high in butyric acid, which support the digestive tract and microbiome. Butter is also rich in vitamins A, D, and even K2.

How could I get that bright yellow color? Turmeric!

With the above mentioned ingredients, my goldfish recipe dough was more of a tannish color. So how could I match the bright yellow of traditional goldfish?

I added turmeric and, bingo, my crackers were starting to look like the real thing! What a happy coincidence, since turmeric is such an amazing superfood (check out our golden milk recipe to see why we love it). This ancient spice is one of the most studied in the world for its many health benefits. Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is outstanding for reducing overall inflammation in the body. Turmeric is also extremely high in antioxidants, which support the body and ward off disease and premature aging. *Keep in mind that it does give the crackers a flavor. I would recommend only using 1 TB total if your child doesn’t like a curry-like taste.

DIY Goldfish Mold

Finally, I had Michael, aka Papa Natural, cut out a goldfish shape from an aluminum La Croix can to finish the look.

Alternatively, you could just cut the dough into square crackers a la Cheez Its :), which would be much easier and less time consuming.

Healthy Goldfish Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of cassava flour (where to buy). (You could also use any whole grain flour.)
• 8 ounces organic cheddar cheese
• 4 TB organic butter
• 5 TB of water
• 1 TB of olive oil
• 3/4 tsp. of sea salt (where to buy)
• 2 TB of turmeric (optional)* Use only 1 TB if you want the health benefits of turmeric but don’t want a strong flavor.
• A toothpick (optional)

Directions:

1. Grate cheddar cheese and put into food processor
2. Cut up butter into small cubes and add to food processor
3. Add flour, salt, turmeric, and olive oil
4. Blend in food processor until a dough starts to form
5. Slowly add in 5 TB of water and continue to blend
6. Scoop out your dough and put in covered dish
7. Let dough chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes

Once this is done, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Take out your dough and pat out flat to about 1/8 inch thick. You can use a roller pin, but I found it stuck too much and was easier with hands. (In subsequent batches, I used a kombucha bottle as a roller pin and it worked great!)

Cut into squares or use your DIY goldfish mold. Use toothpick to add eyes and smiles to your crackers (optional). Put shaped crackers onto baking sheet and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

Additional Notes:

This recipe makes about 100 goldfish. I usually like to double and make a bigger amount, as they go fast! Store sealed in cool, dry place. Eat within 7 days.

There you have it – a healthy (and sure, high maintenance) snack for kids

Who knew kids would love turmeric so much? Even my son’s friend, who was used to the real thing, told me these were “delicious.” His mom even texted me, saying that he kept asking about these crackers. So there you have it! Kid-approved, healthy goldfish!

How about you?

Do your kids like goldfish crackers? What healthy snacks do you like to give your kids? Share with us in the comments below!

The post Healthy Goldfish Crackers Recipe appeared first on Mama Natural.

One of my passions is switching out unhealthy recipes for healthy ones. Eating a real food diet does not have to be boring or feel like deprivation (I would never last!)

Do you love Starbuck’s PSLs? Great, natural pumpkin spice latte recipe that’s healthy and tastes like the real thing!

Love traditional breakfast foods on weekend mornings? Me too! Here’s a delicious grain free waffle recipe that kids of all ages just love.

Now that my kids are entering the real world and learning about pixie sticks and cotton candy (gasp!), they have stumbled upon the adorable Haribo Gummy Bear package in the checkout line. I remember munching on these as a kid myself. But, when I recently looked at the package’s ingredients, I knew there had to be a better way!

Haribo Gummy Bear Ingredients in U.S.

Glucose syrup (from wheat or corn), sugar, gelatin, dextrose (from wheat or corn), citric acid, corn starch, artificial and natural flavors, palm kernel oil, carnauba wax, white beeswax, yellow beeswax, yellow 5, red 40, and blue 1

But if you break it down, it’s really about:

• some form of sugar (not all are bad)
• some type of fruit flavoring (could use the real thing)
• and gelatin.

I’ve talked about the many benefits of gelatin before. So, in the scheme of things, these gummy bears could actually be a healthy “treat” when compared with others.

Haribo Gummy Bear Ingredients in Germany

Interesting to note: in Germany, where Haribo is headquartered, they don’t use food dyes for color. Instead they use plant and herbal extracts. (Europeans always get the food right!) Here’s a list of their ingredients:

Glucose syrup; sugar; gelatin; dextrose; fruit juice from concentrate: apple, strawberry, raspberry, orange, lemon, pineapple; citric acid, lemon, pineapple; citric acid; fruit and plant concentrates: nettle, apple, spinach, kiwi, orange, elderberry, lemon, mango, passionfruit, blackcurrant, aronia, grape; flavorings; glazing agents: white and yellow beeswax; carnauba wax; elderberry extract; fruit extract from carob; invert sugar syrup

So, my recipe takes the more German approach: fruit concentrates (juice), gelatin, and sugar (in the form of honey.)

Note: This is a slightly “higher maintenance” recipe than most of the ones you’ll find on this site. I had a fun time making these with my kids, but I certainly wouldn’t be making these on a regular basis. Too much work! But, for a road trip, Halloween, a birthday party, or just a fun activity to do with the family, this gummy bear recipe is great.

Healthy Gummy Bear Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup organic juice for each color
  • For the red gummy bear: pomegranate or cherry juice (100% juice not diluted with sugar and water)
  • For the orange gummy bear: I used peach/carrot juice combo. You can also use apricot nectar juice. I also added in 4-5 drops of Orange essential oil before adding to molds. This gives them a great flavor!
  • For the yellow gummy bear: I used a combo of orange and pineapple juices. You can add Lemon essential oil before adding to mold for an authentic lemon-y flavor.
• For the clear gummy bear: I used a mix of pineapple juice and lemonade.
• 1/3 cup Vital Proteins beef gelatin
• 2 TB lemon juice
• 1/2 raw cup honey
• Gummy bear molds with droppers (where to buy)

Directions:

1. Put your cold juice into a sauce pan.
2. Add your 1/3 cup of gelatin.
3. Let it sit for a minute or two so the gelatin can “bloom”. (This will help prevent a clumpy or gritty finished product!)
4. Turn on the heat to low to medium till the gelatin dissolves.
5. Turn off heat and let sit for a few minutes to cool down.
6. Add your lemon juice and raw honey. Stir well.
7. Use a syringe and suck up your juice concoction and push out into your gummy bear mold.
8. Let sit for 5 minutes so it sets and then put in fridge for one hour. Remove bears and enjoy!

Final notes:

This gummy bear recipe will make at least 100 bears of each color and last in the fridge for at least one week. You can also leave out in room temperature for a few days (just don’t let them get above, say, 85° F or you’ll have a big bear meltdown.)

How about you?

Do you like gummy bears? Would you ever make a treat like this for your kids? Share with us in the comments below.

The post Healthy Gummy Bear Recipe (Using Fruit & Honey) appeared first on Mama Natural.

1. Healthy, and
2. Kid approved

Let me tell you: That is not an easy task!

But I got to work. Eventually, I decided on these healthy cupcakes. I adapted a cupcake recipe I found so that it was healthier and sprouted, combined it with a lovely raw frosting… and, to my delight, it turned out FABULOUS!

Watch the video to see how to make Healthy Cupcakes, plus see the kids’ responses! You’re gonna like this…

Sprouted Brown Rice Healthy Cupcakes

Be aware that these healthy cupcakes are more dense then your typical white flour variety, but the sweetness of the frosting balances things out nicely.

Healthy Cupcakes Ingredients

• 2 cups organic sprouted brown rice flour (can be purchased online)
• 3/4 cup organic coconut palm sugar
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder (aluminum free)
• 1/2 teaspoon organic ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 2 squirts stevia (about 10 drops)
• 1/2 cup of organic butter, preferably raw
• 2 organic eggs
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1 tablespoon coconut nectar (or could use honey)
• 1 tablespoon organic vanilla extract
• 4 oz. organic apple sauce or 1 grated organic red apple

Healthy Cupcakes Directions

1. Put all of the dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Add in your wet ingredients (stevia, butter, eggs, water, apple, sweetener and vanilla).
3. Put paper cupcake liners into your cupcake pan. Fill liners about two thirds full.
4. Bake at 325 degrees for approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
5. Wait for them to cool before decorating with frosting.

Date Cashew Cream Frosting

Healthy Frosting Ingredients

• 2 cups raw cashews
• 1 1/3 cups cream or coconut cream
• 1 cup pitted organic dates
• 1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons organic maple syrup

Healthy Frosting Directions

1. Put all ingredients in blender and process until smooth. May take a while unless you have a Vitamix
2. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before you put on your cooled cupcakes.

Enjoy your delicious, healthy cupcakes!

Other Mom-Approved Snacks My Kids Love

Pumpkin Smoothie: A thick, yummy pumpkin smoothie recipe that tastes like your mom’s almost-famous pumpkin pie, only colder, healthier, and in a glass.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread: This chocolate zucchini bread is great for folks with food allergies. It’s gluten, dairy, egg and nut free. (But you would never know it!)

Frosted Cookies: This delicious Valentines cookie recipe uses coconut flour and natural toppings. The cookies are Paleo, grain-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free. Enjoy!

Healthy Gummy Men: Protein rich with just three simple ingredients, this is an easy gummy recipe that is a HUGE hit in my household. Find out how to make your own.

Healthy, Natural Jello: Wondering how to make jello? Conventional Jello is filled with artificial ingredients. Here’s an easy recipe to make natural and healthy jello.

Protein Pear Pudding: Need a healthy and satisfying snack recipe? Each serving of this protein pear pudding contains healthy sugar, protein, and fat. Plus, it tastes delicious!

Pumpkin Dessert Bites: These paleo pumpkin dessert bites are a perfect ‘real food’ alternative to store bought treats. Halloween doesn’t have to mean GMO corn syrup candy!

The post Healthy Cupcakes That Kids Love appeared first on Mama Natural.