Valentine's Day Snack Mix
Photo provided by Cami Wells

Valentine's Day Snack Mix

Yield: 11 servings
Ingredients:
  • 2 cups pretzels
  • 2 cups heart-shaped cereal
  • 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries
  • ½ cup chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water. Stir together all ingredients.
  2. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Information:

  • Serving Size (½ cup):
  • Calories: 110
  • Total Fat: 3.5g
  • Saturated Fat: 2g
  • Sodium: 115mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 21g
  • Fiber: 1g, includes 6g Added Sugars
  • Protein: 3g
  • Potassium: 2%
Nutrition Software Used: ESHA Food Processor
contrast snack mix
Photo provided by Cami Wells.

Contrast Snack Mix

Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients:
  • 2 cups crunchy oat cereal (circle shaped)
  • ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries
  • ½ cup other dried fruit such as blueberries or cherries
  • 1 cup small square crackers
  • ½ cup candy coated dark chocolate pieces or chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Mix together and store in an air tight container or put ½ cup portions into zip top bags.
Notes:

Peanuts, almonds or other nuts would also be great additions to this snack mix if serving to children older than 4 years of age who are at less risk of choking.

Nutrition Information:

  • Calories: 130
  • Total Fat: 2.5g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.5g
  • Sodium: 95mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 26g
  • Fiber: 1g, includes 6g Added Sugars
  • Protein: 2g
  • Calcium: 4%
  • Potassium: 4%
Nutrition Software Used: ESHA Food Processor
Strawberry Rhubarb Porridge

Strawberry Rhubarb Quinoa Porridge

Download Handout Spanish Handout
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients:
  • 2 ¼ cups water, divided
  • 2 cups rhubarb (fresh or frozen), scrub fresh rhubarb with clean vegetable brush under running water, chopped
  • 1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen), gently rub fresh strawberries under cold running water, chopped
  • ⅓ cup uncooked quinoa or whole grain hot cereal of choice
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • vanilla yogurt (optional)

Directions:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups water, rhubarb, strawberries, quinoa, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Cover and cook about 25 minutes or until the quinoa is tender.
  3. Stir in sugar and vanilla.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch with the remaining ¼ cup water. Stir into the quinoa mixture, return to a simmer and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
  5. Serve warm, or refrigerate until cool.
  6. Top with vanilla yogurt if desired.
  7. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition Information:

  • Serving Size (1/6 of recipe):
  • Calories: 90
  • Total Fat: 0.5g
  • Total Carbohydrates: 23g
  • Fiber: 2g, includes 8g Added Sugars
  • Protein: 2g
  • Calcium: 4%
  • Potassium: 4%
Nutrition Software Used: ESHA Food Processor
No Bake Cereal Treats
Photo provided by Cami Wells

No Bake Cereal Treats

Yield: 24 servings
Ingredients:
  • 2 cups quick cooking oats
  • 2 cups crispy rice cereal
  • ⅓ cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup light corn syrup
  • ½ cup peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries
  • ½ cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water. Coat a 9 x 13 inch pan with cooking spray.
  2. Combine oats and cereal in a large bowl and set aside. Bring brown sugar and syrup to a boil in a saucepan over medium high heat, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved.
  3. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Pour peanut butter mixture over cereal, stirring until coated. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir in raisins and chips. Press into prepared pan.

Nutrition Information:

  • Calories: 130
  • Total Fat: 4.5g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.5g
  • Sodium: 40mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 21g
  • Fiber: 1g, includes 11g Added Sugars
  • Protein: 3g
  • Potassium: 2%
Nutrition Software Used: Esha Food Processor
cinnamon crunch snack mix
Photo provided by Cami Wells.

Cinnamon Crunch Snack Mix

Yield: 20 cups
Ingredients:
  • 6 cups of popped popcorn
  • ½ of a large box of animal crackers (about 6 ounces)
  • 1 (13 ounce) box of whole grain cinnamon-flavored square cereal
  • ½ cup of raisins
  • ½ cup dried cranberries

Directions:

  1. Wash hands with water and soap.
  2. Combine all ingredients.
  3. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Information:

  • Serving Size (1 cup):
  • Calories: 150
  • Total Fat: 3g
  • Saturated Fat: 1g
  • Cholesterol: 5mg
  • Sodium: 140mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 29g
  • Fiber: 3g, includes 5g Added Sugars
  • Protein: 3g
  • Calcium: 6%
  • Potassium: 2%
Nutrition Software Used: Esha Food Processor
no bake cookie
Photo provided by Cami Wells.

No Bake Boulders

Yield: 16 servings
Ingredients:
  • ½ cup peanut butter
  • ½ cup honey
  • ¾ cup low-fat granola
  • ¾ cup crispy rice cereal
  • ½ cup raisins, dried cranberries or other dried fruit
  • ½ cup crushed graham crackers

Directions:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Spray and 8 x 8 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  3. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat peanut butter and honey in a microwave on HIGH for 15-30 seconds, or until creamy when stirred.
  4. Add granola, cereal, dried fruit, and graham cracker crumbs to the peanut butter mixture and stir together.
  5. Place the mixture in the prepared pan. Let cool in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
  6. Cut into squares. Roll into balls and enjoy. Optional - roll in graham cracker crumbs after forming balls to reduce stickiness.
  7. Store leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer.

Nutrition Information:

  • Calories: 130
  • Total Fat: 5g
  • Saturated Fat: 1g
  • Sodium: 65mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 21g
  • Fiber: 1g, includes 11g Added Sugars
  • Protein: 3g
  • Potassium: 2%
Nutrition Software Used: ESHA Food Processor
Snack Mix in a Bowl
Photo provided by Cami Wells.

Shake a Sack Cracker Snack

Download Handout Spanish Handout
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients:
  • ⅓ cup whole grain cheddar cheese crackers
  • ⅓ cup toasted oat cereal
  • ⅓ cup pretzels*
  • ½ teaspoon ranch dressing mix
  • Cooking spray

Directions:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Place all ingredients in a paper sack or a sandwich-sized plastic bag.
  3. Spray inside of bag with cooking spray and then add dressing mix.
  4. Shake well and enjoy!
Notes:

Snack Crediting for Ages 3-5 in CACFP - Grain

*Choking hazard for young children. Substitute another cracker or cereal for the pretzels for children under the age of 4.

Nutrition Information:

  • Calories: 150
  • Total Fat: 4g
  • Saturated Fat: 1g
  • Cholesterol: 5mg
  • Sodium: 450mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 26g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Calcium: 4%
  • Potassium: 2%
Nutrition Software Used: ESHA Food Processor
iron powered snack mix
Photo by Marusa Jonas

Iron Powered Snack Mix

Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients:
  • ½ cup cashews
  • ½ cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 2 cups oatmeal square-shaped cereal
  • 2 cups crunchy oat cereal (circle shaped)

Directions:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Combine all ingredients and store in an air-tight container.

Nutrition Information:

  • Serving Size (3/4 cup):
  • Calories: 260
  • Total Fat: 10g
  • Saturated Fat: 4.5g
  • Sodium: 120mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 42g
  • Fiber: 2g, includes 5g Added Sugars
  • Protein: 5g
  • Calcium: 6%
  • Potassium: 8%
Nutrition Software Used: ESHA Food Processor
Trail mix in a jar
Photo by Marusa Jonas

Make Your Own Trail Mix

Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients:
  • 1 cup unsalted nuts (peanuts, walnuts, almonds, pecans, cashews)
  • 1 cup unsalted seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds)
  • 1 cup unsweetened dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, mango, bananas, pineapple)
  • 1 cup unsweetened cereal (oatmeal, rice or wheat square-shaped cereal, circle-shaped cereal)

Directions:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Store in an air-tight container, in a cool, dark place. For maximum freshness, consume within 3 months.
Notes:

Portion into ½ cup servings and pack in to-go containers or zip-top bags.

Nutrition Information:

  • Serving Size (1/2 cup):
  • Calories: 210
  • Total Fat: 13g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.5g
  • Sodium: 15mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 22g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Vitamin C: 2%
  • Potassium: 2%
Nutrition Software Used: ESHA Food Processor