An Apple a Day

I don’t know about you all, but when we walk in the door from pretty much anything, my kids need a snack. This blog post is just a quick collection of ideas for serving the traditional snack of apples and peanut butter.

I learned a long time ago that a well-fed family is a happy family. This is easier said than done - I am currently feeding four children between the ages of 8 months and 15 years. We often talk about the eating and sleeping schedules of babies, but how about those teenage sleep, eat, wake cycles? I know it’s probably time to stop making snacks for someone who can drive a car, but I enjoy serving them while I still can, and I know other moms can understand!

Some days it's homemade cookies and fresh cut fruit salad, and other days it's apples and goldfish - I find no shame in either! But I did discover a new way to completely elevate our after-school apple snack and wanted to share it with you. 

Instead of traditional apple cutter slices and a bowl of peanut butter, I use a large knife to cut thin round slices from each side of the apple, then rectangle strips from the two sides that are left. After cutting the slices, I lay them flat and smear peanut butter, hazelnut spread, jam, or another nut butter over the top. I then top them with an extra little something - mini crunchy marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, little chopped strawberries, or sprinkles. It seems like lots of work, but once you get the hang of it, you can do it pretty quickly! My ten-year-old likes to help out and make her own apples, while my teenagers are always open to home delivery to their desks where they do homework. At this point, Rosie, the 8-month-old, only contributes by wildly grabbing at the plate as we make the trek down the steps.

This simple after-school snack is just what they need to hold them over to dinner without spoiling it, and I enjoy munching on the scraps left behind. As apple season is upon us, surprise your kiddos and give this fun idea a try! 

Scroll down to see some pictures of the process, as well as some combination ideas.