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NO-BAKE HONEY NUT CHEERIOS SNACK BARS These fast, easy, bars cost just a fraction of storebought bars to make, they're healthier, and they've got fun, bright colors. They're a texture lover's dream between the cereal, dried fruit, and chocolate covered sunflower seeds. Use what you have on hand and enjoy. Almsot any dried fruit, nut, or seed can be substituted. The bars are perfect for quickie breakfast or snacks on the go. YIELD: one 8-by-8-inch pan, 12 snack bars PREP TIME: 10 minutes COOK TIME: 3 minutes, microwave TOTAL TIME: 2+ hours, for chilling INGREDIENTS: 1/4 cup creamy unsalted butter (half of one stick) 1/4 cup honey (light-colored corn syrup may be substituted and will keep the bars firmer at room temp than using honey) 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 3 cups Honey Nut Cheerios (or similar storebrand cereal; plain Cheerios may be substituted for a less sweet bar) 1 cup raisins, optional (1 cup honey-roasted peanuts, 1 cup chopped almonds, or 1 cup trail mix may be substituted) about 1/2 cup chocolate-covered sunflower seeds, optional (I used Trader Joe's) pinch sea salt or Kosher salt for sprinkling, optional DIRECTIONS: Line an 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil leaving overhang, spray with cooking spray; set aside. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine butter, honey, brown sugar, and heat on high power for 1 minute to melt. Stop to stir. Mixture will be on the granular side, this is okay. Return bowl to microwave and heat for 1 more minute on high power. Stop to stir Return bowl to microwave and heat for 1 more minute on high power. Stop to stir. On this third and final burst, mixture will become quite bubbly and foamy; use caution when removing from micro because this is boiling hot caramel and can cause burns. Stir in the vanilla using caution because mixture could bubble up. Stir in the cereal. Stir in the optional raisins (or nuts). Turn mixture out into prepared pan, packing it down firmly with a spatula and smoothing the top. Optionally, sprinkle evenly with sunflower seeds and salt (the salt cuts some of the sweetness and I recommend it). Cover pan with a sheet of foil (to prevent fridge smells), and place pan in fridge to set up for at least 2 to 3 hours, or overnight, or until bars are completely set before lifting out with foil overhang, slicing, and serving. Bars will keep airtight in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 6 months. I recommend storing them in the fridge rather than room temp because they soften and get loose.
Involving the child in the process of getting the snack is one way. My friend gets her son to make fruit skewers together. Just prepare slices of fruits such as oranges, strawberries, peaches, grapes etc and get him choose and make his own snack. Fun and healthy, and got him to eat a variety of fruits. The same friend also often asks her son to help measures out ingredients when she bakes. Or to help place ingredients into the blender when making smoothies or purees. (We often joked that she has a baker/cook in the making!) She also found that her child is more likely to eat the snacks he helped prepared. But one drawback is that the kitchen can get quite messy if he was helping with the baking. So.. be warned. ;)
I know we're not supposed to play with food but you can come up with fun ways to convince your kids to eat foods or snacks that they normally dislike like veggies. For example, you can make a tic-tac-toe game or even Bingo with pieces of grapes or cherry tomatoes (see picture). This website has fun ideas that you can use and they even provide printables you can incorporate during snack time to make it fun! http://lalymom.com/6-pages-of-fun-snack-games-free-printables/
I love to cook. Not to boast out, I cook good food. And of course, I'd love my kid to be a good cook as well. So I'd say to invite your kids in preparing preparing snacks. It's a perfect bonding right? And at the same time, training them while they're young.
I found kids are more likely to eat the fun snacks, it's more like a game for them and that's why I always try to make fun snacks which are healthy as well. Here are some of the ideas.. http://www.doublethebatch.com/25-fun-and-healthy-snacks-for-kids/
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Ask him to be little chef! By involving him, he'll have the sense of belonging to the food. And whatever the taste is, he'll be more respectful to the results because he's the one who made it.