Get into the spirit of 4th of July this weekend with some patriotic toddler treats.

From Family Fun:

Independence Day Pops

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
3 cups vanilla yogurt
Red food coloring
Blue food coloring
Waxed paper
Sugar cones
Popsicle sticks

1. To make a half dozen pops, tint 1/2 cup of the yogurt with red food coloring and 1 1/2 cups with blue food coloring. Leave the rest plain.

2. Make waxed paper cone liners by folding six 12-inch square sheets into triangles, wrapping each around a sugar cone, and using tape to hold the shape. Then place the paper cones inside the sugar cones.

Step 4 – Independence Day Pops 3. Fill each cone with 1 tablespoon red yogurt, followed by 2 tablespoons white yogurt, then 3 tablespoons blue yogurt. Insert a Popsicle stick and freeze the pops until firm, about 4 hours, using the cone box to keep them upright (as shown).

Fruit Flag

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
29 large strawberries
30 large blackberries
7 or so large bananas
Lemon juice

1. Hull and halve 29 large strawberries and set them aside.

2. Arrange 30 large blackberries, as shown, in the upper left corner of a serving tray or cutting board (it should be at least 8 by 13 inches).

3. Cut 58 banana slices, 3/4-inch-thick, into a bowl. Sprinkle on lemon juice and toss the slices gently with a rubber spatula to keep them from browning.

4. Assemble the banana slices in rows as shown and top each slice with a strawberry half.

Check out Family Fun for more 4th of July crafts and recipes!

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Parenting a toddler with a food allergy can be a real struggle, especially at snack time when cookies and other treats are usually off limits.

Now there is a solution: HomeFree has launched a new brand of organic, ready-to-eat, whole grain cookies and coffee cakes free of common food allergens including peanuts, tree nuts, dairy and eggs.

HomeFree products are:

-Free of peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and dairy
-Certified whole grain – each cookie serving contains at least ½ serving of whole grains
-Certified organic
-Fine for most people allergic to wheat (not gluten-free; contain oats)
-Fine for most people allergic to soy (most contain soy lecithin)
-Baked and packaged in a dedicated bakery
-Allergen tested
-Without trans fat or cholesterol
-Without corn sweeteners, artificial colors, artificial flavors, MSG, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
Certified vegan (oatmeal cookies, and coffee cakes)
Certified kosher pareve

Even for a child (or adult) without allergies, HomeFree baked goods are a nutritious alternative to traditional cookies and cakes.

You can purchase HomeFree products at select Whole Foods, and online at www.homefreetreats.com.

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Just in time for Halloween, download your free Halloween Fun eBook featuring Recipes and Party Games.

This 20 Page Halloween Fun guide features:  19 Halloween Recipes, 7 Family Activities, and 5 Halloween Party Games.

This free eBook is brought to you by Meal Planning Central.

CLICK HERE to download your free eBook!

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With Halloween less than a week away, spend some special time with your toddler making some yummy Halloween Treats they are sure to love.

Green Jello Worm Cups

Ingredients:

4 serving package green jello

4 plastic clear plastic cups

8 Gummy Worms

-Prepare jello according to package instructions and leave to cool in refrigerator for approximately 1 hour.  You need the jello to slightly thicken so “worms” don’t sink but not fully set.  Insert 2 gummy worms into each jello cup and place back in refrigerator to finish setting.

Haunted Graveyard

Ingredients:

1 package instant pudding (vanilla or banana) and/or vanilla ice cream

1 pack of oreo cookies (crushed)

Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies (or any other “tombstone” shaped cookie)

Assortment of Halloween candies

-Prepare pudding according to package instructions and place in serving bowl.  Alternatively you can use vanilla ice cream, or a mixture of pudding and vanilla ice cream.  Place crushed Oreo or other chocolate cookies over pudding/ice cream and insert Milano (or any other “tombstone” shaped) cookies and candies to make a spooky graveyard.  Your toddler will have fun making and eating this really easy tasty treat.

Spooky Carrot Eyes

Ingredients:

Carrots

Cream Cheese

Raisins

-Wash and peel carrots.  Cut into rounds for eyes.  Place a little cream cheese in the center of each carrot and top with a raisin.  Super easy and healthy.

Visit Toddler Halloween Fun for more Halloween Activies you can do with your toddler.

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This is one of the cutest, best tasting toddler snacks that I have found!

Peanut Butter & Banana “Sushi” – Assuming no nut allergies.

1. Take 2 slices wheat bread and cut off the crusts.

2. Using a rolling pin (or cup), flatten out the 2 pieces of bread forming 1 long flat piece. As you roll the 2 pieces of bread will merge into 1.

3. Spread peanut butter on bread.

4. Take a whole banana (peeled of course) and place on top of peanut butter. Straiten banana out if needed.

5. Roll up bread around banana and cut into “sushi” style pieces and serve.

This is a fun bite sized snack your whole family will love!

Flavored cream cheese, jelly, fruit butters, and Nutella can also be used for different variations.

*I actually used cherry almond butter with the banana in above picture.

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To make traveling with your toddler a more enjoyable never leave home without snacks! I have found that packing snacks can make or break a shopping trip with my toddler.

There really are quite a few choices you have for packing a light, nutritious treat for your toddler to munch on when you are out and about.

Packable Toddler Snacks:

Dry Cereal – Cherrios, Kix

Crackers – Cheez Its, Gold Fish, Saltines

Pretzels – lightly salted

Mini Bagels

Rice Cakes

Fig Bars – Fig Newtons, Fig Newmans

Nutrigrain Bars

Graham Crackers

Carrot Sticks

Applesauce Cups

Cheese Sticks

Sliced Apples

Banana

Fit & Fresh Smart Portion Chill Containers can keep foods fresh on the go with removable ice packs. Snack Traps allow kids to remove food with ease, and then it automatically closes when they remove their hands.

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Monkey Munch (or sometimes called Puppy Chow) has been a long time favorite kids treat made from Chex cereal.

It has more recently became popular from the show Jon and Kate Plus 8 where Kate regularly makes up the Monkey Munch mix for the toddlers.

Monkey Munch contains peanut butter so it should only be served to a child with no peanut allergies. This is also a treat that should probably be only served to an older toddler.

Monkey Munch Ingredients:

9 cups Corn Chex®, Rice Chex®, Wheat Chex® or Chocolate Chex® cereal (or combination)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Preparation Directions:

1. Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.

2. In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.

3. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Enjoy!

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Smoothies are great for toddler because they can provide extra servings of fruits or vegetables in a yummy, nutritious snack.

Any fruit or vegetable your toddler normally would eat can be blended up with milk, yogurt, and ice.

The possibilities are truly endless.

-Simply take frozen or fresh fruit/veggies (if you use frozen you will not need any ice)

-Your favorite yogurt flavor (vanilla or plain works best with vegetables, use any flavor with fruit)

-Add a splash of milk or your favorite juice.

-Place everything in a blender and in a few minutes you have a great morning or afternoon snack for your toddler.

Always serve smoothies in a regular or sippy type cup – never in a bottle.

Older kids (and moms!) love smoothies too, so none should go to waste. If you happen to have extra you can freeze the leftovers in popsicle molds for a delicious treat later on!

To get 10 Free Yummy Toddler Smoothie Recipes sign up for my mailing list (top right corner) for an instant download in your email. You will also get notice of special recipes and offers geared for you and your toddler.

Keep your toddlers mess-free when serving popsicles or other ice cream treats! The Dripstik was created by a mom to catch drips, while eliminating messes on hands and clothes.

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Here are 25 Easy Toddler Snack Ideas that your little ones will love. Mix and match a few of these to make a quick meal, especially when adding a protein like chicken. Some snacks will be better served as occasional treats.

1. Yogurt – Good with apple slices to make dippers
2. Oatmeal – use different flavors for variety
3. Mac and cheese – Make this snack into a meal by adding in corn, carrots, peas, or ground beef.
4. String cheese
5. Raisins
6. Cut up pieces of fruit – mandarin oranges, sliced grapes, and strawberries are good options. Look for fruit cups that are low in sugar.
7. Applesauce
8. Grilled Cheese – Cut up into bite size squares
9. Goldfish Crackers, Gerber Puffs, Cheez Its
10. Mini Pancakes – Eggo makes some minis that are easy to make.
11. Scrambled Eggs
12. Toast w/Jelly (or Peanut Butter if your sure your toddler has no allergy to nuts)
13. Dry cereal – Cheerios are a great staple and easy to travel with.
14. Veggies – Broccoli, brussel sprouts, corn, and green beans are all great choices!
15. Mashed Potatoes – Make up a big batch and freeze into smaller portions.
16. Cheese Quesadillas – Cut into small triangles
17. Fish Sticks, grilled chicken strips (Cut up)
18. Deli Meat – ham/turkey rolled up, serve w/cheese cubes
19. Pasta – Served with spaghetti sauce or with a small amount of butter/margarine.
20. Cereal Bars (like Nutrigrain) – Easy snack for on the go!
21. Graham Crackers, Animal Crackers, Vanilla Wafers
22. Fruit Smoothies
23. Jello/Jello Pudding Snacks (Sugar free)
24. Frozen Fruit Bars/Popsicles
25. Mini Muffins

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