snack Archives - Joanna Anastasia

snack

Simple hack to serve kids more veggies and fruits in one serving

June 12, 2020 / Lifestyle / 0 comment

After months of quarantine at home with kids I’m pretty much out of ideas for cooking healthy meals and preparing healthy snacks. And when our days all look the same it’s hard to find new special ways to motivate kids to eat their veggies more than ever, am I right?

I’m sure we all feel the same now- we’re tired. We’re taking care of children during quarantine and we’re making sure they eat right and are stimulated and educated… it’s exhausting.

But just when I was ready to throw the towel and abandon the idea of feeding my kids anything other than carbs I remembered Evive Smoothies. Absolutely delicious and chocked full of nutrition in every cube! I think they’re absolutely amazing for breakfast as a simple smoothie bowl! Or for a midday snack in the form of a smoothie- and they are the only smoothies that are ready to use, without a blender needed!

I discovered them last year as my mom-on-the go breakfast idea. They’re unique on the market as they come in a form of cubes that are ready to be popped in a mason jar, covered with milk or water and ready to be enjoyed in no time . ( They will dissolve on their own within 10-15 min) . But if you want to have them ready within seconds, you can also use a blender- I think they’re delicious either way!

My kids current obsession is Touk-Touk ( a sunny blend of tropical fruits, veggies and plant based proteins) that is also a flavour of a wonderful project in collaboration with the Breakfast Club of Canada. During the first two weeks of June, they will be donating a percentage of all their sales of Touk-Touk flavour towards this amazing cause!

Now, if you enjoy cooking you can use the Evive smoothies in your meal prep! As a base for frozen treats or in pinterest-worthy smoothie bowls. But since I’m a mom like you (currently in quarantine mode without schools nor daycare) I simply make the most delicious smoothies for my kids! That they actually drink !

Here’s a couple of fun ideas that I tried with my kids and that ARE NOT COMPLICATED

( and that taste delicious with Touk-Touk)

Mix the Evive smoothies with milk ( cow milk, nut milk, or oat milk)
Mix them with low sugar apple juice
Add some apple sauce and water to your Evive smoothies cubes
Serve them in a bowl as a simple smoothie bowl with some cut fruits on the side
Mix the Evive smoothies with yogurt for extra creamy texture
Serve it in a bowl with low sugar cereal
And if you’re feeling extra fancy you can get a coconut and serve your smoothie inside – your kids will think it’s the best treat ever!

Now that I’m making these smoothies once a day my kids are actually eating much more veggies and fruits in one serving ! And in my books, that’s the best mom hack ever!

Now, if you’re wondering where you can find them, you can either order online , or check your local ( Canadian) grocery store frozen aisle. And, their packaging is 100% recyclable, so there’s no harm for the planet!

I hope that you will find them as life saving as I did ( and as yummy as my kids think !)

Disclosure: this post was brought to you by Evive Smoothies. All opinions remain completely my own and are based on my own experience.

Nutella banana granola bars

May 3, 2017 / Desserts / 0 comment

Every spring I wake up one day, and decide it’s enough: enough of artificial sugar, enough of comfort food on repeat, and enough of store-bought snacs! And this year is no different: last week, when the sun have finally appeared, an first tiny leaves started blooming, I realized it’s time to get back on track, and my first decision was to make these healthy and delicious, Nutella and banana granola bars! Now, I know what you must be thinking now: Nutella isn’t really healthy! Well, I’m just using a tiny bit of it, and believe me, it makes all the difference in the world!

And I just love having these on hand, they are really filling so they stop me from over smacking too!

Also, these granola bars are full of chia seeds and oats and have zero added sugar or fat! And of course, if you’d like them to be 100% sugar free, just skip the Nutella !

All you need:

2 ripe bananas
1 cup oat meal
1/2 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup nutella
1 table spoon coca powder

Mix it all well together, and pour over a baking sheet covered with wax baking paper. Bake for around 15 minutes on 350 F, and let cool completely. Once cooled down, you can add a bit of Nutella “icing”on top!( I usually put a spoon in a small zip bag, cut off the top, and then decorate it as if it was a cake!

They are perfect to freeze for later, eat on the go, or wrap up as a little gift. Or even as an easy breakfasts for those busy mornings! And my kids kept asking for more!

This recipe is for around 10 bars, so I suggest you making a double batch, you’ll thank me later! You can even add chocolate chips, nuts or dried cranberries! Enjoy!

The best homemade granola bars

January 18, 2016 / Desserts / 0 comment

Sometimes all you need is a healthy yet delicious snack, something to give you energy and keep you going. Granola bar is a perfect choice, but it’s usually full of artificial sugars and fats, plus it’s not that economic at all. Unless it’s home made! And can you believe me when I’ll tell you that a homemade granola bar is not at all complicated or difficult to make? It’s actually pretty easy: just pick your ingredients, mix them all together, and bake. That’s it!

And these ones here, are really the best homemade granola bars ever! They’re chewy and satisfying, with chunks of chocolate, pieces of cranberries and all of the oatmeal goodness!

Hers what you’ll need:

1/3 cup natural peanut butter (can be any other nut butter)
1/4 cup maple sirup
1 tablespoon milk (or soya or almond milk)
1 cup apple souse (preferably unsweetened)
1 tablespoon coconut oil

2 1/2 cups oats
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 cup shredded coconut
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup chocolate chunks

( plus 1/4 cup chocolate to drizzle on top)

First mix together peanut butter with maple sirup, milk, apple souse and coconut oil. When the mixture is nicely smooth, add the rest of ingredients ( oats, cinnamon, cranberries coconut and chocolate chunks).

Spread it evenly on a baking sheet ,and bake for around 20 minutes on 350F.

Melt the remaining chocolate, but let your homemade granola bars cool down before drizzling it over.

Cut them in to bars, and store in a dry place. Just look out, because they disappear really fast!

If you want to make your homemade granola bars even healthier, then skip the chocolate chunks and add some nuts instead! They’ll be equally delicious!

Enjoy !

Peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie bars

April 10, 2015 / Desserts / 2 Comments

When I need something comforting, I make these peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie bars. They are soft, moist and so satisfying. And since I switched to natural & no sugar & no fat added peanut butter, it also feels like they are a healthy snack :).

And believe me when I say that these yummy bars take less than a half an hour to make! Isn’t it funny, how a half an hour of baking seems to go by really fast, while a half an hour of folding laundry feels like an eternity.. (If you don’t feel the same,and you love folding laundry, good for you! ).

Coming back to these amazing peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie bars, I know you’ll love them! Here is what you’ll need :

1/2 cup melted butter
1 large egg
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup Natural Peanut Butter
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
pinch salt
1//2 cup chocolate chips

Mix melted butter with the sugars and egg, and then add flour, baking powder and salt. When all is well mixed together add chocolate chips. Spread in a shallow baking dish and bake for around 25 minutes on 360 F, or until baked on the sides but still soft in the middle.

You can have your peanut butter and chocolate chip bars warm with a bit of vanilla ice cream.. Or you can wait until they cool down and then serve them as a perfect weekday dessert ( or snack, or breakfast.. I won’t judge you).

Just remember, that they are so good, you’d be wishing you’ve made a double batch!