Anyone else sick of buying a ton of snacks every week? Or loading up the black bin with non recyclable packaging from said kids snacks?
I really was.
I also had got quite into eating less UPF myself and felt bad not doing this for the kids too.
And I wanted to save some money.
I’ve saved so much in my weekly shop from not buying packaged snacks and making my own instead. I might sound like SuperMum here, but it’s actually easy. When you get in a flow with it, you can make things even easier. Or make it harder and let the kids help.
My go-to non UPF snacks
Fruit kebabs
Fruit on its own. Boring (apparently.) Cut it up and put it on a kebab stick and you’ve got yourself something exciting — and healthy.
Cookies
My girls love a biscuit. But do I want to buy tiny packs of cookies where you get 5 in there and then have to fight about why they can’t have another pack? No. I don’t.
That’s why I started making my own cookies. I use BBC Goodfood Millies Cookies (thank me later.) I usually omit some of the sugar, and swap some flour for oats. I might also add honey instead of all the sugar.
You can freeze the dough to cook at a later date, or freeze the cookies. The ones in the picture have chocolate in, if you’re going for a full non upf approach try Montezuma’s Smooth Operator chocolate which contains Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Milk Powder, Organic Cocoa Paste, Organic Vanilla Extract, Milk Chocolate contains Cocoa Solids 37% min / Milk Solids 21% min.
Flapjacks
These oaty goodies are my go to. Simple, quick, and kids get involved with minimal mess. Try my non UPF flapjack recipe here. Add nuts, raisins, or seeds — if they don’t freak your kid out that is.
Crisps
I read in the book “Unprocess your life” that if you’re going to eat crisps, the best option is a basic ones. One that you can clearly see was a potato once. Look for ingredients with just potato, oil, and salt. Plain tortilla chips are okay too, so I read. For more inspo, read my post best non UPF crisps.
Smoothie bowl
My girls wouldn’t eat natural yoghurt. But, if you swirl some honey in, mash up some berries and you’ve got yourself a smoothie bowl. Sometimes it’s just how we brand things that makes it exciting.
Banana pancakes
Bananas, eggs, oats, and baking powder. That’s all that goes into these. Use overripe bananas if you can as they’ll be much sweeter and easier to mash! Serve up with a side of peanut butter and fruit.
Homemade Hummus and Veggie Sticks
It’s taken me a little while to get homemade hummus right. But, finally I’ve found the recipe that always seems to work. This is from Anna Jones and it’s fail proof.
Pulse: 1 x 400g tin chickpeas
Garlic: 1 small clove
Tahini: 1 tbsp
Citrus: Juice and zest of 1 lemon
Liquid: 4 tbsp olive oil, 100ml ice water
Homemade Barney Bears
My girls love the little bear shaped cakes. But, they’re pricey and full of processed ingredients. I started making my own. Find the recipe for homemade Barney bears here.
- Veggie sticks
- Homemade bread and soft cheese
- Nuts
- Non UPF chocolate, nuts, seeds for a homemade trail mix
- Homemade muffins
- Egg muffins
- Homemade Barney bear cakes
What’s your go to non UPF snack?
Fromthemotherside 
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