Blog Post by: Naomi DePalm, SNAP Ambassador
It is official: Autumn is here! What better way to welcome in the new season than making some delicious snacks filled with fall flavors?
If you are looking to incorporate more wholesome foods into your child’s diet, we’ve got three ideas to get you started: Apple Nachos, Pumpkin & Honey Granola, and No-Bake Energy Balls.
These recipes are simple, kid-friendly and make a great lunchtime or after-school snack.
Apple Nachos
These Apple Nachos are seriously delicious and made with wholesome ingredients. The fiber and carbs from the apples will keep you energized while the fat and protein from the peanut butter will keep you full.
Local Sourcing
When shopping for ingredients to make these Apple Nachos, we encourage you to shop around your local farmers’ markets and farm stands to incorporate local ingredients into your snacks! You can find apples at Applecrest Farm Orchards, DeMeritt Hill Farm, McDougal Orchards, and Hazelton Orchards just to name a few. Check out Seacoast Harvest to find all the apple producers near you.
Ingredients
2-3 apples of your choice
2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice
1⁄4 ~ 1⁄3 cup nut or seed butter (peanut, almond, sunflower, cashew)
1⁄4 ~ 1⁄3 cup mini chocolate chips
1⁄4 cup shredded coconut
1⁄3 cup sliced almonds
Pinch of cinnamon
Directions
~ Prep the apples, wash and dry them.
~ Cut them into quarters and remove the core.
~ Slice the quarters into thin slices ( 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch slices)
~ In a bowl, drizzle the lemon or lime juice over the apple, mixing them to coat to keep
the apples from turning brown.
~ Layer the apples on a serving plate overlapping in a circle, and again on the inside of
the circle to create two circles. This way when you top the apples you will get a little bit
of everything on each slice.
~ Warm the nut butter in the microwave for about 20 seconds and then drizzle in a
circular motion over the apple slices.
~ Top with the coconut, chocolate chips and a dash of cinnamon on the top.
There are many different variations you can use to make your Apple Nachos. Below we have added a few other suggestions. This is a great snack recipe and we are looking forward to hearing how you made them in your own special way!
More Topping Ideas
*Yogurt Parfait: drizzle yogurt, add berries, and sprinkle some granola on top.
* Classic PB&J: drizzle peanut butter, jelly or honey and sprinkle some chia or sunflower seeds for a satisfying crunch.
* Autumn Pancakes: drizzle maple syrup and add chopped walnuts and crispy, chopped bacon.
* S’More Style: Add chocolate chips, thinned marshmallow creme, and crushed graham crackers.
Pumpkin & Honey Granola
Did you know September is National Honey Month? We are celebrating with this delicious Pumpkin & Honey granola! This snack is super versatile: you can enjoy it as a cereal, on top of yogurt, or over oatmeal!
Local Sourcing
Sop by our farmers’ markets and pick up a jar of honey from vendors like White Gate Farm, Riverside Farm Stand, Hollister Family Farm, and Shagbark Farm. Check out Seacoast Harvest to find all the honey producers near you. You can also make your own pumpkin puree by roasting pumpkins and scooping out the flesh.
Ingredients
3 cups rolled oats
1 1/4 cups raw pepitas
¼ tsp sea salt
3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon powder
1/4 cup coconut or olive oil
1/3 cup honey (or maple syrup if vegan)
1/3 cup pumpkin puree
Instructions
~ Preheat the oven to 340 degrees F (171 C).
~ Mix the oats, seeds, spices, and salt together in a large bowl.
~ In a small bowl combine the oil, honey or maple syrup, and pumpkin puree and stir. Microwave the mixture for 30 seconds to combine. Pour over the dry ingredients and quickly mix with a wooden spoon.
~ Spread the mixture evenly onto two baking sheets and bake for 20-30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
~ Once the granola is golden brown, remove from the oven and let it cool completely. It will continue to crisp up as it cools.
~ Transfer to an airtight container and enjoy!
No-Bake Energy Balls
These aren’t called energy balls for nothin’! These delicious snacks are filled with wholesome ingredients that help sustain energy levels throughout the day. They also conserve energy with how simple they are to make! All you need is a big bowl and an airtight container to store them.
Local Sourcing
If you are looking to use local maple syrup, check out Sugarmomma’s Maple Farm, Anderson’s Mini-Maples, Maple Moon Farm, and White Gate Farm. As always, Seacoast Harvest is your one-stop directory for sourcing local ingredients!
Ingredients
1/2 cup creamy salted nut or seed butter (peanut, almond, sunflower, cashew)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 1/4 cup rolled oats
2 1/2 tbsp flaxseed or chia seeds
1/4 cup dried fruits & seeds of your choice (cranberries, raisins, pumpkin, sunflower seeds)
Optional: 1/2 scoop of protein powder
Instructions
~ To a large mixing bowl, add peanut butter, maple syrup, protein powder, rolled oats, flaxseed meal, chia seeds, and dried fruit of choice.
~ Mix until well combined. If too dry/crumbly, add more peanut butter or maple syrup. If too sticky or wet, add a little bit more oats or flaxseed meal.
~ Chill in the refrigerator for 5 minutes.
~ Scoop out 1 1/2 Tbsp amounts and roll into balls. The “dough” should yield about 10 balls.
~ Enjoy immediately and store well-sealed leftovers in the refrigerator for 1 week or in the freezer for up to 1 month (or more).
We’d love to hear from you if you make any of these recipes! Share them on social media and tag us: @seacoasteatlocal or with the hashtag #seacoasteatlocal.
Blog post by:
Naomi De Palm
SNAP Ambassador