Make ahead snacks

[ParisJeTAime]

I want to batch cook / prepare some snacks for DH, dcs and me, to save money on all the premade snacks from the shops and also to have some healthier options available.

Does anyone do this? Do you have any tips or recipes you might be able to share?

I often make these Cheese and marmite flapjacks the recipe has walnuts which we don’t like so I just up the mixed seeds.

Oh they look nice, thanks!

We aren't mad about leeks, so would probably try them with onion.

While we are homeschooling, Dc take it in turns to make a batch of something on a Sunday afternoon to have at "morning break" during the week.

Popular things that are slightly more wholesome are flapjacks, peanut butter granola bars, or crispy salt and pepper chickpeas (or honey and cinnamon chickpeas).

They also like jam tarts and cookies.

These are all easy enough for a 9 year old to manage to cook with minimal supervision - I usually take hot things out of the oven, but that's all.

That's a lovely idea Cinnamon. Mine are too little to cook on their own, but we could do it with them.

Sausage rolls - not healthy but no worse than lots of things!

Baby quiches in jam tart tins

Thanks, I agree remus. I feel slightly better knowing what's in things if I make them myself, but they don't have to be super healthy.

This might sound a bit odd but when DC were young teens and eating the entire contents of the snack cupboard every night, i used to roast a chicken at the beginning of the week and leave it in the fridge for them to snack on. They could make a quick chicken sandwich or pita, or add some to 2 minute egg noodles or just snack on a drumstick. Vary it with herbs and lemon one week, paprika and garlic or jerk spices another.

Apart from that - loaf cake made with almond flour and plenty of eggs is higher protein than most sweet snacks.

Banana bread. (^Still not made any the last 12 months - DS has begged me to make some before lockdowns are over for good.)

Frittata muffins www.motherandbaby.co.uk/family-life/food/watch-easy-peasy-frittata-muffins-with-annabel-karmel

Parsnip muffins realfood.tesco.com/recipes/pepper-and-parsnip-savoury-muffins.html

I make apricot flapjacks on regular request but they've got rather a lot of butter and sugar so not very healthy!

Great tip re using almond flour for extra protein and yes, I do see the logic in keeping a cooked chicken in the fridge for snacks etc, however, mine are quite picky with meat, so not sure that would be a hit here. Other cooked meat would work though. Maybe a ham or something.

I might do some energy balls, see how they go down as well.

Also, one dc and i would eat boiled eggs. Dh and dc1 HATE eggs (unless they're in cakes), but would be a good, filling snack for dc2 or me.

Thanks for those recipe links^^ as well.

If they're nice, and you don't mind sharing the recipe, I'm sure my dcs would like apricot flapjacks too!

These sweet potato falafel are good for snacking, they are baked rather than fried and also contain veg!

They look good too. One of mine loves sweet potato. Not sure about the spices, but could improvise.

I make chicken and apple meatballs. 500 grams of chicken (or pork) mince, grated Granny Smith apples (2 big or 3 little), cup of breadcrumbs, pepper and salt. Mix it all together and grill in the oven at 180 degrees for 15 minutes turn and do a further 10 minutes. Delicious hot or cold. Can put in a roll with cranberry or just eat as a snack.

Re recipe above make into balls before grilling