droolicious : snacks

Save an Apple!

Heather Kuldell — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:35:00 GMT

Between trying to be earth-smart and penny-wise, I'm avoiding pre-washed, pre-cut and pre-packaged fruit and veggies and doing the work myself. Anyone else?

It's not a big to deal to put carrots and grapes in reusable containers so they're ready for lunches for the week. The apples, however, turn brown quickly after you cut them without the help of whatever the treatment is that gets put on pre-packaged slices. And for my not-so-fruit-loving kid, brown means it's "bad." Of course, it's not, but why even supply a loophole? If a whole apple is too much for your snacker, check out the Apple Saver by Evriholder Products ($3.99). Put the apple cut-side down, strap it in, and it's supposed to stay fresher (and not brown) longer.

Save on Snacks

Lisa Mulcahy — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:30:00 GMT

As a mom, Ziploc bags are your friend. From crackers to cookies, fruit to finger food, they’re an easy way to create a to-go portion. But, at the end of the day, when I evaluate my own Ziploc use it is pretty wasteful. In an effort to green our home a bit I’ll be buying a couple Fresh Snack Packs, $4.50. Durable, washable and reusable, you’ll not only reduce your load on the landfill, but save some bucks in the long run.

Valentine's Day Giveaway: Boon Snack Balls!

Cathy Hale — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

How can you resist a cheery orb of snacky fun? That's right Babble readers, you have a second chance to win a Boon Snack Ball! In honor of V-Day, I have three pink & white Snack Balls to giveaway to three lucky folks! Learn more about Boon Snack Balls here.

To enter giveaway, email your full name and mailing address to babblecontest@gmail.com. Winners will be randomly chosen on February 21st. Good luck!

ProBugs Promises Up to 10X the Beneficial Creepy-Crawlies of Regular Yogurt

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:04:00 GMT

Sure, Halloween is still over a month away, but depending on how progressive-minded your community is, you could stock up on Lifeway Foods' new ProBugs beneficial-bacteria-loaded drinkable yogurts for trick-or-treating and positively clobber all those moms and dads who still insist on giving out candy.

Loaded with 10 live and active kefir cultures (as opposed to most yogurts' paltry two or three), as well as 1.5 grams of fiber, each ProBug no-spill spout pouch is meant to help increase the level of good bacteria in kids' digestive systems while promoting overall healthy digestion. The company currently offers two flavors, "Sublime Slime Lime" (pictured) and "Orange Creamy Crawler," both of which are certified organic and also pack ample levels of protein, calcium, and added inulin to aid with calcium absorption.

For my money, though -- and keep in mind that my kids are usually averse to any dairy product with the word "lime" or "orange" in its name -- it's the gruesome characters on the pouches' packaging that makes ProBugs so easily digested.

ProBugs four-packs are available at Whole Foods and Target stores nationwide, but if you can't find them locally, check out the company's store locator for details on where to score a pack.

7 Days of Feeding: Savvy Snack Bag

Erin Behan — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:37:00 GMT

Kids eat as much on-the-go as they do at the table, and this eco-friendly, reusable sandwich and snack bag provides an easy way to pack a snack or a whole lunch. You can order the Savvy Snack Bags in bamboo or organic cotton ($24.50), further upping the green factor. The makers of the Savvy Snack Bag, Etsy's polkadotsquare recommend more uses than simply carrying lunch around--wet swimsuit storage, beach essentials, makeup bag, medical supplies. So, it's just as good for you as for your kid.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: Snacker Catcher

Chris Ford — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:28:00 GMT

It was fun to check out all the new products from the brands that we all know, but it was also fun to find new products from people who had a good idea and are trying to make it happen. The Snacker Catcher, a "big snack" tether, is one of those products.

It basically looks like a pacifier tether - you clip one end to your child's clothes and you cinch the other to a large piece of food (like half a bagel or a cookie or something. Then when your child inevitably drops it, it won't fall on the ground.

Each Snacker Catcher is BPA free and has gone through the lengthy FDA approval process (which isn't something I've seen before in a product like this). There are four ribbon styles available and each should retail for around $9.99. Check them out at Bebalee.com.

7 Days of Must-Haves: The Snack Trap

Chris Ford — Sat, 31 May 2008 12:01:00 GMT

When I asked my wife what I should write about for "7 Days of Must-Haves," she immediately said "the Snack Trap." And I have to admit, she was absolutely right. If you've got a toddler who likes to take a snack with them (which pretty much limits it to every toddler in the world), then a Snack Trap is something that you really need to have.

Often the most simple things are the most ingenious, and the Snack Trap is no exception. It's a cup for small bite-sized snacks (like Goldfish crackers, Cheerios, grapes or whatever) with a rubber lid. The genius thing about the lid is, it lets small hands get to the food, but keeps the food inside for the inevitable moment when your toddler tips it over. The picture shows the lid, so you can get an idea of how it works.

They're found in lots of baby supply stores, or you can buy them in a three-pack for $13.95 from Amazon.com. In my opinion, you can never have too many.

The Babble Review: Crunch & Sip

Gwynne Watkins — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:30:00 GMT

Peanut butter and chocolate. Sonny and Cher. Lohan and rehab. There are some things that are just meant to go together. If your child's favorite combos include the classic Cheerios and milk, or the more exotic freeze-dried pineapple chunks and blueberry juice, consider the Crunch & Sip by Snack Knack ($6.95) your holy grail. With a lidded snack holder on top and a strawed drinking base, this snack-on-the-go combo offers compact ease for keeping your kid fed and hydrated. My one complaint is that the snack lid only opens as a semi-circle and therefore works best with snacks that can be grabbed by little fingers or poured into the hand. Still, this convenient duo might just ensure a few minutes of your own favorite combo — peace and quiet. — Katie Bayless