Snackster Sam Blog
Our recipes and activities are always Snackster Sam approved and kid approved.
 Make Snackster Sam come to life when you color him!
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You finally made it to the Blue Planet! Let’s create a snack that we can grow, eat, and share like Snackster Sam! What you need:
Red Planet Mix Welcome to the Red Planet! Mix the "juice" and see what happens! What you need:
Welcome to the Green Planet! Can you place the birthday candle on the cake? What you need:
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Welcome to the Orange Planet! Be like a Jumping Jack and see how far you can jump!
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How far did you jump? How high can you jump with the popsicle stick between your knees? Welcome to Snackster Sam’s moon! Make an antenna hat just like Snackster Sam! Snackster Sam Antenna What you'll need:
 When I was a kid, I remember being so embarrassed about my homemade valentines. Growing up, we could not afford Valentine's Day kits that everyone else had. However, I loved the opportunity to be creative and spend time with my mom while we cut out hearts. Isn't it interesting how sending your child with a DIY craft now is a sign of a Pinterest-worthy achievement? We are all trying to nail-it, for real. But seriously, we don't all have time to make valentines with our kids. I'm not striving for a Pinterest post, I'm just trying to do what my mom did and save a few bucks! Then why am I sharing it with you? We had a blast making it, I feel compelled to tell someone! This year my son and I came up with an idea that was affordable and so much fun to make. I hope it's a Valentine's Day he always remembers. I am so grateful for the time we spent together making these because at five years old, I know these moments are fleeting! You Make My Heart Pop!  (DIY Popcorn Bags) Side note - he came up with the cutest song titled You Make My Heart Pop and sang that over and over. But he's 5, and I'm his mom, so you bet I recorded that and shared it with everyone. My heart melted. What I love about these gifts is that it's so different and there is no candy! But the fun doesn't stop! The kids can put the bag in the microwave, listen to the pop, and then enjoy some delicious popcorn! Can someone make me one?! Other side note - my daughter said after we had made all the valentines, "Oh, I get it! You make my heart pop, because there's popcorn. Get it?" Yeah, kiddo, that's the point. ;) Keep scrolling to get the directions and free downloads to make your own DIY Popcorn Valentine's Day gifts. What You'll NeedBrown paper lunch bags (like you had as a kid) Popcorn kernels (yellow, white, or red kernels work!) Red construction paper OR use this free download Scissors Hole punch String DirectionsPopcorn Bags
Enjoy!Did you try it? I would love to hear how it worked for you! Comment below! Got a picky eater? Snackster Sam to the rescue!
In the hustle and bustle of back-to-school shopping and school supply lists... all while trying to enjoy the last days of summer... mom/dads are tasked with the responsibility to supply snacks, sometimes for the whole class. Plus, the pressure of ensuring the snacks are allergy-safe and healthy can be stressful. Snackster Sam started as a simple list of snacks that help point children, parents, and educators in the right direction to find the best snacks. Snackster Sam's list of snacks are peanut-free, healthy, and are safe for most schools. For easy reference, download the list of healthy snacks and hang it on your refrigerator or pantry. Snacks for Back-to-School Protein Greek Yogurt Hard Boiled Eggs  Vegetables Asparagus Avocado Carrots Cauliflower Celery Cucumber Kale chips Peppers (all varieties) Snap Peas  Fruits Apple Applesauce (unsweetened) Apricots Avocado Bananas Organic Berries (all types) Organic Cherries Cherry Tomatoes Kiwi Lemon Mango Melon (all varieties) Nectarines Papaya Peaches Pears Pineapple Plums Prunes Raisins and other dried fruits (unsweetened)  Grains Rice cakes Popcorn (air popped and lightly salted, preferred)  Nuts and seeds (if your school allows) Almonds Cashews Flaxseed Hazelnuts Olives Pecans Pumpkin seeds Sesame seeds Sunflower seeds Walnuts  Healthier Processed Food Choices Dried vegetables Pita bread Sweet Potato chips Bagel bites Gluten Free Chex Granola Healthy Dip Choices Apple Butter Hummus Greek yogurt with a touch a maple syrup Guacamole Learn more about Snackster Sam in the lovable, rhyming children's book.
 Orange Planet Lollipops My daughter recently turned six, and she requested a Snackster Sam themed birthday party. We brought the book Snackster Sam's Big Adventure to life with fun and kid-friendly recipes. Figuring out how to create a Snackster Sam approved lollipop was a fun challenge. The result is so delicious... one of the party guests had several in hand at a time! Ingredients
Directions The night prior to serving, cut each apple into eight slices. Place each apple slice onto a skewer. Mix lemon juice and water into a bowl; dip each apple slice into lemon water mixture. Refrigerate overnight. Prior to serving, arrange honey, coconut, and nuts into bowls for dipping. If the coconut flakes are large, first finely chop or blend it into smaller pieces. Allow children to dip apple slices into the honey and then the coconut or nuts. Makes for a tasty (and a little messy) treat! So many variations are possible… try one and share in the comments below. Other variations: Depending on the season, try orange slices instead of apples! Join Snackster Sam on another big adventure with a birthday party! Get all the games, recipes, even templates to make Snackster Sam monster birthday invitations, and everything else you need to know! Did you try it? Share your experience in the comments below! Learn more about Snackster Sam in the lovable, rhyming children's book that helps kids eat healthy.
 Green Planet Watermelon Cake My daughter recently turned six, and she requested a Snackster Sam themed birthday party. We brought the book Snackster Sam's Big Adventure to life with fun and kid-friendly recipes. This watermelon cake is not only fun to eat, it looks beautiful! I am not a baker, so I had a blast being able to make a three-tiered watermelon cake instead. You can even prepare this the night before and refrigerate overnight. Ingredients
Directions First, cut the ends off the watermelon. Then cut off the rinds. If you want to create multiple tiers, slice the watermelon into two halves (to create a third tier you will need another watermelon). Slowly carve the watermelon slice into a circle. (If making the Dinostar Watermelon Lemonade, discard the shaved watermelon into a pitcher). Place the first tier on a cake platter. Shave the second tier into a circle, making it smaller than the first tier. You may need to place the second tier on the first to make sure you are trimming off enough. Repeat this process for the third tier if applicable. Place all the tiers on the cake platter. Place a wooden skewer in the tiers from the top to secure the cake. Slice the fruit for decorations. Feel free to create shapes with a cookie cutter. Decorate the cake on the base of each tier and secure with a toothpick. The toothpicks may work best when cut in half. Refrigerate or serve! Note, there will be excess juice dripping from the watermelon. If refrigerating overnight, place the cake in a dish to collect the juice. Make sure the children remove toothpicks prior to eating. Join Snackster Sam on another big adventure with a birthday party! Get all the games, recipes, even templates to make Snackster Sam monster birthday invitations, and everything else you need to know! Did you try it? Share your experience in the comments below! Learn more about Snackster Sam in the lovable, rhyming children's book that helps kids eat healthy.  Dinostar Watermelon Lemonade My daughter recently turned six, and she requested a Snackster Sam themed birthday party. We brought the book Snackster Sam's Big Adventure to life with fun and kid-friendly recipes. This watermelon lemonade is yummy, super simple to make, and doesn't need any sugar. You don't even need to chop up the watermelon or strain it! Ingredients
Directions If you are creating a watermelon cake, it’s easy to make this! Simply use the leftover or discarded pieces of watermelon from the cake and add it to a pitcher. Fill the glass pitcher to ¾ full with watermelon. Then fill the pitcher with water. Add lemon juice. Optional: Cut pineapple into round slices. Using a cookie cutter, cut the pineapple into star shapes. Arrange the stars in the pitcher so you can see them. Refrigerate overnight and serve cold. Join Snackster Sam on another big adventure with a birthday party! Get all the games, recipes, even templates to make Snackster Sam monster birthday invitations, and everything else you need to know! Did you try it? Share your experience in the comments below! Learn more about Snackster Sam in the lovable, rhyming children's book that helps kids eat healthy.
Ready to throw a fun birthday party? Bring your party guests on an adventure with Snackster Sam! Before you start the party, invite everyone with Snackster Sam birthday invitations! The Moon
Optional: Before kicking off the party, consider reading Snackster Sam’s Big Adventure to the kids so they know what happens on each planet. You can set the party up in a variety of ways, such as in stations or guiding the group to the next activity. This may depend on their ages. We chose to guide the groups to each “planet” or activity. Keep reading for activity ideas for each planet! Orange Planet
Learn more about what foods are Snackster Sam approved and how to get kids to eat healthy with the list of Snackster Sam approved snacks. Green PlanetPin the Candle on the Cake Welcome to the Green Planet! Can you place the birthday candle on the cake?
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Red Planet
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Blue Planet
Now it's your turn!Looking to put a spin on your next birthday party? Go for it! Share your variations and activities in the comments below!
Not sure what the activities on each planet mean? The book makes it clear! Order Snackster Sam's Big Adventure. Join Snackster Sam on another big adventure with a birthday party! Get all the games, recipes, even templates to make Snackster Sam monster birthday invitations, and everything else you need to know! To gear up for the Snackster Sam birthday party, we created a fun and interactive invitation. You can make one too for your party! Grab your kids and download our free templates to create this adorable invitation.  What you need:
DirectionsFor each invitation, cut the purple craft paper to 6.5" wide (trim off two inches) using a paper cutter or scissors. Fold the purple paper into thirds, but ensure the top fold is approximately 1.5" from the bottom fold, as the image shows. Next, using the downloadable templates, cut out the shapes using the correct colored paper. Next, assemble the cut shapes onto the purple paper to make a Snackster Sam face. Glue the elements to the paper. Make sure to line up the teeth under each eyeball and the eyebrows over the eyeballs. For the eyeballs, off center the final white circle. For the black section under the tongue (not included in the template), simply trim the paper to 4" wide by 1.5" tall. Center the tongue over the black trimmed paper and glue it to the center of the inside fold of the purple paper, as shown. Next, assemble the antennas. Using the pipe cleaner, line up the ends of the pipe cleaner under each eyebrow. Puncture a hole through the purple paper using the pipe cleaner and pull it through.
Throw a Sugar-Free Kids' Birthday PartyLooking to put a spin on your next birthday party? Throw a Snackster Sam birthday party!
Snackster Sam is changing the tune on birthdays... Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you... No, not that tune. I'm talking about sugar overload. Cupcakes, cake, lollipops, and juice are birthday staples, but these treats have also become every day foods for many. Taking the sugar overload out of a birthday party doesn't take the fun out. In fact, it makes for an experience that all kids can enjoy, even if they suffer from juvenile diabetes, allergies, gluten sensitivities, and more. So let's throw a birthday party!  Throwing a Sugar-Free Kids' Birthday PartyMy daughter recently turned six, and she requested a Snackster Sam themed birthday party. Hosting birthday parties is one of my favorite parts of parenting. Growing up, we didn't have a lot... I knew I wasn't going to get the coolest, latest toy, but my mom always made sure we had an awesome birthday party. I mean she went all out. In 10th grade a classmate I barely spoke to came up to me and said, "remember that birthday party you had in 4th grade? That was the best birthday ever." Thanks, Mom. So ever since my daughter's first birthday, I've tried to live up to my Mom's birthday level. But this year was more fun than usual, because my daughter jumped into the planning process. She couldn't wait to see the book and Snackster Sam's Big Adventure come to life! Birthday Party ActivitiesFirst, as the guests arrived to the party, they received an antenna headband to look like Snackster Sam. This was a great way to greet the guests, and you can even add their name to the back (so the headband becomes a name tag). The headbands were a huge hit! After everyone arrived, we journeyed to the Orange Planet (just like Snackster Sam in Snackster Sam's Big Adventure). There, guests played a jumping game with lollipop sticks. If your guests haven't read the book, consider starting the party with a book reading of Snackster Sam's Big Adventure. Then we flew to the Green Planet and played pin the candle on the cake! The guests were blindfolded and spun six times (since it's a sixth birthday celebration) and had to try their best to get their candle on the cake. Next the guests experimented with colors and water on the Red Planet. There were a lot of unexpected surprises when the guests mixed different colors of water!  Finally, they landed on the Planet of Blue where they painted and decorated ceramic pots. After the pots were decorated, the guests planted a seed. This doubled as a party favor, as they each got to take their plant home! After the activities, we dug into Snackster Sam approved snacks! There was a three-tiered watermelon cake, apple lollipops, watermelon star juice, and more to dig into! All the guests ate a variety of their favorite snacks, tried new foods, and left with full bellies. Throw a Snackster Sam birthday party! Get the details of each activity here. Of course, no party would be complete without opening presents, singing that birthday tune, and a dance party! Things to Expect When You Remove Sugar at a BirthdayThis birthday is going to be a little different, and that's ok. There is no rulebook on birthdays that says you need cupcakes, pizza, and soda. Having a different menu is perfectly acceptable! However, expect at least one birthday guest to ask if there is going to be a certain food item. In all the parties I've hosted, no matter the theme, no matter the menu, there is always a guest who wanted something that wasn't provided. Don't worry about pleasing every developing child in the room. At the end of the day, the guests aren't missing out on anything, and they are gaining from eating nutritious foods and being with friends! Now it's your turn!Looking to put a spin on your next birthday party? Go for it! Share your variations and activities in the comments below! Not sure what the activities on each planet mean? The book makes it clear! Order Snackster Sam's Big Adventure. Stay tuned for the details on each planet's activity, instructions on making Snackster Sam monster birthday invitations, and everything else you need to know! Danielle is the mother of two and creator of Snackster Sam. She has been concerned about healthy habits and nutrition for over a decade, and conducted an award-winning scientific study on portion control. She created Snackster Sam to make eating healthy more fun for parents and children. Learn more about the mission here.
 Enjoy your morning with banana pancakes (http://bit.ly/2IwkJHh) or this Snackster Sam original recipe! 1 cup milk 2 Tbsp coconut or vegetable oil 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda 1 cup wheat, rye, almond, or your favorite flour 1 Tbsp unsweetened apple sauce 1 egg 1 tsp Cinnamon Blend ingredients and bake on hot griddle at 300 degrees. Serve with berries or sliced bananas. Learn more about what foods are Snackster Sam approved and how to get kids to eat healthy with the list of Snackster Sam approved snacks Did you try this recipe? What variations did you try? Tell us in the comments below! Danielle is the mother of two and creator of Snackster Sam. She has been concerned about healthy habits and nutrition for over a decade, and conducted an award-winning scientific study on portion control. She created Snackster Sam to make eating healthy more fun for parents and children. Learn more about the mission here.
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