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. 

Grains 
Rice cakes ​
​Popcorn (air popped and lightly salted, preferred)

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
​

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

• 4 apples
• 1 tsp Lemon juice
• 1 cup water
• Grilling wooden skewers

Toppings

• Organic, unsweetened coconut flakes
• Nut topping (ensure no children have a peanut or nut allergy first)
• Honey
• 100% Cocoa
• Sunflower butter
• And more! Share your ideas in the comments below

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!

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

• 1-2 Whole watermelons (seedless preferred)
• Toothpicks
• Candles

Fruit toppings/decorations:

• Kiwi
• Melon
• Pineapple
• Strawberries
• Blueberries

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. ​

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

• Cut up watermelon (use leftovers from cake)
• 1 tbsp pure lemon juice (organic or from fresh lemon)
• Water
• Pineapple (optional)

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!

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! 

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! ​

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. 

For 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. 

Looking 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!

My 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!

This 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! 

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!

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!

Hey kids! Valentine’s Day is a great time to show your pals how much you care for them. Now that I know about the snacks from the Blue Planet, Max and I like to exchange new kinds of Valentines. Chocolate and lollipops? No thank you!

We love snacks that come from trees! 

Check out these Valentine Snacks!

Hand out Valentine fruits with funny sayings. Use a printer or hand write notes. Fruit can go into containers, decorative bags, or can be handed out whole (apples, oranges, bananas).

On a cold day, I love any excuse to heat the oven... and this recipe is one of our favorite excuses! Do not expect to have leftovers, although it's a perfect way to use leftover ground beef or leftover beef roast. This is my go-to recipe the day after I make A Perfect Roast. Because I make this recipe so often, I always make sure I have the ingredients on hand., which is easy because most of the ingredients are canned or frozen. Plus, like most of our recipes, there are so many variations so you can make it your own. 

Creating a program and a book that encourages children to choose (healthy) snacks puts me in a vulnerable position. I often feel my food choices are quickly criticized by those who misunderstand what Snackster Sam is all about. Family and acquaintances have questioned if food I eat are really Snackster Sam approved, but their comments tell me they haven’t read the book....

What Snackster Sam is not:

• Food shaming (he tries and doesn’t criticize any food he is given)
• A story about weight or nutrition (the word "health/y" isn't even mentioned!)
• Just a book!

Here’s the thing... I’m prepared for and resilient to these comments. But for some children and teens, negative comments about food choices can lead to eating disorders and depression. In fact, I have witnessed this and was guilty of being the person making negative comments.

Happy summer!

One of my favorite things about summer is the fresh berries and fruit in season. There's nothing like biting into a juicy summer peach or a ripe strawberry (and they are even sweeter when they are wild)! When I think back on my summers as a kid, peaches come to mind. I couldn't wait to go to the the farmer's market or grocery store with my mom and find the juiciest peaches. This is an experience I want to share with my children, too. Well... and let's be honest, I'm still a kid at heart, too! Peaches for the whole family!

It's not always easy to get ripe or juicy peaches in the midwest. That's why we've created a summer snack that is delicious, easy, and fun! This is the perfect recipe to use a bruised, over or underripe peach. We added strawberries for a yummy twist, but you can use a variety of fruits based on what's in season and available.

If you have kids and don't have a popsicle mold, you're missing out! You can usually get molds for about the same price as store-bought popsicles made with fruit. If you don't have popsicle molds, you can use wooden popsicle sticks and paper cups. Making your own popsicles allows you to cut out added sugar, use bruised and overripe fruit, and of course, make memories!

Pair this summer treat with sunshine and shorts!

Growing up, Easter was a big deal. I remember my mom would make edible Easter baskets and we would look for hard boiled eggs hidden across the yard (those are much harder to find when there is snow on the ground!). After we found the eggs, we would eat the eggs along with our edible baskets. My mom certainly went all out, but I am going to opt for an easier option.

I asked some friends what they were going to have an Easter that Snackster Sam would approve. They had brilliant ideas and gave me permission to share!

Here are some ideas to have a candy-free Easter egg hunt: