Snackster Sam Blog
Our recipes and activities are always Snackster Sam approved and kid approved.
 What am I?I am a popular fruit known for my sweet and sometimes sour flavor, as well as my crisp texture. People enjoy me fresh as a snack, but I'm also used in pies, juices, and many other delicious treats. When you cut me in half, you will see a star. Can you guess what I am?  Where I growI grow on trees in many parts of the world. My trees bloom with blossoms in the spring. Some types of me are ready for picking in the summer, while others are at their best in the fall. To grow the right fruit, farmers use grafting, which means the farmer adds a piece of a tree that is growing the fruit they want into a different young tree.  After I'm pickedOnce I'm picked, there are endless ways to enjoy me. Some people like to eat me fresh, biting into my crunchy flesh. Others prefer to turn me into sauce or bake me into pies, crisps, and tarts. You can also find me as a key ingredient in refreshing juices, ciders, and even used to make butter! Most stores sell me all year long even though I grow during the summer. That's because I can be "put to sleep" in a low oxygen storage center, so I am available to eat all year round!  Did you guess... AppleEspañol: manzana Did you guess apple? Next time you visit an orchard or the grocery store, pick up some apples and explore the tasty possibilities they offer! Apple is the second most popular fruit in America (behind bananas)! There are over 7,500 kinds, too! More Apple FactsApples are the apple of our eye! One of Snackster Sam's first discoveries on the Blue Planet was apples. They grow on trees and come in thousands of varieties. HOW IT GROWS Apples seem simple enough, but there is a lot more to this fruit than you know! Apples grow on trees. Before the apple can grow, the tree fills with blossoms. The flowers are pollinated by bees and then the apple can grow. Apples are harvested at the end of summer. DID YOU KNOW
Apple Lollipop RecipeReady to try apples in a new way? Try this apple lollipop recipe.  Get more facts like this on the Snackster Sam app.
Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Get it where you get apps!  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.
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.
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). |
