Crispy strawberry energy balls are a low sugar snack that is high in iron, fiber, and protein. Kids love the sweet flavor and crunchy texture, you'll love the nutritious ingredients. This is a snack the whole family will love!
My kids deem their classmates “school lunch-ers” or “paper bag-ers” based on their school lunch preference.
Our house has one of each… one kid who will happily eat whatever the cafeteria is serving and one who sticks to the same basic sack lunch each day.
I have mixed feelings about both lunch selections:
- School lunches are convenient but are often high is fat and sodium and low in fresh fruits and vegetables
- Sack lunches take more time to prepare and can easily be filled with junk food add-ins from the grocery store.
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Prepackaged Snacks
Is it just me or does it seems like there are a million prepacked snacks begging to be included in kids lunchboxes? It's a nutritionist's nightmare from single serve cans of potato chips to fruit flavored snack and bags of fudge striped cookies… and my kids want it ALL!
I get it… kids want to eat the fun stuff their friends are eating in the lunch room. I felt the same way as a kid.
BUT as a mom I want to set life long habits for healthy eating and snacking.
Aurgh…. the line between healthy mom and mean mom is a fine line to toe!
Tasty Treats We Can Agree On
I want my kids to enjoy some tasty treats in their lunch boxes while limiting their exposure to unhealthy ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, artificial food coloring, trans fats or partially hydrogenated oils, and food preservatives.
One way I avoid these undesirable ingredients is by making my own healthy home version of snacks kids love!
My kids love store bought granola bars with their slightly sweet taste and crispy but chewy texture. YUM!
- My recipe for crispy strawberry energy balls based on store bought granola bars. They are slightly chewy with a little crunch and just the right amount of sweetness.
Snacks Kids Love
Kids LOVE this healthy strawberry protein bite recipe.
SERIOUSLY!
I was making Strawberry Energy Balls to photograph for the blog during a recent playdate and served a few to my daughter and her best friend. Later that evening I got a text from the mom asking for my recipe.
Her daughter had come home talking about the snacks and wanted to make them at home that night. I call that a rave review!
Superfood Snacks
Strawberry energy balls have a satisfying crunch and the delicious sweetness of fresh strawberries. They closely resemble store-bought strawberry granola bars with a few major differences:
- No Refined Sugar
- Whole Grains
- 5% of Iron (daily value)
- 8% of Fiber (daily value)
- 4% Protein (daily value)
- Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids
- Super Foods (Chia, Flax Seed, Coconut Oil)
These kid pleasing snacks are full of real food ingredients including whole oats, flax-seed, coconut, and chia seeds. They get their marvelous crunch from crispy rice cereal and chia seeds and are naturally gluten-free. SCORE!
*Tip: Freeze dried strawberries give these snacks their delicious strawberry taste with no artificial flavor! You can find freeze dried strawberries (and other freeze dried fruit) in the dried fruit section of your grocery store. Look near the raisins. You'll need about half an ounce.
Strawberry crispy energy balls have a crunchy kid pleasing texture. The snack is low in sugar and calories but high in iron, fiber and protein. Try this easy, no bake recipe today.
- 1½ cups whole rolled oats (chopped lightly in food processor)
- 1½ cups crispy rice cereal
- ½ cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- ¼ cup flax seed (ground)
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- ¼ cup virgin coconut oil
- ¼ cup honey
- 1/2 cup freeze dried strawberries
- Stir together peanut butter, coconut oil and honey in a small mixing bowl until smooth
- Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Pour peanut butter mixture over dry ingredients and mix until evenly combined.
Chill mixture for 20 minutes to several hours. Press 2 tablespoons of mixture together into small balls and store in a covered glass container.
(You can also press the mix into a greased 9" X 13" pan, chill, and cut into 4 rows of 8 squares.)
- Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Easy Kids' Snacks
My kids love to cook. I love that it helps them develop their homemaking skills and makes them more interested in eating the final product. It's crazy buy true, kids are usually more willing to try new foods when they help make the recipe.
These healthy recipes is an easy introduction to cooking for kids. Stir, shape, and gobble up the delicious results!
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Jenny
I would love to make these but there’s no ingredient list.
Bren
Sorry, Jenny! You should be able to see them now!
Stephanie
These are delicious! I love the strawberries!
Alex
Would love to try this but I’m allergic to peanuts. Is there anything you could switch out the pb with?
Bren
Alex, you can use any nut butter, sunflower butter or even tahini. You may have to increase the honey a bit depending on which you choose. Good luck!
Erica
What kind of crispy rice cereal do you use? These look easy and delicious!
Bren
I use Rice Krispies or the equivalent store brand. Hope you enjoy!