If your kids are anything like mine, they ask for a million snacks a day, usually just as I've sat down. They have perfect timing like that.  So over the last 12 months, I've become pretty skilled at batch preparing snacks and wanted to share some of the snacks that are (relatively) healthy, filling and easy to prepare. 

1. Healthy Granola

This tastes a lot like flapjack and I have one child who hates milk so he has it dry and the other likes it with milk. 

Mix 4 cups oats, 1 1/2 cups nuts and seeds (I blend them finely to hide them!), 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 2/3 cup chopped dried fruit. Melt 1/2 cup coconut oil, add 1/2 cup 100% pure maple syrup and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix. Bake at 180 degrees on a shallow tray for 25 mins. Allow to cool completely and then break up and store. Add half a pack of chocolate chips if you're feeling generous! This is a really good recipe to let the kids help with. 

2. Apple and Peanut Butter or Nutella

This is a quick, grab out of the cupboard snack that is filling and tasty. If you want to make the Nutella healthy, try the Deliciously Ella version here.

3. Homemade Tortilla Chips

These are great with a dip of your choice or you could try melting cheese on them (Nachos!) or dipping into soup. Take 2 flour tortillas and cut them into small triangles. Spread on a baking tray and drizzle or spray a little olive oil, grind a little salt over them and bake in the oven at 160 for 12 minutes. Allow to cool.

4. Smoothies

Forget the expensive, pre-made smoothies and invest in a decent blender to make your own delicious, nutritious smoothies. We basically bung in any fruit we have in the fruit bowl, add a handful of spinach and either coconut or plain water and blend until smooth. Our kids love it when we use frozen fruit (try mixed berries, cherries and mango) as the smoothie turns out like a slushy. A ripe banana adds a lot of sweetness. 

 5. Chocolate Balls

These cacao and almond energy balls by Deliciously Ella taste unbelievably chocolatey and are dead simple to make. Blend 200g almonds until they're well crushed, add 400g pitted medjool dates, 4 tbsp raw cacao powder, 2.5 tbsp almond butter, 2 tbsp coconut oil and 2 tbsp water and blend until combined. Roll into balls (the kids like to help with this!) and refrigerate for at least an hour until firm. Makes a big batch and can be stored for up to 5 days. 

Do you have any favourite, easy recipes to share? I'd love to hear from you.