Tiff’s “Top 10” Family Favorite “ good for you “ Foods!

I am sharing 10 of our favorite “ go to” snack foods that are either organic, natural or have very little else in them but the basic ingredients……..if you know what I mean.  WAY BETTER than running through McD…….I can’t even say it….ugh!  
Caution:  Most of these things my husband and 16 year old won’t eat.  Over the last year and a half I have slowly changed the way I eat and my daughter was 9 and I slowly changed her over with the things that I could.  I didn’t press to much.  It was me that wanted to change.  SLOWLY…they have come around to try new things.  I shared tidbits beside each food about this:)

  {1}  GoGo Squeez ~ These are one of my daughter go to snacks after playing outside AND they tuck into a lunchbox very nicely!  Husband and son….not going to suck things out of a little packet…not cool.  My daughter LOVES them=)
{2}  Clif Z Bars ~ ALL of the kids flavors are GREAT!  LOTS of whole grains and stuff in them to boot!  Pair this with a glass of chocolate soy or skim w/ a little chocolate syrup and you have a balanced snack or even breakfast!

{3}  Chobani Greek Yogurt ~ { YES – even the peach:) WE LOVE GREEK YOGURT!!  Can’t get the men to eat it but us girls…..yum yum!  We eat it just as is but one of the yummiest ways is to slice up a banana and mix up the yogurt and dump it on top of banana and stir….enjoy!  Rich and creamy!
{4}  Almond Milk ~ My daughter drinks the chocolate for just a glass of chocolate milk.  We all drink the original in cereal, oatmeal, smoothies etc.  Anything calling for milk.  I used it in mashed potatoes awhile back and the men didn’t even know!!  and I didn’t tell them either.  I sneak it in most things while cooking and no one can tell.  I have also purchased the Diamond brand and it is good too.  I just buy whichever is on sale.
  { 5 } Kashi Go Lean Crunch ~ OMG!!  This is my saving grace when it comes to the “ gotta have my cereal and milk before bed” urge.  I usually get the Go Lean Crunch – I have tried all of the other and all good.  The Go Lean is dry and not much sweetness but with vanilla almond milk it is truly satisfying.  ( any milk will do... cow, soy and almond =)  I don’t eat them every night now.  At first I ate huge bowls of these every night;)  Now I buy a box every month and indulge for that week:)  Warning:  they are quite crunchy and could possible break a tooth…lol!  Really good with almond milk!
{ 6 }  Stretch Island REAL Fruit Leathers ~ She likes all of the flavors ~ nice anytime snack.  Great for lunch box!

{ 7 } PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter ~ This also comes in Chocolate Peanut Butter!!  This is my NEWEST food to muse over.  Way less calories than regular PB.  Now I will share how I have used this.  I HAVEN”T mixed with water to make “ peanut butter “ .  I have added teaspoonfuls to our smoothies.  I also got a recipe from my son’s barber,
I container Dannon Light and Fit in vanilla ~ COSTCO dried cherries ~ walnut bits ~ 1-2 tsp. of PB Powder ( I used the chocolate kind) and mixed it all together.  Talk about dessert now!  High in protein AND it won’t send you over the calorie into an eating binge.  I usually eat it for breakfast.  I have substituted sliced banana and that was wonderful.  You can substitute or omit whatever you like.  Even different yogurt flavors that would be good mixed with peanut butter…..hummmm=)

{ 8 } Natural Jif Peanut Butter ~ My family came to an agreement with our Peanut Butter sipnce it is a staple in our household.  I pushed for almond butter or the natural PB with no added sugar and neither of those would be acceptable.  SO ~ this is our compromise and I must say it IS good!  I have it with my apple everyday and the kids eat on sandwiches with Kirkland’s Organic Strawberry Spread,with banana’s or on toast.  My men like to spread PB on Pancakes.  The only thing it has beside peanuts is added sugar…ugh!=)  I will live though.
{ 9}  Earth Balance Organic Spread ~ This is a ALWAYS STAPLE in our refrigerator.  I use it for everything and I don’t think to this day the men know any different.  I guess they don’t read when they are buttering their corn on the cobb??  It is GOOD…worth every penny.  It is 10.00 @ our whole foods store for the big tub ~ but I pay it!!  They do have it in the smaller sizes to try it first though.  The only comment that has been made is when I recently purchased an air popper for our popcorn.  My husband LOVES his popcorn.  He always ate that micro. kind and it stinks the whole house up and is LOADED with words you cannot even pronounce.
~SO~ I bought a small tub of whipped real butter to melt when he had his popcorn and that worked…again compromise;) 
{ 10 }  Last but not least --- Kirkland Organic Strawberry Spread ~  SO WONDERFUL!  Even my 16 year old the other day said to me, “ Now that’s good jelly mom”  I just smiled.  Did I say COSTCO again??
Well – there they are.  Hope you go out and give them a try.  It is just taking those small steps to change the way we eat.  It is not worth fighting over.  Some things I’ve had to give up on BUT others have become lasting changes.  My prayer is they will begin to think about the choices they are making with each thing they put in their mouths =)
Always Building ~