We love when we find interesting snacks that bring a little variety to our day (and taste buds)! If you do too, check out From The Ground Up’s Butternut Squash Pretzels, a familiar snack with a plant-based twist. Your whole family will love the blend of sweet and savory flavors, kids and adults alike! These pretzels are made from a blend of nutritious veggies, including butternut squash, pumpkin, cauliflower, carrot, spinach, broccoli, and more! They’re also gluten-free, vegan, Kosher, and non-GMO. From The Ground Up believes in making snacks that taste good but still deliver those essential nutrients your kids need – what more could you ask for from a snack?

From the Mouth of a Kid:

These pretzels are kind of sweet!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

My entire family goes crazy for these Butternut Squash Pretzels! They’re the same, yummy snack we rely on for an after-school pick-me-up, but with the added of bonus of being made with lots of nutritious veggies. My kids don’t even notice the added vegetables – they just like the crunch and great flavor! I love that they’re low in sugar because our kids love sweet treats, so it can be a struggle to satisfy their cravings with something that’s not full of sugar. The fact that they’re gluten-free and vegan makes it an easy snack to pack in their lunchboxes and bring to school to share with their friends, some of whom have food allergies. These are now a staple in our pantry – my wife and I love them just as much as the kids do!

Flavorful Features:

From the Ground Up makes other delicious snacks that your family is sure to love:

• Butternut Squash crackers
• Cauliflower crackers
• Cauliflower pretzels
• Cauliflower tortilla chips
• and much more!

The Icing on the Cake:

If you have a picky eater who doesn’t love eating their veggies, From the Ground Up’s Butternut Squash Pretzels are a great way to help. They boast the same, familiar look and feel of pretzels, but with a yummy sweet and salty flavor and added nutrients from the veggies.

Time to Eat?!

Grab a handful of these butternut squash pretzels when you want to balance out a meal with some vegetables, or just add an extra nutritious punch to an already veggie-packed meal. 

Good to Go?

Throw some pretzels into a baggie or to-go container to add some crunch to your child’s lunchbox!

Mix it Up!

These pretzels are a great substitute for croutons in your favorite salad!

www.fromthegroundupsnacks.com

www.facebook.com/FromTheGroundUpSnacks

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Do you have any picky eaters in your house? It’s not uncommon for young children to resist certain foods, especially veggies. Did you know that the majority of kids ages 1 to 18 do not meet the daily recommended intake for vegetables? PERDUE^® is working to change that with its new line of veggie-packed chicken nuggets and patties, CHICKEN PLUS™. These chicken and plant-based nuggets, tenders, and patties pack 10 grams of protein and 1/4 cup of cauliflower and chickpeas into every serving!

PERDUE^® is hosting its first-ever America’s Pickiest Eater Contest, where you could win a year’s supply of CHICKEN PLUS™ products, 2,000 pounds of product to donate to the school of their choice…and the title of America’s Pickiest Eater! From now until March 1, 2020, submit your funniest, most outrageous photo or video of your child’s picky eater moments for a chance to win. Submissions will be judged based on quality, creativity, and originality.

You can submit your photos in one of two ways:

1. Upload nomination on www.AmericasPickiestEater.com

2. Follow @PerdueChicken on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. Post an original photo/video to your own Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook account, write a caption with a brief description of your nomination and use the hashtags #AmericasPickestEater and #Contest

For more information about the CHICKEN PLUS™ line or America’s Pickiest Eater Contest, visit the PERDUE^® website!

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Calling all pasta lovers: there’s a new pasta on the scene and it’s changing the dinner game big time! It’s time to talk about Veggiecraft Farms and their mouth-watering vegetable-based pastas. Using just three simple ingredients – cauliflower, peas, and lentils – Veggiecraft Farms has created nutritional pastas that are high in fiber and protein, packed full of vitamins, and low in sodium and carbohydrates. Needless to say, these natural, vegetable-based pastas will make for a filling, well-balanced dinner that the entire family is sure to enjoy!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

I love the spaghetti the most! The noodles are fun to eat!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

I absolutely LOVE Veggiecraft Farms because the pastas are packed full of so many nutrients and it tastes just like regular pasta. I never thought I’d see the day when my kids begged for cauliflower, lentils, and peas for dinner, but they can’t get enough of the Veggiecraft Farms spaghetti! They’re great for families with food allergies because they’re gluten-free and dairy-free. On top of that, the Veggiecraft Farms website has some great pasta recipes that don’t take long at all to prepare, and the high protein from the vegetables means full stomachs and happy faces in our household!

Flavorful Features:

Veggiecraft Farms makes both spaghetti and penne pasta shapes. You can purchase them separately in packs of four or get the variety pack, which includes two boxes of penne and two boxes of spaghetti. Check out their website for some delicious pasta recipes, including Cauliflower Pesto and Sundried Tomato Pasta.

The Icing on the Cake:

In addition to being non-GMO, these high protein pastas are vegan and kosher. The cauliflower is a great source of Vitamin C, vitamin K, and omega-3s, while the lentils give you sustained energy. Additionally, the peas are rich in antioxidants and full of vitamins which aid in eye health.

Time to Eat?!

Veggiecraft Farms pasta is full of protein and doesn’t take long to prepare, which makes it the perfect meal for family dinners. Any extras can always be refrigerated and eaten for lunch the next day!

www.veggiecraftfarms.com/pages/our-story

www.facebook.com/veggiecraftfarms

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Get your fruit on the go! These little pouches are packed with organic fruits and veggies. The Slammers Pomegranate Grape Crush SuperFood Smoothie is our favorite because it has added protein, as well as vitamin C which is great for fighting colds and the flu! So, parents, you can feel good about serving this nutritious smoothie pouch to your kids, who will no doubt love the sweet taste! Even better, there are no artificial colors or flavors.

From the Mouth of a Kid:

Mom! Can you pack me more smoothies? My friends love them!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

This pouch is perfect for my children. It easily fits into a lunch box and most importantly, my picky eater is trying new fruits, like pomegranate, that she would never try alone!

Flavorful Features:

Try all of the Slammers SuperFood Smoothie flavors:

• Epic (mangoes, bananas, carrots, orange, greek yogurt, vanilla)
• Awesome (bananas, blueberries, strawberries, beets, acai, amaranth)
• Chill’n (bananas, blueberries, butternut squash, greek yogurt, yumberry)
• Amped (apples, strawberries, cherries, chia, purple carrot)
• Watermelon Kiwi Burst (protein + organics)

The Icing on the Cake:

Slammers uses organic superfoods in their smoothie pouches and, as a bonus, the Pomegranate Grape Crush pouch has added protein! This company was founded by moms who know the struggle of getting kids to sit and eat fruits and veggies!

Time to Eat?!

Slammers Pomegranate Grape Crush SuperFood Smoothies are great anytime of day: a quick and nutritious addition to breakfast on busy mornings, a fun snack at school, or even a sweet after-school treat!

Good to Go?

These smoothies are individually packaged so you can easily give your kids the nutrition they need on the go!

Mix it Up!

Grab your popsicle mold and pop a Slammers smoothie in the freezer for a delicious frozen treat, perfect for warm weather days.

http://slammerssnacks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/kidsgourmetslammers

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Fruigees Organic Fruit Snacks was inspired by two friends after they saw their peer med school students eating baby food in class because they liked the portability and convenience of it. That was when they realized there was a need for kid and adult-friendly portable fruit snacks! The Creative Kitchen loves Fruigees because of their unique flavor combinations and fun texture! Because of its simple and organic ingredients, parents can feel good about eating Fruigees themselves or giving it to their kids as a snack or sweet treat after school.

From the Mouth of a Kid:

I love the fun colors and it tastes like jolly rancher pudding! 

From the Eyes of a Parent:

I’m always looking for ways to give my kids additional fruits and veggies. With Fruigees, my kids are getting a half-cup of organic fruits and veggies from just one pouch! And, they’re great because my older kids like them just as much as my younger kids so I can throw a few pouches in my bag and have snacks for the entire day!

Flavorful Features:

Fruigees come in three flavors, one for every palate:

• 24 Carrot Orange
• Nothing Beets Cherry
• Kalefornia Grape

The Icing on the Cake:

Jam-packed with fruit and veggies, Fruigees also adhere to dietary restrictions because they are kosher, gluten-free, BPA-free, vegan, non-GMO and have no added sugar. There are no preservatives and one pouch provides 100% of your daily value of Vitamin C.

Time to Eat?!

Fruigees are great any time of day when you’re in the mood for fruits and veggies!

Good to Go?

Fruigees come in individual pouches, making it easier for you to take a nutritious snack on the go, wherever you go!

Mix it Up!

Try freezing the pouch before serving. Then cut the top off and enjoy as a refreshing frozen treat on a hot summer afternoon!

http://fruigees.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Fruigees

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Is pasta a mealtime favorite in your house? Our friends at Cooking Light have a delicious pasta recipe that is full of bold flavor and is easy to whip together on a busy weeknight. This recipe for Mostly Veggie Pasta with Sausage uses hot Italian sausage as the main flavor agent in the sauce, and includes colorful vegetables like yellow squash, broccoli florets, and mushrooms. Tomato paste adds a robust flavor; look for the kind sold in tubes so you can use as little or as much as you need. Little chefs can help chop ingredients and stir them all together!

 Serves 4 (serving size: 1/2 cup pasta and 3/4 cup sauce)

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain.

2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add sausage; cook 4 minutes, stirring to crumble. Add onion and garlic; cook 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and squash; cook 4 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and oregano; cook 1 minute.

3. Add broccoli, salt, pepper, and tomatoes to pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, breaking up tomatoes with a spoon. Spoon sauce over pasta; top with basil.

Tips & Trick:

• For the vegetarians at your table, omit the sausage and add another vegetable of your choosing!
• Beyond pasta, spoon this veggie-packed sauce over breaded and baked eggplant slices or roasted spaghetti squash halves.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Looking for an easy, better-for-you way to satisfy that pizza craving? Our friends at Cooking Light have put a delicious spin on this cheesy classic, using pita rounds and kale! These Mini Mozzarella-and-Kale Pita Pizzas require just a few ingredients, but are full of flavor! Split the pitas in half before toasting so that the “crust” for the pizzas can get extra crisp. Baby kale is a fantastic all-purpose green; and it’s a great introduction to greens other than lettuce or spinach. The kids are sure to love it, and can help with adding the fresh toppings before broiling!

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Preheat broiler to high with oven rack in middle position.

2. Split each pita in half horizontally to get 12 rounds. Arrange rounds, cut side up, on a baking sheet; drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil. Broil 2 to 3 minutes or until lightly toasted.

3. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add shallots and garlic; sauté 2 minutes or until browned. Stir in kale; cook 2 minutes or until wilted. Remove pan from heat.

4. Spread about 2 teaspoons pizza sauce over each pita round; top evenly with kale mixture, cheeses, and tomatoes. Sprinkle evenly with pepper and salt. Broil 4 to 5 minutes or until cheeses are melted.

Tips & Trick:

• Have a different green in your fridge? Use whatever you’d like!

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Meal time can be difficult, especially when you’re pressed for time. Love Child Organics makes savory baby meals in a convenient spouted pouch that are perfect for on the go, or whenever you need a quick idea for meal time that’s also nutritious. The convenience factor of these pouches are undeniable, and they are bursting with bold flavors that your baby will love! Each pouch has 4-5 grams of protein plus nutrient-rich veggies; a complete meal that tastes homemade!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

This is so yummy and I like to squeeze it!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

These baby food pouches are a lifesaver on busy days when we are out of the house at lunchtime! I can throw one or two in my bag and be prepared for the day ahead. They are so good that even my toddler likes them, which is great because it’s packed with veggies and lots of nutrients.

Flavorful Features:

These savory baby food pouches come in a variety of flavors:

• Vegetarian chili with sweet potato and kale
• Veggie casserole with lentils and quinoa
• Pumpkin risotto with spinach and chickpeas
• Ratatouille with lentils and white beans

The Icing on the Cake:

Time to Eat?!

These convenient pouches are great any time of day your baby needs some veggies!

Good to Go?

These compact and shelf stable pouches are made for on-the-go parents and are perfect for busy days and road trips! 

Mix it Up!

For older kids, use these pouches as a sauce over chicken or fish, or a dip for veggies or crackers.

lovechildorganics.com

https://www.facebook.com/LoveChildOrganics/

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Here at The Creative Kitchen, we are always looking for delicious tasting products that use minimal ingredients without compromising quality or flavor. Lucky for us, The Vine is all about clean eating and the belief that quality ingredients will result in quality foods! The Vine’s Original Marinara Sauce is all-natural, and made from just a few fresh, simple ingredients; with no added sugar. Making healthful decisions at dinner never tasted so delicious!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

I love this tomato sauce! I like it on my pasta.

From the Eyes of a Parent:

As with many other products, there are so many options for pasta sauce that it can get overwhelming when trying to choose. The Vine’s simple, real ingredients make it easy to choose their marinara sauce. My family loves pasta, so we go through a lot of sauce, but I feel good about serving this sauce to my family because it’s all-natural and has no added sugar.

Flavorful Features:

The Vine makes other flavors of their marinara sauce that are equally as delicious:

• Butternut Squash Marinara
• Calabrian style Marinara
• Vegan Marinara

The Icing on the Cake:

The Vine makes marinara sauce that tastes as it should: fresh, and full of bold flavor. Even better? It’s made with exclusively USDA organic certified ingredients.

Time to Eat?!

With marinara sauce that’s this delicious, pasta time is any time of the day!

Mix it Up!

Try baking eggs in marinara sauce and give your breakfast a saucy twist! Pour a little bit of The Vine’s Marinara sauce into a ramekin, crack an egg on top, and bake in the oven; only two ingredients required!

https://www.foodsofthevine.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Foods-of-The-Vine-439754239747515/

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

If you like crunchy snacks as much as we do, then you’re going to love these Kale Poppers! Cal-Snax is a brand with a philosophy we believe in. All of their products have three simple principles: they must taste great, they have to be convenient, and they must be better for you. Cal-Snax prides themselves on producing innovative vegetable-based snacks that are never fried and always delicious! Their Kale Poppers are full of flavor and have a fun leaf shape. Plus, each bag of Kale Poppers provides you with 4 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber. With Cal-Snax’s Kale Poppers moms can feel confident that their children are snacking well!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

I love their fun shape and how crunchy they are!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

Sometimes I find it challenging to get my kids to eat enough of their greens, so it’s great that my kids can get the nutrients of kale in a crunchy and convenient snack. With Kale Poppers, now at least I know they are getting good nutrients like fiber, iron, and vitamin K. And I love that these are made with ingredients I recognize, real kale, lentils and rice, so I know this product is a great wholesome snack for my kids (and me!) that I can trust!

Flavorful Features:

Kale Poppers come in three delicious flavors:
– Sea Salt
– Creamy Ranch
– Tangy Smokey Barbecue

The Icing on the Cake:

Kale Poppers are gluten free and non-GMO verified. They also have no cholesterol or trans-fat and contain no soy, MSG, nuts, or dairy.

Time to Eat?!

Kale Poppers are perfect to include in your child’s lunch box!

Good to Go?

Yes! A bag of Kale Poppers is the perfect size for convenient on-the-go snacking.

Mix it Up!

Dip Kale Poppers in hummus or another bean spread for added protein and tastiness!

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.