Lunchbox Love with Sun-Maid Raisins

Lunchbox Love with Sun-Maid Raisins

Thursday, August 20, 2020

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This post is sponsored by Sun-Maid, but all opinions are my own.

 

 

I still can't believe that we are already heading back to school! It feels like it was yesterday that we were finishing out the last school year virtually, and now here we are planning our back to school outfits, lunches and more!

 

Back to school looks a little different for us this year as we have opted for virtual learning, but I really wanted to stick with as much of a routine as possible, including getting up early, getting dressed and packing a special lunch (like this ladybug peanut butter sandwich) for my girls.  They have loved still being able to grab their lunch boxes and head outside for lunch or have a pretend picnic in the living room.

 

 

One of my favorite things to do last school year was write little lunch notes to my daughter to show her that I was thinking about her.  Sometimes it would be a funny joke or sometimes it would just be a simple "I love you".  No matter what, the days I wrote notes to her she always came home and told me how much she loved it!

 

Now, I don't know about you, but my girls are obsessed with Sun-Maid Raisins.  We go through a ridiculous amount and they aren't even sorry about it ;)  I love the boxes that they come in because they are the perfect size for lunch boxes, fit perfectly inside Bento boxes and also the perfect size for attaching my little lunch love notes on.

Naturally made with nothing but grapes and California sunshine, Sun-Maid Raisins timeless and trusted goodness have been a healthy snack for kids and grown-up kids alike since 1912.  Sun-Maid Raisins are whole fruit, 0g added sugars and are naturally sweet.  They are incredibly versatile and easy to add into recipes or eat as a stand-alone snack.

It takes no effort on my part to grab a box of Sun-Maid Raisins, a mini sticky note (they come in the cutest shapes) and write a little something on it before throwing it in my daughter's lunch box.  Trust me, we too have those mornings where we are in a rush, so these are great for on the go!

When we aren't in a rush, I like to find ways to make their lunches just a little more fun, yet still keep it simple.  I'm still a mom of four and if I'm being honest, not a food artist! Ha!  This ladybug peanut butter sandwich was a hit with my girls, super easy to make and would make any back to school lunch ladybug-erific!

 

What you'll need for Lady Bug Sandwiches:

• 2 slices of bread
• Your choice of nut butter
• Apple slices
• Grapes
  
• Sun-Maid Raisins
• String Cheese
  

I made a peanut butter sandwich ( we typically leave out the jelly, but you're welcome to make it however you like. You could even use turkey and cheese if your kid has nut allergies.  Then cut the sandwich into a circle using a biscuit cutter, sandwich cutter or in my case a wine glass ;)

After that, add the apple slices for wings decorated with Sun-Maid Raisins for the polka dots,  half the grape for the head decorated with string cheese for the antennas and eyes.  As my oldest daughter would say, easy peasy lemon squeezey!

If you have cookie cutters, the options are endless and Sun-Maid Raisins are perfect for adding decorations to different shapes.

Here are some of our favorite jokes to write on our notes...enjoy!

What do you call a bear with no teeth?

-A gummy bear!

Why did the grape stop in the middle of the road?

-He ran out of juice!

You are my sunshine

I can't wait to hear about your day!

What are some of your favorite ways to show your kiddos your thinking of them while they are at school?

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On The Go Tips for Toddlers (and Big Kids)

On The Go Tips for Toddlers (and Big Kids)

Sunday, December 1, 2019

2 comments

This post is sponsored by Earth's Best Peanut Butter Puffs but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

We seem to always be on the go these days.  Between school drop offs and pickups, ballet, Girl Scouts, doctors appointments and more, we are always busy and spend a lot of time in the car.  Not to mention we do a lot of traveling during the holidays. Before we moved to Indiana from Florida, we would travel to both Kentucky and Texas often. Now, my husband’s family is in Indiana, so we don’t have to travel far but we still go to Texas often.

With four kids five and under, I’m all about making our trips as smooth as possible whether it's a quick trip down the street or a 12+ hour road trip.  Here are a few on the go tips that have helped me over the last few years.

1. Activity bags.  These are super helpful to keep in the car when on the go.  I keep a bag with mess free colors and books for my girls to have when they are suddenly bored and tired of being in the car.  You moms know what I'm talking about...when you've just pulled out of the drive way and you hear the dreaded, "are we there yet?" I love anything that isn't going to make a mess.  I also include a seek and find book, lacing cards and a magnetic drawing board. 

2. Take breaks.  If you're traveling long distance, it's important to take breaks and let your little ones get some wiggles out.  We always try to leave at a time where our kids are going to get the most sleep time (either during naps or driving through the night), but I know this always isn't convenient.  We've also invested in a travel potty and it has been so great to have in emergency situations.

3. Bring their favorite lovie.  Whether it's a blanket or a stuffed animal they just can't be without, it's always good to have for comfort when you're not able to be in the back with them.  On another note, we always dress our kids comfortably when traveling long distance.

4. Snacks...all the snacks!  Snacks are where it's at to keep them happy.   Earth’s Best Organic ® Peanut Butter Puffs are my older girl's favorite healthy snack alternative right now and I know it will be my twin's favorite too when they are old enough to enjoy them.  (Earth’s Best Organic ® Peanut Butter Puffs are suitable for ages 24 months+)  I've always introduced peanut products to my kids early, so I can't wait for them to try these Peanut Butter Puffs.

Did you know for most infants with severe eczema and/or egg allergy who are already eating solid foods, introducing foods containing ground peanuts between 4 and 10 months of age and continuing consumption may reduce the risk of developing peanut allergy by 5 years of age. FDA has determined, however, that the evidence supporting this claim is limited to one study. For more information check out this helpful video on allergen introduction."

Made with Non-GMO and organic ingredients, Earth’s Best Organic ® Peanut Butter Puffs are my favorite too! #organiclookslikethis  They are also an excellent source of calcium, iron and zinc and have 0 grams of trans fat per serving.  I'd call that a #momwin!

Whether you are spending time in the car on the way to visit loved ones, or strolling with your toddler through the park, Peanut Butter Puffs are an easy to grab snack that can be thrown in the diaper bag for on the go treats to stifle your little one's hunger no matter where you are. 

Earth's Best® Peanut Butter Puffs can be found within Walmart (located in toddler food aisle). It can also be bought at Walmart.com

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