Bento Box Snacks

Since I have been researching healthier eating for myself I have been getting inspired to feed my family healthier too. I've decided that instead of sending my oldest son to school with granola bars and Gogurts that I will put his new Froggy Bento box to good use and send him to school with some healthier and more creative snack options. So far the change has been happily accepted! See what I've packed for the last two days below:
Yesterday's snack was cheese peeled from a Cheese Head Cheese Stick, Pepperonis and Kashi TLC Honey Sesame Crackers. Delish!

This morning I filled the Froggy Bento box with green grapes, a few strawberries, star shaped bread pieces, a wedge of Laughing Cow and a packet of Grape Jelly. I am particularly proud of this one!

Oatmeal Jammy Bars

Looking through the Family Meals cookbook today I decided to make the Oatmeal Jammy Bars for an afternoon snack. I really had a craving for strawberry jam bars but only had about a tablespoon, so I am experimenting with apple jelly. They were delicious!! I will definitely make these again!

Oatmeal Jammy Bars
(from Family Meals: Creating Traditions in the Kitchen by Maria Helm Sinskey)

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
¾ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1 ¼ cups old-fashioned rolled oats

¼ cup ground pecans or almonds (optional)

½ cup berry jam

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9” square baking pan or dish.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda, using your
hands to combine thoroughly. Scatter the butter pieces over the flour mixture and cut in the
butter with a pastry cutter or two kitchen knives until the mixture is moist and crumbly. Add
the oats and nuts, if using, and toss to mix evenly.

Press two-thirds of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the jam evenly over
the top. Crumble the remaining dough evenly over the top, and press down lightly.

Bake until the top is golden brown, 35-40 minutes. Let cool completely on a rack, and then cut
into bars. Makes 10 bars