Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 After a long time thinking about it, I've decided that I need to change my kids' snacking habits. It's not so much about their health (although it would obviously benefit) as they are both extremely fit and do sport 6 days out of 7 but I hate the amount of packaging we have to throw away each week. I'm going to stop buying crisps (but possibly let them have some at the w/e), Cadbury's minirolls and Kitkats all of which are too easy to grab at present. I've just got into the habit of buying these every single week. I'm not much of a baker (but I could make more effort ) so I'm looking for interesting alternatives. What do you all let your kids have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 I know what you mean ANH. I don't buy these and try to offer homemade alternatives, flap jacks, brownies etc. But when I go to work OH thinks the cupboard looks bare so nips to the shop to do me a favour and stock up on mini rolls, kit kats etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 You could try the big bags of crisps and put a few into a plastic container? don't eat crisps but Carl buys the big bag ones by Tyrells and decants them. Less packaging - and less crisps. You could make a batch of Fairy Cakes quite quickly with the children at the weekend.... and as Snowy says, Flapjacks, they keep for ages! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 , Flapjacks, they keep for ages! Not in our house they don't Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Sorry! ..... ........ Flapjacks have very good keeping qualities (if not all eaten by gannets!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Sorry! ..... ........ Flapjacks have very good keeping qualities (if not all eaten by gannets!) I seem to have a complete flock of gannets living here Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 11, 2008 Author Share Posted January 11, 2008 The crisp idea's a good one. The most sensible idea really is to do baking - I've no excuse, really, as I have a constant egg supply . I also have gannets, however, so may have to do it quite often . Luckily my OH only ever sets foot in a supermarket if I'm incapacitated so at least it's under my control . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I do buy crisps,but I tend to go for the baked ones - twiglets,Cheddars etc. The girls only have them in their lunch boxes twice a week, which works for us. We don't really eat biscuits,but the girls do have a snacky thing in their lunch box each day too - kit kat or similar. I think they need the small sugar boost to get them through the afternoon.They do often get a home made thing,like Bread Pudding,which is a favourite.iThey also have at least 1 piece of fruit & a salad stuffed roll or sandwich. When they come home they are allowed 1 thing of their choice as a snack,then only fruit until supper time. I am strict on this,but its sunk in now & they know what they are & what they are not allowed. Cleo in particular is someone who will graze all day rather than eat 3 meals,& also has a huge appetite,so I think its important to have snacking rules in our house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Try this. So easy, put them in a tin and the kids will eat them as a snack. Makes 24. They will disappear like magic. Better than choccy biccies. I do mine with an electric hand wisk or you could do food proccesor or kenwood chef whatever. 6oz S.R. flour 3 large eggs (no probs there!!) 6oz butter/marge 1/2 tsp vanilla extract if you fancy or a bit of lemon juice 6oz sugar Fairy cake cases (24) Chuck it all in a bowl all together and give it a good mix. Divide between 24 cake cases Bake for 10 - 15 mins at about 180 (depends on your oven) You can vary this by adding a handfull of currants/choc chips etc. This is a variant of delias all in one sponge cake off her web site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 in august when we picked our blackberries, I made these, they were gorgeous!!! bit crumbly though http://www.asda-recipes.co.uk/recipe/867.html i've still got some blackberries in the freezer, think i'll knock up a batch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 6oz S.R. flour 3 large eggs (no probs there!!) 6oz butter/marge 1/2 tsp vanilla extract if you fancy or a bit of lemon juice 6oz sugar Fairy cake cases (24) . they sound a bit like those madeline(sp?) cakes. We used to buy them on holiday in spain and eat them by the pool, I was skeletally thin back then so it was ok! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I've occasionally baked cheese straws for the girls and they quite like them... they're a nice size too, just right when someone wants a tasty nibble... Bigger crip packets do work well, I've also been doing that, mostly cause I got fed up with my untidy lot eating a small packet and then leave the empty packets lying around, so it struck me a big pack to get a handful out of would make more sense and involve less packaging to bin... It depends also what the tendencies are in your family... my girls (and DH) all have a savoury tendency, and don't eat biscuits at all, except on rare occasions, so whenever I do try and do something, it tends to be savoury (cheese scones is one I want to try to make)... This forum is dangerous!! Between cleaning the house with my new steam cleaner, and checking on all these programmes about chicken welfare, and making porridge and stuff for the chooks, I now want to bake cheese scones today!!! I need to learn to come on here and then keep to my planned schedule for the day!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 11, 2008 Author Share Posted January 11, 2008 These ideas are all great! Thanks everyone . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Concrete cake is very quick and easy (I'm no great cook) someone wonderful on here posted a recipe so I'm sure you'll find it int he wiki- I'm sure it has an egg in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Concrete cake also flies out of the tin faster than you can make it! I only buy big bags of crisps and we have one bag maybe once a week when it's a 'bread and spread' meal. I also buy the handbaked ones - like Tyrrells or Burt. Encourage your offspring to do the baking - that will keep them occupied too, although you may not get so many cakes! I make a chocolate sandwich cake - a slice of that is filling and also not as more-ish as flapjackes etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I've knocked it on the head - I just don't allow crisps and biscuits in the house (mainly to stop ME from picking ) We have homemade snacks instead. Although from Christmas goodies that I received, I now have a kitchen full of chocolate and booze.. I don't eat/drink either Phil is in heaven! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 i've taken some blackberries out of the freezer to make those oaty bars! As oscar wilde said "I can resist everything except temptation" but he also said "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it." A very wise man IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 13, 2008 Author Share Posted January 13, 2008 Well, I hope you're all proud of me! I've taken all your suggestions on board - my attempts so far: 3 big bags of Waitrose crisps (showed boys how much they should take by weighing out the same amount as a single bag) 2 tubs of Rachels yogurt (on offer) and some (on offer) reduced sugar Waitrose jam (I'm going to stop buying Muller corner yogurts - I hate all the plastic I have to throw away) fairy cakes - already made 2 batches this w/e no kitkats/minirolls, anything packaged of any kind was brought into the house I'm determined to keep this up! You lot are changing my (lazy, bad) habits and it's great . bought blueberries (on offer) to make muffins (not got around to it yet ) bought 2 large granary baguettes which go down well with jam as a snack YS keeps moaning "there's nothing to eat" but he's managed to chomp his way through a fair few cakes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 (edited) i made some blackberry oaty bars the other day after I posted the link for you. Do try them as they're delish but definitely better the next day as they go nice and moist. Don't eat them on the day you make them as they are a bit dry but believe me, they are to die for the next day! I didn't have 100g of chopped pecans so i used half pecans and half chopped mixed nuts. oh and i pressed the mixture down a bit firmer than they say or they are very crumbly. Edited January 13, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 13, 2008 Author Share Posted January 13, 2008 I've printed your recipe off, Poet, so that's the next to try (the muffins can wait ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 .....2 tubs of Rachels yogurt (on offer) and some (on offer) reduced sugar Waitrose jam (I'm going to stop buying Muller corner yogurts - I hate all the plastic I have to throw away)... What a brilliant idea, simple but effective, I like it! It's great sharing these ideas, keep them going. Poet, those sound delicious. Mmmm..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 .....2 tubs of Rachels yogurt (on offer) and some (on offer) reduced sugar Waitrose jam (I'm going to stop buying Muller corner yogurts - I hate all the plastic I have to throw away)... What a brilliant idea, simple but effective, I like it! It's great sharing these ideas, keep them going. Poet, those sound delicious. Mmmm..... i used the crumbs left from the oaty bars to sprinkle into some yoghurt home made crunch corners? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basset Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 I do admire you lot that can have snacks like chocs, crisps and cakes in the house. My willpower is not strong enough!!!! I won't allow them in the house, so the children have to snack on fruit and the occasional savoury cheese bic. OH has a sneaky supply that he keeps locked in his car boot or in his workshop under lock and key!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 You're getting there Vicki, I read somewhwre that it takes a week to change a habit. Not sure whether that's true or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 This thread is DANGEROUS As someone who had a serious snacking problem and hasn't snacked now since September I have the following problems with the suggestions. Buy bigger bags of crisps - MY FAVOURITE SIZE, tip them all into a bowl and eat as an evening snack, saves opening 4 or 5 piddly little bags. Cheese Straws - use half a packet of pastry, loads of cheese - EAT THEM HOT with salt - stop when all gone, under no circumstances stop when feeling full - finish them all so you feel bloated and slightly sick. Savoury Cheese Biscuits - EAT THE PACKET when you have no big bags of crisps left. OK now hands up anyone who still wonders how I got to be over 20 stone??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...