Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins for Picky Eaters #backtoschool #recipe

One thing that I am learning with packing lunches for my four year old is that one day they will devour everything you send...and the next...it all comes home with them and they are just starving at the end of the day.

So...I bake. I bake cookies, muffins, french toast and pancakes all with hidden ingredients...but make him think they are super yummy things like chocolate chip cookies (with oats, whole grains, ground nuts and sometimes pureed vegetables and fruit!).

Sneaky mom...but hey! I want to make sure he's having a balanced lunch, so I do what I have to do!

 

 

Preheat your oven to 400F

Line muffin tin with paper liners, or grease the metal baking dish.

Combine in a large bowl

1 1/3 cup flour
2/3 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tsp baking power
5 tbsp ground flaxseed (I find it easiest to grind my own, using a spice grinder)

In a liquid measuring cup, combine

3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1 beaten egg

Add your wet ingredients to the dry ones, and stir to combine fully. Now, add in your chocolate chips. I typically don't measure these out, but if I had to guess I would say that there are about a half cup of chocolate chips in my mixture.

Drop into the prepared muffin liners using a cookie scoop or tablespoon.

Bake for 18 minutes, then allow to cool for about 5 minutes in the pan. Transfer to a wire rack, and cool completely.

Strawberry Plum Oatmeal Flax Bars #recipe

While prepping for back to school, and trying to get a handle on what my 4 year old will eat for his lunches and snacks, I wanted to make sure to bake up as many muffins, bars, cookies and snacks as possible in advance to make my life a little easier in the first few weeks.

All of the things I have been baking have either fruit+veggie puree, whole grains, or secret proteins in them to make sure that he is getting a balanced diet at school.

These snack bars are full of whole grains and reduced sugar jam, and get an added nutritional punch from ground flaxseed!

What you'll need:

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup oats
5 tbsp ground flaxseed
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup butter

Preheat your oven to 350F and grease a 9x11 baking dish.

In a large mixing bowl, combine your flour, oats, baking soda, brown sugar and flax. You can opt to add already ground flax or you can grind flaxseeds with a spice or coffee grinder, and add that (which is what I chose to do.)

Next, using your hands, mix in the coconut oil and butter until your mixture is crumbly.

Take half of your dry mixture and press it into the bottom of your pan. Next, add your filling! Your filling can be anything from reduced sugar jam or homemade fruit or veggie puree. I used a reduced sugar, twice the fruit Strawberry Plum Raspberry jam.

Now, add the rest of your dry mixture and press firmly.

Bake for 35-40 minutes (I baked ours for 37 minutes) then allow to cool completely in the pan. Slice into bars, and store a few in an airtight container. I put the majority of our oatmeal flax bars in a freezer bag, and popped them into the freezer. Then, when I'm packing his lunch, I can just pull one out and put in into one of his snack containers!

Back To School Teacher Gifts #bts #diy #gifts

Stressing about a back to school teacher gift, and not wanting to send in an apple with your kiddo? Never fear! I've found 5 great ideas that are simple, easy, and ones that the teacher will certainly enjoy!

Clockwise from top right

Chalkboard coffee mug from A Grande Life - if you haven't used chalkboard paint before, it is seriously one of the easiest things ever. Two coats, and you're done. Very cute, and you could fill it with tea or coffee, or a gift card for the teacher if you're not sure what she drinks {or wine...}

Handpainted journal from Sweet Stella's - A really pretty journal for your teacher would be a lovely gift. Do you know how much time a teacher does planning out their lessons? Give them something nice to write down their thoughts in!

Teach Appreciation Supply Bins from Baby Shmizz - I love these bins! Everything is organized and labelled (with free printables available in the post on Baby Shmizz), and bright and colorful! I've heard stories about teachers having to gather some of their own supplies, so I think this is a really thoughtful back to school gift.

DIY Homemade Lip Gloss from Joy the Baker - I absolutely love these little lip glosses, and they would make for a unique and personal back to school teacher gift. Not only are they pretty, it's unusual and not just another pair of scissors or an apple.

DIY Herb Infused Olive Oil by Building Our Story - Another unique gift, and one that looks really beautiful too! Bonus points if you know that your kiddo's teacher likes to cook! Add in fresh herbs, and maybe a chili pepper and you've got a really beautiful infused oil!

Back to School #shopping #list #bts #organization101

Well mom's, it's just about that time of year, and for me...it's the first time! I'm talking about Back To School!!

I will fully admit that I am overwhelmed by all of the things that Owen needs to go to pre-kindergarten. Shoes for the gym, all of the things for his backpack, lunch bag, bento box {his school is a litterless lunch type of school}....the list is plentiful!

 I decided that for this months installment of Organization 101, I would pool preschool, gradeschool and high school lists together to make a master list.

You can download HERE for free, and print at home!

First Day of School Printable

For Canadian parents, the first day of school is today. Thankfully, I still have another year to wait for that, but I am excited for when Owen will toddle off to school, make new friends and grow his brain every single day.

Have you done an interview with your child on the first day of school?

If you do the one above with your kids, please please let me know. I'd love to see their answers!!

Download HERE for free!

Back to School Printables - Book Tags

As a child, I was forever loosing my note books and forgetting my text books in or on my desk at school. More often than not, I would forget to write my name in them and would have to try and get them back from my teachers.

Hence....book tags.

Print them off and tape them inside the cover of your kids books so they always find their way home. Easy peasy!

Download them HERE for free!

Back To School Printables - Lunchbox Notes

Remember when your mom left notes in your lunch box, how they used to make you smile? The message always seemed to come at the perfect time when you were doubting yourself or just needed a hug.

Here are five notes to get you started!

Mix up the days to keep your little one guessing. Draw silly pictures, and leave little notes so that they know they are loved. You never know when they will need it.

Download these ones HERE for free!