If you follow weelicious on Twitter or Facebook, you may have read about my recent fruit leather obsession. My kids love fruit roll-ups and while there are some great brands out there made with just fruit, I know can save a ton of dough making it myself. While I haven’t spent a lot of money trying to figure it out, I have spent a lot of time! As of today, I’ve made 15 (yes, fifteen!!!!) batches of strawberry leather in an effort to perfect the recipe. It’s been a frustrating challenge to say the least, especially when making fruit leather seems so easy in principal. It’s just fruit and heat, right? Yes and no.

Here’s a breakdown of my results:

Batches 1-4: I used juicy strawberries from the farmer’s market, baked them for three hours and the batch turned out perfect and chewy with a deep red color. I couldn’t believe how easy it was and was very busy congratulating myself afterwards. Kenya actually found one of the batches that I hid in the closet to save for his school lunch and ate the entire thing! At least I know he got his vitamin C for the day — I mean, week!

Batches 5-8: So much for being proud of myself. These attempts were total disasters. This time I used organic strawberries from the grocery that were much bigger and less juicy than the ones I bought from the farmer’s market. Sadly, each of these batches burned when I cooked them at different times right around three hours. I was left totally frustrated.

Batches 9-12: Back to perfection using berries from the farmer’s market. I kept the cooking time at three hours for each batch and I finally realized the juicier the berries, the longer they take to cook. You really have to judge the berry you are using before setting your cooking time.

Batches 13 & 14: Back to the organic grocery store berries, but this time I wised up and only baked them for only two hours, which produced one batch that burned a bit on the edges (because I didn’t spread it out totally even) but another turning out perfect.

Knowing that people will have varying results, I asked friends and a bunch of weelicious readers to give the recipe a try. Everyone’s outcomes were slightly different. Here’s what I’ve determined: you have to experiment for yourself with this recipe. Everyone’s berries and ovens are different, so there isn’t one definitive cooking time. My best advice is to spread the mixture as evenly as possible on the baking sheet and keep a close eye on the fruit while it’s cooking. Be prepared for a bit a trial and error and don’t lose your cool. Hopefully when you find your ideal cooking time, you’ll be knocking out batches of your own fruit leather with ease.

Strawberr-Wee Fruit Leather (Makes 8 Long Strips)

3 Cups Strawberries
1 Tbsp Honey

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
2. Remove the stems from the strawberries and rinse.
3. Place the strawberries and honey in a blender and puree until smooth.
4. Pour the mixture on to a parchment paper lined baking sheet and spread with the back of a spoon or spatula in a large rectangle (my rectangle was 11 x 15 inches) making sure that the mixture is completely even.
5. Bake for 2-3 hours (or until it’s dry and not sticky to the touch). Remember, cooking times will vary depending on how thick you spread your mixture and how much water (juice) is naturally in the fruit.
6. Allow to sit and cool at room temperature. It takes several hours for the fruit to soften up (when you first take the leather out of the oven the edges will be a bit dry and crispy, but if you allow it to sit overnight it softens up nicely).
7. Cut with a knife or pizza cutter into strips or use scissors, keeping the paper on, and then roll the leather into “roll ups”.
8. Serve.

Between working and shuttling two kids to and from school, sports, music, gymnastics and more, I’m constantly on the move. Packing snacks to keep your kids well fed and nourished throughout the day is an art, but sometimes it can feel like an all day affair. I generally make most of my kids’ snacks myself, but occasionally I have no choice but to pull something pre-packaged out of the cabinet. Still, no matter if it’s homemade or store-bought, my criteria is the same: it must be nutritious, delicious, lightweight and travel well.

While I’ve never been a huge fan of feeding kids — especially babies — foods out of a jar, tube, can or box, occasionally I come across a product that impresses me enough to make an exception. Recently, a company called Ella’s Kitchen sent me some packages of their crushed fruit and vegetable snacks and I was intrigued. Ella’s Kitchen makes food for babies and kids that are made from pure fruits and vegetables and come in flavor pouches like Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin, Apples and Blueberry, Peaches and Banana and Strawberries and Apple. The company’s philosophy is one after my own heart. The founder (Ella’s dad) says he started the company because he believes that his daughter’s generation “should have the opportunity to eat better food and also to discover that healthy food can be fun, tasty and cool.” I sampled a bunch with my kids and was equally impressed with how fresh and flavorful the purees tasted. I loved the re-sealable, anti-choke screw tops and how light and convenient the packaging is. The fact that they’re gluten, allergen, egg, dairy and wheat free is an added bonus.

Kenya’s an easy sell when it comes to food in packaging where he can shake, squeeze and slurp away. Baby Chloe was a different story. I wasn’t so sure she would be into these snacks because she’s tried very few things other than what I’ve made for her. Still, she sucked down an entire pouch of peaches and bananas within minutes. I could chalk it up to her being starving, but if you saw first hand how much this child eats in general you’d know that’s impossible.

When you don’t have time to prepare your own snacks, but still want your kids to be able to eat their fruits and veggies, these healthy, easy to find treats are a great idea!

I love granola, but it seems like more and more packaged brands I find are full of sugar and unwanted additives (which is kind of ironic since granola is supposed to be a health food, isn’t it?). A good granola should be healthy, give you tons of energy, have lots of crunch and taste delicious. Kenya loves it on yogurt, fruit, with milk or simply on it’s own, so I make a lot of Wee-Granola.

When I don’t have enough time to whip up a fresh batch, but I want to give him something nutritious to satisfy his craving, I buy Vita Spelt Granola, which is made with different kinds of seeds (sunflower, flax, etc.), spelt flakes, organic maple syrup and other healthy ingredients. It comes in flavors like maple walnut, apple cinnamon and Kenya’s favorite, cranberry vanilla walnut.

Spelt provides above average protein and is higher in complex carbohydrates than wheat. It’s also an excellent source of fiber and phytonutrients and has a great whole grain taste.

This morning Kenya saw the bag of Vita Spelt on the counter and said “I want some”! He poured it into a bowl, grabbed it with two hands and started “slurping” the granola like it was a bowl of soup. I guess no twisting his arm to eat “health food”!

I can’t believe my baby boy is almost off to school. I’m filled with a mixture of pride, excitement and utter sadness! I’m sure that all parents experience the same emotions when their children go off on their own for the first time. We parents want to protect our kids and give them the very best — especially when they are away from us — and that means, among other things, sending them off with healthy, nutritious and exciting lunches which will remind them throughout the day just how much you love them. To me, there is an important lesson to be learned in every meal and I think that extends to what the meals are packed in as well. What are we saying to our kids when we send them to school every day with a new plastic bag to hold their sandwiches?

I ran out to the mailbox today hoping that my Graze Organic products had arrived….and they did! Ever since I heard about Graze from a friend, I’ve been excited to give their products a roll. No more wasteful Zip Locks or bleached paper towels. Graze makes healthy alternatives to plastic snack and sandwich bags and napkins because instead of throwing them away after using them, you just toss them in the washing machine and use them again and again. Since they’re made from 100% organic cotton, there are no harmful chemicals or toxins coming into contact with your little one’s food. Both the bags and napkins are soft, flexible and the perfect fit for school lunch boxes. And with the hook and loop closure at the top of the bags, even the youngest of pre-schoolers can easily open and close them. So, not only are you doing something good for the environment, you’re doing something good for your wallet as well!

I’ve been wanting a product like this for years. Thank you, Graze for making it happen!

Kenya must be part squirrel or bird because he loves nuts and seeds. I love how good they are for kids, providing all kinds of valuable vitamins, minerals, fiber, Omegas and so on. I am always surprised, however, at how expensive packaged nuts and seeds can be. Next time you’re making trail mix or packing a healthy snack, why not toss in pumpkin seeds? I got the enormous bag in the picture at Whole Foods (also known as “whole wallet” or “whole paycheck”) for only $1.99. Most of the other nuts and seeds in the dry goods aisle were $5.99 or more for bags that were even smaller than mine! If you munch on a quarter cup of pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, you will get 46% of the daily value for magnesium, 28% for iron, a whopping 52% for manganese, 17% for protein and 17% for zinc. And since pumpkin seeds are smaller and easier to chew then almonds or cashews, they’re better for little mouths — still always make sure your kids chew all nuts and seeds thoroughly. So, forget about waiting until October 31st to enjoy this sweet and nutty flavored treat. Go on and munch away!

Now that Chloe is 3 months old, I’m getting prepared for my second go-round of baby feeding. Introducing solid food to your baby is such a special, beautiful and fun time for both parents and children, but when you have to feed infants on the run it can be tough. When Chloe was born, a friend gave us a box full of Boon products and I can’t wait to start using them.

Boon’s Squirt spoon is so cool. You fill it up with your homemade baby food and off you go. The easy to fill bulb holds 3 oz. of food, a perfect amount for new eaters. All you do is squeeze to dispense the food onto the spoon, one bite at a time. No glass jars and spoons floating around your purse. Another bonus is that it’s BPA, phthalate and PVC free.

Now that I’m feeding two and I’m carrying around twice the load, this will make life a lot easier!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked through the refrigerator section of Whole Foods supermarket looking for new, fun (and not expensive) products for our family to try. I must have walked by the Mochi a thousand times and not paid it any attention but the other day something caught my eye. One of the stockers was arranging different varieties on the shelf and I asked him if he had ever tried it. He should be hired as the publicist for their company, Grainaissance, because his passion for mochi made me want to try some right then and there.

Mochi is a rice snack made from whole grain brown rice. Since it’s gluten, dairy and wheat free, it’s perfect for kids with certain allergies. It also comes in endless flavors such as Raisin-Cinnamon, Sesame-Garlic, Super Seed, Chocolate Brownie, Cashew-Date, Original, Wheatgrass with Mugwort, and Pizza, so there’s something for everyone.Kenya and I just baked some up yesterday and had so much fun doing it. I cut the big square of mochi into 1 inch pieces and Kenya placed them all on a cookie sheet. We turned on the oven light and watched the little morsels puff up into tasty little bites. After they cooled, we dipped them in almond butter and had a delicious dessert. Whether you bake them for dinner, sauté them for lunch or even pop them into a waffle iron for breakfast, they make a yummy treat!

* Mochi can be a choking hazard. Make sure to cut the mochi into bite size pieces before giving to children, preferably 2 1/2 years or older.

From the first day he began eating solids, one of Kenya’s favorite foods has been yogurt. Even now, he eats plain yogurt almost every day with fresh fruit and a scoop of homemade strawberry preserves or fruit puree. Plain yogurt is an especially perfect food for babies, starting at 6 months to transition them from breast milk or formula to regular food. It’s high in protein, calcium, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and B12. Although you can buy all different kinds of fruit flavored, pre-sweetened yogurts, I’m personally a big fan of offering babies and kids plain yogurt and having them or mom or dad add their own sweet touch.

Stonyfield Farms recently came out with their own line of organic plain yogurt called Yo Baby. I love that it comes in 4 oz (1/2 cup) portions so you don’t feel like you’re wasting a big container of it if your little one doesn’t finish it.

Over the next 2 weeks, weelicious is going to be holding a recipe contest. Please email us your favorite recipe using plain yogurt that your baby, toddler or big kid loves. If we choose your recipe, it will be posted as the daily recipe on weelicious and Yo Baby will send you 10 Yo Baby Coupons, 2 YB bowls with lids, 2 YB bibs, Dr. Sears brand new book The NDD Book (How Nutritional Deficit Disorder affects your child’s learning, behavior, and health), as well as an Eric Carle growth chart. We’re so excited to check out the creative recipes that you and your families enjoy!

I would have to say that hand’s down, the number one complaint I get from parents, is that they can’t get their kids to eat their fruits and veggies. Nothing is more frustrating than when you make your children food they won’t eat. Not only is it hard not to take it personally, but you can’t help but worry that your child is missing essential nutrients.

I don’t have the magic bullet answer, but I do have my ways. One thing I know most kids love making is smoothies. Smoothies are incredibly healthy, it’s a fantastic opportunity to use foods that are in season and your kids can participate in the making of their own drink. Participation is key. My experience has been that when they feel like they are a part of the making or growing what they eat, they’ll be much more inclined to actually eat it. You go from making them passive — having a plate of food put down in front of them — to active — I can do it! I’ve been making Chocolate Banana Berry Smoothies (check for the recipe next week) for Kenya and he loves them. I add a scoop of Kidz Superfood in every batch and I know that he’s getting 33 rainbow colored fruits and vegetables in every glass.

Kidz SuperFood contains premium whole food ingredients that your little ones body needs and none of the inexpensive fillers and nonessential ingredients they don’t.

Since I’m nursing a new baby and always on the go myself, I’ve been sneaking scoops and putting them in my own morning smoothies too. “Kids” food can be good for adults too!

*If you add the word WEELICIOUS into the coupon code on their website, you will get 15% off!

As a mother, I’m on the eternal search for the perfect lunch box. I’m not a fan of using Ziplock bags all the time.
In addition to their negative impact on the environment, they cost a lot and it drives me crazy when I find used ones all over our house, in the car, and in my purse.

I found the Sistema Klip It Lunch Cube the other day at Sur La Table and it’s really great. It’s a clear box that snaps open into 3 separate compartments. This way I can put a sandwich wrap in one compartment and some crackers and dried fruit in the other two. It’s also really easy to clean which always makes mommies happy! And the best part? Kenya can see what’s inside without opening it, so I don’t have my 2 year-old rooting through all of the containers in my bag just to find the one thing he wants to munch on!