ArcaMax

As a substitute for ice cream, make things like my recipe for the “Easiest Chocolate Mousse on the Planet”. This one is made with mascarpone but you can use regular cream cheese if your budget doesn’t allow for mascarpone. This comes together in a flash. The older kids can make it themselves or you can make up a batch. Just keep it in a covered container in the fridge or you can cover it with plastic wrap and leave it in the mixing bowl. Just serve a scoop just like you would with ice cream. It’s just as dreamy but won’t pack your kids full of sugar. They won’t know the difference. I promise.

I hope these after school snack ideas inspire you to give your kids options that will keep them healthy. You don’t have to buy what the kids see on TV while they watch the cartoons. You control the checkbook. It might be a bit of an education for you to change the direction of what your kids eat but if it’s fun while healthy, I bet they’ll go right along with you and eat the more healthy options. You just have to keep the offerings yummy!

Almond Snickerdoodles

http://www.planzdiet.com/recipes/almond-snickerdoodles/

Servings: Yields approximately 18 cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups almond flour (almond meal. Bob’s Mill is available in the health food section of most grocery stores).
10 packets truvia (10 tsp)
1 stick softened butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp almond extract
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Blend all ingredients together. It will take a few minutes to all blend and then will be a bit crumbly. I got all the butter incorporated with my electric hand mixer and then used my hands to finish the mixing.

Roll cookie dough into 1-inch balls (should make about 18 cookies) and place on greased cookie sheet.

Bake for five minutes and then press down slightly with a fork. Bake another 15 minutes and remove from the oven.

If you desire you can sprinkle the tops with a little extra cinnamon and truvia. Let cool completely on the cookie sheet. The cookies are fragile and if you remove before they have cooled they will crumble.

Cheers,
Zola