Nicole Alexandra

Motherhood+Lifestyle

Easy & Healthy Sprinkle Protein Balls For Kids

These no-bake protein balls for kids are a great healthy snack. They’re easy to make and perfect for on-the-go!

protein balls for kids

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

This protein ball recipe is a twist on my peanut butter chocolate chip energy bites. My four-year-old loves my original recipe, so I created a similar recipe with a few tweaks and sprinkles! Because what kid doesn’t like sprinkles!

These protein balls for kids are a great snack, a healthy addition to breakfast, or a tasty dessert. Pack them in lunches, give them as an after-school snack, or bring them on a picnic, they’re convenient and portable.

The peanut butter and hemp seeds provide a good amount of protein. Oat flour provides heart-healthy fiber and maple syrup for natural sweetness. And the sprinkles will get your kids to try them and love them!

Kid-Friendly Protein Ball Ingredients:

  • Oat Flour: An excellent source of whole grains and heart-healthy fiber.
  • Coconut Flour: It provides more protein while giving this recipe a light coconut flavor.
  • Peanut Butter: Creamy and delicious and high in protein, I eat PB every day. It will help bind all the ingredients together. You could sub almond butter, which I’ve wanted to try too.
  • Hemp Seeds: Full of protein and a superfood, they have a mild nutty flavor and are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and give this recipe a nice crunch!
  • Pure Maple Syrup: For a natural sweetness and also helps as a binder.
  • Vanilla: I put vanilla in almost all my sweet treats, it adds a warm dessert flavor.
  • Sprinkles: The star of this recipe and the ingredient that makes this a fun snack!
energy bites for kids
healthy protein balls
protein balls for kids

Easy & Healthy Sprinkle Protein Balls For Kids

Nicole Alexandra
These no-bake protein balls for kids are a great healthy snack. They're easy to make and perfect for on-the-go!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 17

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup oat flour
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup sprinkles

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients together.
  • Chill in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to firm up the mixture.
  • Roll into balls.
  • Roll into sprinkles.
  • Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

Oat Flour: make your own oat flour by putting oats in your blender and blending until they are a fine flour texture. 
Keyword protein balls for kids, kid-friendly protein balls, energy bits, snacks for kids, kid-friendly snacks, healthy snacks, no-bake energy bits

This post was all about kid-friendly protein balls with sprinkles.

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11 Must-Have Kids Travel Accessories For A Smooth Trip

From flights to road trips, these kids’ travel accessories are all items that will make any trip a whole lot easier!

kids travel accessories

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

Anyone that’s traveled with kids knows it can be a bit daunting but also exciting! Sure there will absolutely be more planning, packing, and stuff. But I love traveling with my son. Seeing it all through his young and innocent eyes is just everything to me. It really is so much fun!

These kids’ travel accessories will make your trip much more smooth sailing. But first I want to share 2 extra must-have tips when traveling with kids.

2 Tips When Traveling With Kids:

1. Always pack a change of clothes that’s accessible in a ziplock bag

Whether your car is packed to the brim or you’re on a flight, have a change of clothes for your preschooler and yourself just in case they spill or have an accident. Keeping the clothes within reach and in a ziplock bag, also lets you store the potentially soiled clothes in a sealed container.

2. Keep travel toys for travel only

My advice is to not let your little one see or play with the toys, books, snacks, etc. until you’re actually traveling; like in the air or on the road. This makes these things much more exciting for them and lets them stay busy for a lot longer.

Must-Have Kids Travel Accessories:

1. Snacks

Always. Have. Snacks. If you have a child, I’m sure you already know this but here’s your reminder. I like to pack granola bars, nuts, apple slices, string cheese, crackers, and sometimes chips. My child is always down for a snack and if his blood sugar dips, he gets very whiney as he should, so I always keep lots of snacks on hand. If we are having a long travel day or traveling during lunch, I will also pack a pb&j on sprouted bread.

2. Water Bottle

Also, pretty self-explanatory but having your child’s water bottle makes it easy and familiar for them to stay hydrated. And with all the snacks they will be eating, they will obliviously get thirsty too. Water is the best as it won’t be sticky or smelly if it spills and then you can reuse the water bottle when you get to your destination.

3. Head Phones

This is more if you’re flying, but if your child also has an iPad, headphones are great so they can listen but you don’t have to.

4. Books

Children love books, and they’re great entertainment when traveling. I usually opt to bring the lightest of my son’s books for packing reasons. It’s also a bonus for their bedtime routine you they reach your destination.

5. Water Wow

These are little color with water- coloring books. I keep one in my car at all times and even bring it to restaurants sometimes. It’s great because it’s reusable and you just fill the little pen with water. These have been a hit with my son for years.

6. Cars/Figurines/Little Toys

Having a few little toys like matchbox cars can be great entertainment when your kiddo is stuck in their seat for a while. They are small and therefore easy to pack and play with on vacation.

7. Suckers

These aren’t necessary but I do like them for plane rides with my son. He also loves them lol but studies have shown that the sucking action helps keep little ones’ ears clear when the pressure changes during a flight.

8. Paper + Crayons

Simple and classic, I have a small dollar store notebook and a Tupperware of crayons for my son. He loves to color and practice his letters. This also fits well in my purse to take to restaurants or anywhere else for quick entertainment.

9. Sweatshirt

Just as I dress myself in layers, it’s certainly helpful to dress your kid in layers too. That way if they get too hot or cold or back and forth, you have it covered. Keeping them comfortable is essential to happy traveling.

I also suggest bringing a small blanket. I always keep one in my car for my son since it’s not safe for him to wear a jacket in his car seat.

10. Tylenol + Benedryl

I travel with Tylenol and Benedryl in my personal bag. I feel much more comfortable knowing I have both of these just in case an emergency or sickness suddenly hits.

11. The Essentials

One thing I’ve learned as a mama, whether my son is one-year-old or four, I need to have wipes, napkins, and hand sanitizer at all times. Great for messes, sticky hands, disinfecting, blowing their nose, etc.

I hope this list helps make your vacation with your kids less stressful so you can enjoy all the beautiful family memories you’re creating.

Happy Travels!

kids travel pillow

This post was all about the 10 essential travel accessories for kids.

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9 Kid Cold Remedies That Actually Work

If you have a child at home with a cold, here are some tried and true kid cold remedies that will actually help your child feel better and get better quickly.

Kid cold remedies

As a parent, it’s always hard not to worry when your child gets sick. It’s difficult to see them uncomfortable. It’s also exhausting because they aren’t sleeping well which means you aren’t either and you’re most likely stuck at home.

When my son started preschool this year, he got more colds and viruses than he ever had in his entire life. Because of this, I have some go-to home remedies for colds. These tips help with boosting the immune system to fight cough, congestion, and fever.

These are the 11 cold remedies that help my son feel better and I believe help him get better quickly too.

home remedies for colds for kids

11 Kid Cold Remedies That Work:

1. Hydrate

Staying hydrated is important all the time but when your child has a cold, they need even more liquids. This will help the phlegm and congestion to become thinner, and if they have a fever it’s extremely important.

My son is great about drinking water so I have his water bottle with him at all times and I fill it up multiple times throughout the day. I give 100% juice sometimes too and we make homemade popsicles as well.

2. Steam Shower

When my son is congested I like to take him in the shower with me. I give him a quick clean and then let him play while I shower. I make sure he’s in there for about 20 mins and I encourage him to blow his nose and take deep breaths.

The steam helps loosen the congestion and helps him breathe better. It’s a great part of the bedtime routine too.

3. Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

I love making my homemade chicken noodle soup when my family is sick. It not only helps my sick kid, but it also gives my husband and me an immune-boosting meal to hopefully help prevent us from getting sick. I will admit my son’s favorite part is the noodles but I know he’s also getting some of the broth and a few veggies and chicken.

Studies have proven that chicken soup increases the flow of mucus, diminishes inflammation in respiratory colds, and helps the body get rid of the cold virus altogether.

4. Green Immune Boosting Smoothie

My son loves smoothies and I have been giving him some version of my green smoothie since he was a little over a year old. With the banana and fruit, he can’t taste the spinach and other cold-fighting ingredients. Plus it helps with hydration and is a go-to when he doesn’t have much of an appetite when he’s not feeling well.

5. Fresh Air

I truly believe fresh air can do wonders for your health. Depending on the severity of your child’s symptoms and use your best judgment, but if you think they can handle a short stroller or wagon ride, then I encourage it. In general, having your kid and yourself get some fresh air and sunshine is actually beneficial. Plus it’s a nice change after all the time spent indoors and being cooped up.

I like to bundle up my son (depending on the time of year) give him a blanket and water bottle, sometimes a snack, and go for a short walk. We all get to enjoy nature and my dog gets a walk too.

6. Humidifier

A cool mist humidifier has been a great addition to my son’s sleep when he has a cold. It puts much-needed moisture into his room which helps with his breathing and his cough.

7. Citrus

I encourage my son to eat orange slices or sometimes give him orange juice. They are high in vitamin C and are excellent for boosting his immune system.

8. Ointment For Sore Nose

If your child is sneezing and blowing their nose a lot, it can make for a red and sore nose. I like to put my favorite ointment on his nose. I use it for the face, lips, and on my hands and cuticles every night, it’s literally a miracle ointment.

And a quick tip for you: if your child is like mine and doesn’t want to have ointment on their face, I apply it soon after he falls asleep for the night. He’s in such a deep sleep he doesn’t notice and it helps to heal it overnight. This works for dry, chapped lips too.

9. Rest

I encourage my son to rest more which yes means more tv time. But I still have to work and he needs to let his body rest and heal. This also includes coloring and looking at books. I also try to put him to bed a bit earlier especially if he hasn’t had a full, uninterrupted sleep the previous night.

10. Elevate The Bed

I started doing this just this year and it really makes a difference. I actually did this when my son had an ear infection and it helped. I have found it also helps with better sleep when he’s congested too.

I just put a folded-up blanket or towel under his mattress under the top where his pillow is. I find it raises it just enough.

11. Honey

*Only for children 1 year old and over* It works well for a cough. My son loves honey so it’s not hard to convince him to have a spoonful. I usually give it to him in the morning when his throat is drier and he’s coughing more. I’ve also read it’s good to give at bedtime to coat the throat too.

5 Tips: How To Get Your Kids To Eat A Variety And Try New Foods

With these 5 tips, you can encourage your child to try new foods and eat a variety of foods so they’re eating a balanced diet and you’re only making one dinner.

try new food

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

As a Mama, feeding my son a variety of foods has always been a focus for me but to be honest, it also stressed me out. After talking with my friend, she was struggling with the same issues around food; are they getting enough protein? veggies? fruits? variety? etc.

Before I even got pregnant with my son, I knew one of my goals as a parent was to have my children eat healthy and eat a variety of foods. I also did not want to make a separate meal for my child every night for dinner. So here are my five tips for getting your kids to eat what you eat.

1. Start them early

Once my son was able to start eating pureed foods, I gave him a large variety and tried blending any and all the whole foods I was eating. Some of my favorites were avocado, banana, sweet potato, carrots, and really any fruit or veg and I would often mix a few together. I even blended cooked chicken breast at one point and it worked!

The point is, the sooner I introduced him to a variety of foods the better. The more he was exposed to, the more he liked. Now if your child is a bit older, don’t stress, I have some tips below for you.

2. Gradually introduce a new food often

I put the new, unfamiliar food on my son’s plate along with foods I know he loves and will eat. I tell him he doesn’t have to try it if he doesn’t want to but I wanted to include him in what the family is having for dinner.

For example, my son is not big on soup yet so if I’m making soup I will make him a quesadilla, but I will also include a small bowl of soup for him too. At first, he wouldn’t try it. Then he would try a bite and spit it out. Now he eats the noodles but not the veggies or broth.

Sometimes he will celebrate when he tries a new food, “Mama, I ate some noodles, I like the soup!” The point is, we’re making progress without pressure so he feels in control and not like he’s a bad kid for not liking or trying a food.

3. Get them in the kitchen

My three-year-old is my designated sous chef! Most toddlers want to help you out while also exercising their independence, at least that’s what I have found with my son. I set Isaiah up with a stool, and cutting board, and most recently these kid-safe knives. But a butter knife will work too and it’ what we started out with.

We chop our veggies for dinner next to each other. Zucchini and mushrooms are great veggies that are soft enough for him to chop. Banana is another easy food to chop up. He feels proud and independent. Plus it gives him something to do when I’m cooking dinner and he’s more inclined to try the food because he helped prepare it.

4. Don’t give up

My advice is, don’t throw in the towel after a few attempts but don’t put pressure on yourself either. I continue to offer the food I know Isaiah doesn’t like yet, but I encourage him without pressure, to touch the food, smell it, taste it, etc.

For example, I offered Isaiah salmon probably once a month for over a year, and guess what?! One day he ate it, liked it, and now he eats salmon! We celebrated lol! But really, he refused it on his plate the first few times but I never pressured him, instead I modeled for him. I ate the salmon because I liked it and eventually he wanted to try it too.

I have found, the less I make a big deal about things, the more likely he is to try them. My goal is for him to follow his intuition and do what is best for him when he’s ready. That’s why I also don’t make him finish the food on his plate, he knows when he has had enough and is full.

5. Give yourself a break

As my son has gotten older, I’ve gotten more comfortable with my role as his Mama and I’ve stopped stressing so much about nutrition. I still aim to feed him fruits or veggies with each meal but I don’t beat myself up anymore if I don’t accomplish that goal.

My son definitely eats more fruits than veggies and shoot, I need to up my veggie intake too. Here’s a fact I found helpful, most fruits have the same vitamins and nutrients as veggies so if your kid eats a lot of fruit like mine does, just know they are still getting a great healthy boost of vitamins and nutrients.

As mamas, we are trying our best and some days are easier than others. I’m a firm believer that the biggest and best strategy for all ages is to keep trying.

This post was all about tips for getting your kids to try new foods.

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4 Healthy Habits To Start Today

Here are some healthy habits to start so you can feel less depleted and instead, look forward to doing something for you each day.

healthy habits to start

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

Healthy habits are a simple yet effective way to build consistency when it comes to your health. As a mom sometimes I can feel overwhelmed and guilty or there’s no time for me. Do you ever feel like that too? I hold myself to high standards as a mom and I strive to be the best mom I can be to my son giving him 100% of me every day. In doing that though, some days I don’t make any time for myself and this can have me feel like my tank is empty.

Creating a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. By focusing on small simple habits that you enjoy, you’ll be more likely to maintain the for the long term. n

Today I’m going to share with you a routine so that you don’t get drained. These healthy habits to start today, will give you something to look forward to each day that’s just for you so you don’t have these major burnout moments.

This post is all about healthy habits to start today.

4 Healthy Habits:

1. Wake Up Early

Being the first one up in the morning is life-changing. Some days I need to sleep until my son wakes me up so I do but for the most part, I try to force myself out of bed and up before my family in the mornings. The big “why” for me is that I will get to have some time to myself. It’s a really nice and relaxing way to start my day. I drink my coffee, write in my journal, meditate, and read a few pages from my book, creating a peaceful environment all before my family wakes up.

2. Move Your Body

My son and I take our dog for a walk every day, most days we get in two walks. I’ve mentioned this in other posts, but walking out in nature is very beneficial. It clears my head, gives me those feel-good endorphins, and gets my body moving. Plus my son and dog are both getting exercise and stimulation too.

I try to fit in a workout a few days a week as well. Either pilates, yoga, or strength training. I used to operate with the all-or-nothing approach when it came to fitness but at this time in my life where being a mom is the top priority, I work out when I can fit it in. My walks however are non-negotiable.

3. Create A Weekly Meal Plan

Weekly Meal Plan Pic Final

I’ve talked about weekly meal plans before and it’s seriously so helpful for many reasons. Planning out what we’re going to eat for the week helps me stay on a healthy path and it’s one less thing to think about. I know what I’m getting at the grocery store and I know my options for meals throughout the week. This way I’m able to make healthy choices so that I’m eating well and nourishing my body. This makes me feel good and powers me through the day.

Because let’s be real, I know most moms can relate to eating their kid’s leftovers and that ends up being your meal. Or eating junk and then not feeling well or having the energy to tackle the day. Maybe some of you can also agree, but when I don’t get enough protein I’m constantly wanting to snack. That’s why meal planning is a must-do habit for me.

4. Aim For Protein At Every Meal

healthy habits to do everyday

I know it’s important to get protein at each meal but it’s a struggle for me sometimes but I’m putting in the effort. On the days I do get protein at each meal I feel energized all day instead of sluggish and tired. I also feel more satisfied with my meals therefore I’m not snacking which then gives me more time for other things.

There are many sources of protein but my husband and I love eating sauteed chickpeas with onion, and they taste great by themselves or in a salad. I like adding nuts or seeds to my meals to increase my protein intake plus I like the added crunch. As well as high-protein snacks and protein powder in smoothies.

healthy habits

This post was all about healthy habits to start today to feel taken care of and avoid burnout.

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