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

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Here’s Exactly What To Pack For The Beach With Kids

Have a stress-free family beach day with this ultimate guide for exactly what to pack for the beach with kids.

what to pack for the beach

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.

When the warmer weather hits, it brings the opportunity for more family fun outdoors. And what better summer tradition than a day at the beach! My husband and I have been doing regular beach days for years. It’s a nice way to spend time together. And once our son was born, we continued the tradition with him.

A beach day is a perfect and inexpensive family activity. We are so lucky to live just 5 min from the beach! We visit often which is why I have the ultimate guide to packing for the beach.

I’ll admit, family beach days used to stress me out, particularly all the packing I had to do and things I had to remember. If taking your kids to the beach seems a bit daunting, it doesn’t have to be. Today I’m sharing the ultimate guide for exactly what to pack for the beach with kids so you can all relish in the joy of a beach day while creating happy memories.

Part of enjoying yourself as a mom is planning and being prepared. Here are a few things you can bring to lower your stress level and improve your day at the beach with your family.

Ultimate Guide: What to Pack for the Beach With Kids

beach day packing list

Sunglasses: I love these sunglasses for kids. They can bend them any which way and they won’t break. They help protect their eyes from the harsh sun too.

Radio Flyer 3-in-1 Wagon: Have a struggle-free trip from the car to the beach by bringing a wagon. This is the exact wagon we have and it’s been helping us lug our stuff around since my son was born. We take it to the beach, the pumpkin patch, the zoo, and on walks.

My son also likes to eat here when he needs a break from the sun.

Beach Tent: Bringing shade to the beach is a must, especially with little kids. A lightweight and simple to set up beach tent is a lot easier than lugging around a heavy and awkward beach umbrella. Plus it gives you more shade, a little privacy, and is a great place if your child needs a nap.

Beach Towels: Definitely bring a couple towels, even if you’re not swimming. And an extra for your dog if you have one.

Cooler: Bringing your own cooler to the beach will not only allow you to save money from spending at the beach, but it will also let you keep your snacks and drinks cold. Kids need snacks so bring lots of snacks to the beach. This will provide comfort and in turn, lower your stress levels. Always bring extra water bottles too. A three-in-one tip here!

Sand Toys: You don’t need many toys, but we always pack a bucket and shovel for my son. It creates endless play from sandcastles, to collecting shells, to scooping water, etc.

Beach chairs: We didn’t always bring chairs, but now we do as we find it’s more comfortable than a towel.

Wipes: Don’t forget wipes to clean little hands and any extra messes.

Sunscreen: I always apply sunscreen to my son before we leave the house, but I also bring it along for extra applications especially if he is getting wet.

Hats: My son will wear a hat occasionally but I pack it regardless. I, on the other hand, can’t be at the beach without a hat and I love this one. It’s cute and affordable.

beach day essentials

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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

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Easy Weekly Meal Plan Ideas For Stress-Free Meals

If getting dinner on the table seems like a huge chore then these easy weekly meal plan ideas will make your week a lot less stressful.

easy weekly meal plan

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These tips will help you save money, make the hustle of dinner time a whole lot easier, and will help you avoid the dreaded question, what’s for dinner.

To begin, I start by going through what I have in the house while I’m making my easy weekly meal planning grocery list. Then I plan out what I want to cook for dinner for 6 nights. We usually order or go out once a week because I need a break from cooking by then.

Once I have our dinners planned out, I then decide on a few meals for breakfast and lunch that can be repeated a couple times during the week.

This little bit of organization really goes a long way. Not only do I save money and food, but I also get to choose from my master list of what I’m going to cook for dinner each evening.

1. Start With Dinners

First, start by writing out your go-to dinners to create your dinner menu for the week. I always start with dinners because they seem to be the most difficult to come up with on the fly for me so planning is a must.

Don’t make this complicated by trying out a bunch of new recipes. Choose dinners you know how to make that are easy and quick. I have about 12 or so go-to dinners and I rotate them each week depending on what I feel like eating. Then if you want to add a new recipe every now and then, do so.

baked chicken

2. Decide On Simple Meals for Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast and lunch are easy for me to plan out. I again rotate but I’m a creature of habit and tend to have the same thing for breakfast almost every day for a month or more before I switch to another go-to. Lunches are similar in that I find them easy to create. Lately, I’ve been loving a berry and yogurt bowl for breakfast and my Greek salad for lunch.

weekly meal plans on a budget

I also plan out what I know my son and husband will be having for breakfast and lunch this week too. Then I write down the groceries I will need to make these meals. Oftentimes, I make a batch of banana pancakes or banana muffins on Sunday that my son can eat during the week for breakfast.

3. Check Your Inventory

Check the fridge and pantry for ingredients that you may already have for the meals you created for the week. See what needs to be used up and think about if you can use it in place of an ingredient in one of your meals.

4. Schedule a Dinner Off

I usually feel a burnout coming on towards the end of the week but I push through because I also always plan a take-out or dining-out meal as part of my weekly menu. To be honest, I don’t always have the energy or time to cook every single night so I schedule a night off from cooking each week. This not only gives me and my family something to look forward to but it also helps us create less food waste because it’s on the menu for the week.

5. Be Flexible

I know some people like planning out what dinner they are making each day like Taco Tuesday or Soup on Thursday, but I like to create my 6 dinners for the week and then each day I decide what I feel like eating and cooking that night. I simply look at my meal plan for the week and choose.

It gives me flexibility and helps curb my cravings because I can choose from my menu based on what I’m in the mood for that evening.

6. Stick To Your List

Try your best to stick to the grocery list you made from meal planning. After all, it’s why we did the planning to begin with. I know if I start buying extra items that are not on my grocery list, I end up spending more money and buying things I don’t need which ends up creating food waste.

My grocery list also helps me save so much time shopping. I even try to write out my list in order of where the food is in the store to save me even more time. Not a must but a good idea if you know the ins and outs of your grocery store.

I hope these simple tips help make your cooking more enjoyable and your week less stressful. And if you have any tips of your own, please share them in the comments section.

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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.