Planning ahead makes for easy after-school snacking

By Staff
Michelle Blaylock, Mom's Corner
Dear Mom's Corner,
Do you have any easy after-school snacks that don't require cooking?
Dear GB,
Although I love to cook and bake I realize many people don't and sometimes I don't have the time. Some of my kids favorite after-school yummies that don't require cooking are graham crackers and cream cheese, apples and peanut butter, and cheese and fruit. You'll notice that I don't mention "pre-packaged" goodies.
I do use pre-packaged things for lunch boxes and when were going to sports activities or traveling, but for home I don't usually allow my kids to use them.
I also have some snacks that involve minimal cooking. One of the kids favorites is tortilla pizzas or pizza biscuits. We just add pizza toppings to the tortillas or to flattened biscuits and pop them in the oven for a few minutes. Don't forget about things like popcorn, Rice Crispy Treats, homemade trail mixes, raisins, nachoes and chips, or salsa and chips, yogurt, etc.
My kids also enjoy fruit smoothies as after-school snacks.
I usually let them have something with these like popcorn or pretzels to help fill that empty tummy especially if we're eating dinner late that night due to an activity.
Dear Mom's Corner,
My kids complain that I don't treat them the same. Do you have that problem?
Dear AH,
All the time! I remind them that they are each individuals with unique and special needs and that's why they aren't always treat the "same." I have two children who have "special" needs. I say it like that because all children have special needs of one type or another, but two of mine do have special difficulties that require me to be a little more "in-tune" with them.
For example, one of my children has a much harder time adjusting to changes. So when I know a change will be occurring I start preparing that child weeks in advance. I also have one that has special medical problems and I have to make sure her meds don't run out.
I think it's also important to treat each child "special" once in a while. My husband and I used to take the kids on "Mommy Days" and "Daddy Days." We would only take one child at a time and do our errands and then have lunch out or go to the park and spend some one-on-one time with that child.
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