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What’s more scary than a mouse in the kitchen? Some April Fool’s Day pranks can get elaborate and quite out of hand, however this kid-friendly snack can double as your joke this year! These peanut butter cookies are easily made with eight ingredients that you likely have in your pantry already. They make for a delicious sweet treat for an after-lunch or after-dinner dessert, with plenty of protein to hold you over until the next meal. They can be decorated to your preference – as simple or elaborate as you’d like – to create a delectable pest that will give your child a spook before a smile. The look of the cookies may turn your kid’s stomach upside down momentarily, but the rich peanut butter taste is sure to make them happy and satisfied, coming back for more beyond April 1st. |
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Recipe Ingredients: 1 cup creamy peanut butter ½ cup butter, softened ½ cup sugar ½ cup packed brown sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking soda
Directions: 1. Beat peanut butter, butter, and sugars until well blended. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture (dough will be soft). Refrigerate until firm enough to shape, about 1 hour. 2. Preheat oven to 350°. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; taper one side to resemble a mouse. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Add peanuts for ears, M&M's for noses and chocolate chips for eyes. 3. Bake until set, 8-10 minutes. Immediately insert licorice pieces into warm cookies for tails. Remove from pan to wire racks to cool.
Allergy Tip: If your child has an allergy, try these simple substitutions to ensure they enjoy this treat safely. • Peanut allergy: substitute peanut butter for equal parts almond butter • Tree Nut allergy: substitute peanut butter for equal parts sunflower butter • Egg allergy: substitute 1 large egg for ¼ cup mashed ripe banana or ¼ cup yogurt • Wheat/Gluten allergy: substitute all-purpose flour with GF Measure for Measure flour
Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/peanut-butter-christmas-mice/
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Although sugar, like most foods and ingredients, are okay in moderate amounts, it is important to not overdo it because it provides empty calories and, if eaten in excessive amounts, can lead to many chronic health conditions. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 recommend limiting sugar to less than 10% of total calories (<30g/day on average for school-age children, based on 1,200 calorie diet). It is important to limit sugary drinks as a child grows up to prevent the following health issues and conditions: • Taste changes for sweeter preferences • Tooth cavities and decay • Rapid weight gain and obesity • Insulin insensitivity and type 2 diabetes • High cholesterol levels
The biggest source of added sugar in a child’s diet is from sweetened beverages, such as fruit juice, soda, lemonade, sweet tea, and sports drinks. One way to start cutting this habit is to make just one change at a time. For example, switch one of these sugary beverages for either water or milk (whole milk until ~2 years old; 2% or Skim milk >2 years old). Sometimes children need time and creativity to accept these options if they are used to sugar-sweetened drinks, so visit this link to find some helpful tips: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/drinks.html.
Sources: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/How-to-Reduce-Added-Sugar-in-Your-Childs-Diet.aspx https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/added-sugars.html
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Our society gives credit to nutrition and physical activity for contributing to physical health, however sleep is proving to be just as important in both short-term and long-term physical and mental health. Meeting appropriate sleep recommendations can improve attention and behavior, therefore preventing accidents and injuries. Too much sleep can also be problematic due to excessive inactivity. Both too little and too much sleep are shown to increase the incidence of developing hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and mental health disorders like depression. In this case, like others, balance is key.
Doesn’t it feel like the days get shorter and shorter as you get older? It’s funny because it actually is quite the opposite as the amount of sleep we require gets shorter; although the increased responsibilities obviously deflate the amount of “free time” that help make the day seem longer. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests children should be getting optimal amounts of sleep, which varies by age group and can be seen below. If you don’t feel like you’re getting enough, that’s okay. The good news is there is always time to change this in yourself or your child because every day can make a difference. See the following link for tips on improving the quantity and quality of your child’s sleep: https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/healthful-habits/how-sleep-habits-affect-healthy-weight
Newborn infants (0 to 2 months): 12 to 18 hours (includes naps) Infants (4 to 12 months): 12 to 16 hours (includes naps) Toddlers (1 to 2 years): 11 to 14 hours (includes naps) Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): 10 to 13 hours (includes naps) School-age children (6 to 12 years): 9 to 12 hours Teens (13 to 18 years): 8 to 10 hours Adults (18 and older): 7 to 9 hours
Source: https://aasm.org/resources/pdf/pediatricsleepdurationconsensus.pdf
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The Online School Lunch Difference
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Lunch lines and school cafeterias can make it difficult for schools to maintain social distancing. With HotLunch.com, foodservice providers can utilize a classroom-based distribution system to deliver lunch straight to a student’s classroom and maintain social distancing. |
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More About School Lunches, Nutrition and Healthy Kids |
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HotLunch.com is used by schools across North America! With HotLunch.com you can easily manage school-lunch administration, publish lunch menus online, receive payments, and reduce time spent on managing parent transactions, including fundraising, after-school care, volunteering, and much more.
See For Yourself!
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HotLunch.com Now Available in Spanish & French |
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Our school lunch software is now available in Spanish and French, making it easier for schools around the world to utilize our school lunch system. This update allows more families to reap the benefits of HotLunch.com. |
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Hotlunch.com partners to educate unprivileged girls |
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We are proud to partner with Ainiti.org, an organization that empowers and educates underprivileged girls through technology. Thanks to you, profits from Hotlunch.com will be used to support girls in need.
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Instagram |
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Abbie Hebron is a Registered Dietitian, specializing in pediatric nutrition (Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition). She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Missouri State University, and then attended the University of Rhode Island where she earned her master's degree. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and was the recipient of South Carolina's Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award in 2022. In her free time, Abbie enjoys baking, traveling, hiking, and playing tennis with family and friends. |
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Simple, Fast, Accurate solution for Schools, Food Service Providers & Offices www.hotlunch.com |
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