Back-to-School Recipe: Chocolaty Peanut Rice Crispy Bars

Here’s a healthy snack for a school lunch or after school munching. The cereal and raisins provide fiber while the peanuts pack the protein. The mini chocolate chips serve as antioxidants. Also, both the peanuts and chocolate chips contain mono-unsaturated fatty acids, or MUFA’s, which are good for lowering both the total and LDL (bad) cholesterol while increasing HDL (good) cholesterol. This recipe is also excellent without the chocolate chips.

3 Tablespoons of Butter or Margarine

1 bag of marshmallows (10 oz.) — about 40 regular or 4 cups of miniature marshmallows

6 cups of Rice Krispies Cereal

1 cup of dry roasted peanuts

1 cup of raisins

1 cup of mini chocolate chips

1 small piece of wax paper

No-stick cooking spray

Spray sides and bottom of glass or metal pan (13 X 9) and of large skillet with no-stick cooking spray. Melt butter in skillet on low heat. Add marshmallows and stir often until marshmallows are melted completely. Add Rice Krispies Cereal until coated. Quickly add peanuts, raisins and chocolate chips, and mix well. Dump mixture into prepared pan. Press down on mixture with wax paper and spread until flat and evenly distributed across pan. Let cool. Enjoy!

COMPLETE LUNCH IDEA FOR SCHOOL

Do you ever get tired of trying to think about what to pack for your child’s school lunch? Well, here is a list of items making up at least one meal you don’t have to fret about. This is a healthy, well-balanced menu with some helpful lunch packing tips to make your life a little easier.

1.  Classic Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich — two slices of whole wheat bread (or your preference); Reduced Fat Peanut Butter; Jelly (Any favorite flavor)
2. Baby Carrots (approx. eight)
3. Mike-Sell’s Kettle Cooked Potato Chips (Bold Bahama Barbeque)
4. Chocolaty Peanut Rice Crispy Bars
5. Juicy Juice Box or water
6. Paper towel and/or napkin

HELPFUL LUNCH PACKING SECRETS

1) Spread peanut butter on both sides of bread before putting on the jelly. The coating of peanut butter on both sides of the sandwich will help insulate the bread and not allow the jelly to make the bread soggy. You may also toast bread slightly if preferred. This helps keep bread solidified.

2) Wrapping the peanut butter and jelly sandwich in tin foil will help prevent the bread from smashing.

3) Depending on when your kids have lunch, you may consider freezing their drinks. They will be like slushies at lunch time if you take them out of the freezer first thing in the morning.

4) Wrap your drinks in 1 or 2 pieces of paper towel(s). This will prevent the condensation from getting everything else wet. If you are using a brown paper bag, as you know, the condensation may cause the bag to get a hole in it. Also, the paper towel serves as an instant place mat at the lunch table.

5) You may wish to write an inspirational message to your child on the napkin. For example, “Good Luck on your Math quiz today!” Or “Hope you are having a great day! Love you.” Even if your kids are older and tell you it’s embarrassing, they really appreciate knowing you care.