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February has been designated as National Snack Food, Canned Food, Grapefruit and Cherry Month. So, today it’s snacks.

Snacking isn’t just having milk and cookies after school or sitting in front of the TV on any given day. It’s anything we eat outside of regular meals. Whether snacking is good or bad for us, depends on what we choose eat. Plain popcorn, for example, is a low-calorie, high fiber remedy for the munchies. I know, popcorn without butter drizzled over it is not all that great, but sprinkle some seasoned salt or grated parmesan cheese on it as soon as it’s done popping and it’s pretty good.

The problem with snacks is that many popular choices are high in sugar, fat and salt. For young children, snacks are a part of growing up. When I was a grade-schooler, we didn’t have much, if any, “junk food” in the house. Mom would have a quart of home-canned peaches, pears, cherries, etc. sitting on the table with bowls and spoons next to the jar so we could help ourselves when we got home from school. If it was in the fall of the year, there would be fresh apples, pears or plums from the orchard sitting in a bowl on the cupboard. Oftentimes there would warm apple, pumpkin or a tart cherry pie waiting for us to devour. Nothing like having dessert before supper! Wonderful memories of good food without a bunch of pesticides sprayed all over them.

So, my thoughts are––if there is nutritionally sound food for snacking and there is no “junk food” in the cupboards, kids and adults as well will eat what you offer as they’d rather not go hungry! They may grumble a bit––ignore it.

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The recipes I have for today do have some sugar and fat in them but they also have “the good stuff” in them as well. Keep in mind, they probably won’t eat the whole batch, at least in one sitting––maybe!

CRACKER MIX

1 c. cheese-flavored fish crackers

1 c. oyster crackers

1 c. bite-sized Ritz crackers

1 c. small pretzel rounds or sticks

2 T. canola or vegetable oil

1/2 t. worcestershire sauce

a dash of tabasco sauce (or red pepper sauce)

1/2 t. garlic salt (you’ll hardly know it’s in the mix)

2 T. grated parmesan cheese

Put all the crackers in a large bowl. Combine next four ingredients and whisk together; drizzle over crackers. Mix well. Sprinkle parmesan over and toss to coat.

Spread in shallow baking pan (13x9); bake at 300 degrees, 15 minutes, stirring once. Cool completely; store in airtight container. Makes 4 cups.

NOTE: This is also a good topping for a bowl of tomato, split pea, cheese or French onion soup.

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This recipe does have sugar in it but also a lot of other nutritious ingredients.

SNACK BARS

9 c. coarsely-crushed rice chex cereal (could use rice krispies, but don’t crush them)

6 c. quick cooking oats

1 c. graham cracker crumbs

1 c. flaked coconut

1/2 c. wheat germ

1-16 oz. bag large marshmallows

1-10 oz. bag large marshmallows

1 c. butter or margarine

1/2 c. honey

1-1/2 c. raisins or craisins (dried cranberries)

In a very large bowl, combine first five ingredients.

In a large saucepan, over low heat, cook and stir marshmallows and butter till melted (can do this in the micro in a glass bowl 1-1/2 to 2 minutes on high, stirring half-way through cooking time); add honey and mix well.

Pour over cereal mixture; mix well. Stir in raisins (craisins).

Pat into two lightly greased 9x13 pans. Cool. Cut into bars. Makes a bunch.

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This snack is great for the younger snackers.

BEARY GOOD SNACK MIX

2 c. honey-nut cheerios cereal

2 c. teddy bear shaped graham crackers

1/2 to 1 cup raisins

2 c. little fish cheese crackers

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Store in large plastic bag or covered container.

NOTE: When little people are looking for a snack, put some in a little plastic or paper cup.

The recipe also called for 1 c. honey roasted nuts, but little ones might choke on them so don’t add them if you’re mixing this up for little-bitty people.

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Don’t put all of this snack out at one time or it’ll be gone before you know it. It’s a good snack to munch on while watching sports events, like T-ball or softball games in the spring. Clip this recipe and save it for games or other outings.

PEANUT BUTTER

SNACK MIX

1/4 c. butter or margarine

1/3 c. cream peanut butter

2 T. firmly packed brown sugar

3 c. wheat chex cereal

2 c. corn or rice chex cereal

2 c. thin pretzel sticks (broken in half)

2 c. regular or peanut M&Ms

Melt together butter, peanut butter and sugar in saucepan over medium heat, stirring.

Combine cereals, place in large bowl and pour peanut butter mixture over cereals, mixing until thoroughly coated.

Spread evenly into a 15x10 inch baking pan (or use two 9x13 pans). Bake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool thoroughly. Add pretzels and candies; mix well. Makes about 8 cups.

NOTE: These mixes are great to bring along when you visit someone in a nursing home or older people who no longer make this kind of snack. Make some up for a little gift for Valentine’s Day. (If you’re putting it in a jar, don’t tighten the lid too hard so they can open it easily.

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Food for thought: Children are like wet cement––whatever falls on them leaves an impression. And I might add––whatever they eat leaves an impression as well.

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