Jeremiah’s been in school for about 3 weeks now, and I’m still getting used to sending lunches with him to school. He goes to half day kindergarten, but to keep movement to a minimum in the hallways, he stays through lunch and leaves when the full day students go to recess. (He’s in a class of mixed full day and half day students.) I do like packing his lunch – it gives me a chance to send all kinds of fun foods to school with him – but he definitely is influenced by what other kids are bringing. One of his little neighbors brings fruit cups, and he all but begged me to let him bring some, too. One day Sarah and I headed to the store to buy a few different kinds of Del Monte Fruit Cups for J to enjoy in his lunch – and for Sarah, too, of course.
We picked up Del Monte fruit cups with diced peaches, diced pears, mandarin oranges, and mixed fruit. I do love that they have all the varieties available in ‘no sugar added’ cups, so I”m not adding any additional sugar to Jeremiah’s diet outside of what’s already in the fruit. I love and appreciate when large companies see that parents want and need healthy snack options as well as healthy lunch options! I also picked up something that looked really interesting to me – peaches with cinnamon and brown sugar, which were definitely not sugar free, but I thought I could create something yummy out of them.
We had a blast shopping – if you want to see more photos of our trip, you can check out our Google + Album.
When we got home from the store, I was starving, so I made myself a little yummy treat for breakfast. This is a simple Del Monte Mandarin Orange fruit cup layered with plain yogurt and topped with a little organic granola. It was easy to make, a healthy breakfast, and delicious! Yogurt, fruit, and granola is pretty much the standard breakfast around here – and I love having the option of using a Del Monte Fruit Cup instead of washing and cutting up fruit (especially if we’ve run out!)
Next, I decided to use the Del Monte Diced Peaches with Cinnamon and Brown Sugar in breakfast the next day – organic steel cut oats with quinoa. I soak my oats and quinoa in water overnight to help them soften and to shorten cooking time – then I simply drain them, add fresh water, and cook for about 10 minutes. After removing from heat, I added one Diced Peaches w/ cinnamon and brown sugar to the oatmeal/quinoa and Sarah and I had a healthy, hearty breakfast.
I really liked the diced peaches with cinnamon and brown sugar – so I decided to make some gluten-free muffins with them!
Peach-Banana Gluten-Free Muffins
You need:
1 Del Monte Diced Peaches with Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Fruit Cup
2 eggs
1 brownish-banana
1T honey (or sugar)
5T Coconut Flour
1t baking powder
dash salt
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400
Grease mini-muffin tin (makes 12 mini muffins or about 6 reg size muffins)
Combine fruit cup, eggs, and banana (mash banana well) in bowl. Add honey and mix.
Add coconut flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine.
Portion into mini-muffin tin.
Bake for 15 minutes.
Allow to cool, then enjoy!
Even though she doesn’t look happy, the kids each ate THREE once they were cooled. These are fantastic and I might have even eaten a few myself. (Good thing they’re mini!)
Of course, Del Monte Fruit Cups are also great for lunches, and Jeremiah was so happy when I told him he could take one with him for lunch.
I love that I can follow other great recipes and suggestions using the #SmartSnack hashtag on twitter, as well as following Del Monte on twitter and checking out Del Monte’s suggestions on Facebook!
I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Del Monte #CBias #SocialFabric”
Looks dee-lish! Can’t wait to try this out. Thanks for sharing!
Lauren Ivy Chiong recently posted..Check out Reel Mama’s Back to School Youtube video for the Macy’s & CafeMom Blogger Contest!
Wow, you are really creative. I love all the recipes. I’m going to try the one with yogurt! Yummy!
Kim L recently posted..“Jack Daniel’s Distillery Tour” Photo Bomb!
Thank you for the gluten free recipe!! We are not gluten free, but a friend is and I always feel like I am leaving her out when I make breakfast for Sunday school!
Sara Phillips recently posted..Boulder Canyon’s Canyon Cut Potato Chip #Review
Looks really good, and VERY cute pics!
Jai recently posted..Nescafe Memento Cappuccino Giveaway at Making Cents of It
oh my gosh it all looks amazing but those muffins…. I need them now!
Jennifer recently posted..Are You Pronouncing This Baby Gear Wrong?
Your creations look yummy but your little shopping helper is adorable!
I love the thumbs up! I so would have given this a thumbs up too! Looks like fun and yummy fun to boot!
Brandy recently posted..We Are Having a Baby
I love these. I almost bought some at the store the other day when I was grocery shopping. I think I am now going to get some so I can try your dessert out.
Stefani recently posted..Lean Beef – It’s What’s For Dinner – Tips To Grilling + Dry BBQ Rub Recipe
Love the muffin idea! I still have some of the peaches with brown sugar, I’m going to try your recipe!
Tammy recently posted..The Basics of Graduated Driver Licensing
Quinoa is on my list of things I’ve never tried but want to…now I have a great idea!
Amy recently posted..Halloween Inspiration
Great ideas here. Thanks for sharing.
I especially love the muffins! They look absolutely delish! I’m going to have to try to make them myself
Jillian recently posted..Is Your Home Filled with Books? Donate Some! #NickCFK
I buy these in the water w/ the no sugar added…P loves them!
trisha recently posted..Little P is growing up!
Looks great! I love Quinoa, been trying to use it in many different dishes.
April Decheine recently posted..My #Snickersminis Dessert creation
I really like how you thought outside the box on using them. Your ideas look suuuuuuuuuper tasty to me, every one of them!
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell recently posted..What’s Your Flavor? I Know You’ve Got One! #Silk4All
These look awesome! YUM! I still need to figure out they right strainer to use for Quinoa but I can’t wait to try these out. The muffins look out of this world!
Michelle recently posted..Beef Stroganoff
My family has enjoyed Del Monte fruit cups for years. We usually just eat them straight out of the package. Thanks for the ideas of other ways to use them. Yum.
Nicole Robinson recently posted..Grandmothers Speak: What I Wish I Knew As a Young Mom
Y-U-M-M-Y! You are bookmarked and I WILL be making peach-banana gluten free muffins.
Kenyatta Rodriguez recently posted..Knowing When To Stay And When To Walk Away
So cute leaving a message on the lid of the fruit–great idea! I’m going to give those muffins a try, they look delish!
deb recently posted..Monday Escape