This is a sponsored post in partnership with Quaker Chewy Bars. All opinions are my own.

The holidays are the perfect time of year to put together those unique treats that you only make once a year. While I love being creative and making gingerbread houses, I wanted to try something different this year. This year I saw these Quaker Chewy Holiday Mini Bars and and decided to flex my creative muscles. Why not just make mini holiday granola bar cabins instead? Could it be done? I've never seen them before, but would it work?

The answer turned out to be a resounding yes! So add this granola bar cabin to the list alongside gingerbread houses and charcuterie chalets! Only these snackable cabins will take much less time and your kids can easily make them as well using only Quaker Chewy Holiday Minis, icing, and sprinkles. 

My family has been loving Quaker Chewy Holiday Minis because you can eat them for a quick snack, which you definitely will wnat to while making these cozy cabins. Quaker Chewy Bars Holiday Minis are made with 100% whole grains and other delicious ingredients. They also come in festive snowman wrappers and of course include the amazing chewy granola chocolate chip goodness! You can find them at your local store like Sam's Club. Here is how to make your own granola bar cabins for the holidays!

How to Make a Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board

 This is a sponsored post in partnership with Red Sun Farms. All opinions are my own.

When it's the holidays, I need recipe ideas that are super easy to put together with something that will please every member of mt family. That's how I came up with this Christmas tree charcuterie board and why I want to share it with you. It's not only simple but it's fun, festive, and full of flavor, thanks to Red Sun Farms organic grape tomatoes. 

How to Make Air Fryer Cheesy Rice-A-Roni Balls!

 This is a sponsored post in partnership with Rice-A-Roni. All opinions are my own.

If you're like me, you are always looking for that one appetizer that will please the picky-eating six year old all the way up to the gumpy but lovable grandpa. We have discovered a great appetizer using our family favorite Rice-A-Roni and our air fryer! This snack will blow away your family at dinner time. It is that easy to make!

I have loved the taste and easy solution of Rice-A-Roni ever since I was in college. I still remember my surprise when I really didn't know how to cook yet and boom, that Rice-A-Roni was just so simple and turned out great every time. Chicken flavor is my personal favorite but you can use any of the 18 available flavor varieties, just choose your go-to flavor and start cooking! 

Rice-A-Roni is done in under thirty minutes which makes it a quick and easy appetizer solution for families who are constantly busy like mine and yours. My cheesy air fryer rice balls just adds a little twist which turns Rice-A-Roni into a handheld delight! Get ready to add this to your family's regular recipe rotation. These will work for appetizers, or a snack.

The Best Holiday Deals Parents Need to Know About on Kitchen Tools, Clothes, and More!

 This is a sponsored post in partnership with Dick's Sporting Goods. All opinions are my own.

A little known fact about me is that the week of Thanksgiving, and on through the holidays, I'm glued to deal websites seeking out the best possible prices on just about everything. From kitchen gadgets, to tech, to shoes, I'm always wanting to find those items that I've been waiting for all year long. This year I wanted to do the hard work for you to make your job as a parent just a little bit easier. It's 2020, so however we can help each other out, I'm here for it.

One of the best places that I've found, both online and in person to do my Black Friday and holiday shopping is definitely Dick Sporting Goods. They carry great foodie items, and perfect things to clothe your kids with during the cold winter months, that you might not immediately think about. Here are some of the best items that my family found, and some upcoming deals that you will definitely want to keep an eye on. 

Keep scrolling for my favorite picks and then at the bottom check out all of the big deals that you can get online, in store, or using curbside contactless pick up.

How to Make a Grilled Cheese Laptop Computer Remote School Lunch

This is a sponsored post in partnership with ESET. All opinions are my own.

We all know that not only is the world different in 2020 because of a pandemic, but school is vastly different as well. I have one child in full-time traditional school (on a modified schedule), one child who is completely remote, and one who is hybrid (on a modified schedule). Could anyone have predicted how complicated this year would be? I think I have finally accepted that the rest of this school year will probably be changing by the week. Thankfully we have technology so that my kids don't miss school days, even when there is snow this winter. This is why it was time for me to celebrate their remote learning accomplishments with a grilled cheese laptop computer lunch! Learn to make it below. 

I used to think that my technology knowledge was enough to get through any tech issues. As a dad I can fix anything, right? However, as my oldest has become a teenager I've found myself passing more of our family's tech problems on to her. My kids have grown up being digital natives while I just learned a little about computers as a hobby in my 20's. This is why I'm thankful for ESET and their new free Safer Kids Online guide for parents that help us to keep our kids safe on their many devices. 

How to Make an Among Us School Lunch Recipe

If your kids are like mine they are obsessed, I mean OBSESSED with the game Among Us. How can you tell? If they go around saying "sus" all the time that would be your first clue. Your second would be if they keep talking about saving up money for hats and alien dogs with one eye. Well if you are in the same boat..ere...spaceship as me, then it might be time to delight them with an Among Us lunch. And you're in luck, because I'm going to show you how to make it!

How to Make a Twilight Saga Book Lunch

 

I always tell people that I get my inspiration from my kids. I make food art lunches based on what they are into at the moment. This is one of those lunches. My daughter has been addicted to Twilight over the last few months. She has read the entire book series twice now and is watching the movies with my wife. So I figured it was time to make her a lunch that celebrates her newest passion, the competition of Team Edward vs. Team Jacob, and supernatural...fruit? 

Since my daughter has been so into the Twilight saga books, I wanted to design the lunch after one of the book covers. I also had to go with what I had in my kitchen since I was running short on time and couldn't go to the store. Thankfully my daughter loves black olives almost as much as shoes Twilight! Keep reading to see how I made the rest. 

How to Make Chewy Halloween Mini Bar Monster Snacks

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Quaker® Chewy Bars. All opinions are my own. 

Isn't Halloween one of the best times of year to make themed snacks? It always seems like the possibilities are endless and overwhelming, but here is a monstrously easy snack that your kids can create! We are loving these Quaker Chewy Halloween Minis, so I thought it would be so fun to make this spooky monster snack using these seasonal treats. 

How to Make a Disney's The Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington Lunch

If you have followed my blog for awhile you know Disney's The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of our favorite seasonal movies. It just puts us in the mood for the holidays. I try to make a lunch based on the movie every Halloween, Christmas, or even both! This year is no exception so it was time to make a Jack Skellington lunch featuring Oogie Boogie.

Who is your favorite character from this movie? Is it Jack? Sally? Zero? They are all so good it's hard to choose. My kids are even planning to dress up as character from The Nightmare Before Christmas this Halloween. If your kids are into this movie as much as mine are, keep reading to find out how to make them this lunch!

Creepy Graveyard Halloween Pasta Recipe

 This is a sponsored post in partnership with Red Sun Farms. All opinions are my own.

Who else has Halloween vibes right now? This is one of my family's favorite times of year and it's definitely a fun time to make Halloween recipes. This is why I had to create a kid-friendly creepy graveyard recipe complete with Jack-O-Lantern artisan tomatoes from Red Sun Farms, black bean pasta, mummy juice box, and more! Keep reading to find out how to make this for your family.

We try to always have a supply of Red Sun Farms bite sized tomatoes on hand because not only are they perfect for recipes, but they make a great snack that is actually good for you. It's so easy to just keep a container on the counter and quickly pop one in my mouth when I need a quick snack, but I also need to keep moving to get stuff done. Try them when you make this Halloween graveyard recipe, or in your next salad!

Dessert Board Recipe Featuring Mo Willems Unlimited Squirrels in I Want to Sleep Under the Stars!

 This is a sponsored post in partnership with Disney Books. All opinions are my own. 

It was a great day in our house when the new Unlimited Squirrels in I Want to Sleep Under the Stars book came out! My kids read it cover to cover as soon as it arrived on our doorstep. The squirrels in this series are always hilarious and I love that there are science facts woven into this story. Zoom Squirrel, the main character in this story, wants to try sleeping outside under the stars. Do your kids beg you to sleep in the backyard like mine do? Well then maybe it's time you read this new Unlimited Squirrels book with them! For a reading snack, make this dessert food board I created inspired by the book! 

Normally I make food boards that are great for lunch or dinner but today I wanted to create one that would be easy for families to make together for dessert. Just like Zoom Squirrel had never slept under the stars, I had never made a dessert board with my kids. They loved this one and your kids will too!

How to Make a Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine School Lunch

There aren't many characters as timeless as Scooby-Doo. I watched the show growing up and my kids now love it too! My youngest always asks to watch Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated on Netflix. I always bug my kids when they are watching the show by singing the original (and best) theme song while they yell back at me that that's not how it goes. It only makes me sing "Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you? Couldn't have the show without ya" even louder. 

Since they love the show and the characters so much, I thought it was time to make my first Scooby lunch for them. It did not disappoint. Here is how I made it and how you can make it as well!

How to Make Chocolate Flavor Life Cereal and Peanut Butter Apple Sandwiches

 This is a sponsored post in partnership with Life Cereal. All opinions are my own.

When it comes to kids and snacks, the general rule is that you can never have too many. I mean snacks, you can never have too many snack options. This is where my Chocolate flavored Life Cereal and Peanut Butter Apple Sandwich recipe comes in handy. These sandwiches are super tasty, can be put together in minutes, and only take four ingredients. So basically they are a great snack for kids!

How to Make a Flower Garden School Lunch Recipe Plus Food Safety Tips!

 This is a sponsored post in partnership with fightbac.org. All opinions are my own. 

If you have older kids like I do, they not only want more sophisticated lunches, but they also want to help in the kitchen. I think this is fantastic because not only do I have the opportunity to get creative in making fun lunches for a middle schooler, but sometimes I even get her to help! Those times when we cook, bake, or make creative food together are also times when I get to talk to her about safety in the kitchen. 

There are the obvious food safety rules like washing your hands before you start touching anything. But the ones that get her are things like making her wash her hands again after she touches her phone (yuck). Food safety doesn't have to be complicated, but it is important, so that is why I thought it was time to put together a fun recipe, like my Flower Garden Food Art Lunch, with some tips from www.fightbac.org to help reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. 

In fact, fightbac.org has a fantastic campaign going on right now called #TheStoryofYourDinner to help educate families on the importance of food safety. For example, did you know that children under 7-years-old are at a higher risk of serious food poisoning? Make sure to head to the fightbac website for more tips after you read my instructions for making this fun school lunch for your kids!

How to Make a Sloth School Lunch Recipe For Your Kids!

 This is a sponsored post in partnership with Quaker Chewy bars. All opinions are my own.

Now that the school year is in full swing, I thought I would try a new food art recipe. I wanted to create a design that my kids would love, but that I had never made before. I spotted these new Quaker Chewy Dipps Sloth-Tastic bars and I had my inspiration! Can you believe that I have never made a sloth school lunch before? I figured it was time to change that. This sloth sandwich lunch is great for a lunch at school, at home, or even an after school snack!

Ever since these new Quaker Dipps Sloth-Tastic bars came in the door my kids have been begging to have them again and again. They love them! These granola bars are made with 100% whole grains and other delicious ingredients, dipped and drizzled with vanilla cream. Don't get me wrong they taste pretty darn good but as a parent what I love is that Quaker is partnering with AdoptAClassroom.org. 

Just visit QuakerBacktoSchool.com and enter the UPC code on participating Quaker products from now until 9/30/20. The school of your choice could be one of three daily winners of a $1,000 credit to AdoptAClassroom to help purchase classroom school supplies. For more information, including participating Quaker products and official rules, visit QuakerBacktoSchool.com. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Limit is one entry per day/email address.

How to Make a Nike Air Force 1 Shoes Food Art Bento Lunch Recipe!

This lunch is for all the sneakerhaed dads and kids out there! It's back to school time and is also my daughter's birthday this week. She is growing up and in 8th grade (what?!) so her lunches have become more simple, yet sophisticated, and focus on different things. This summer she REALLY wanted Nike Air Force 1's. If you aren't familiar with these shoes they are a classic and always seem to be in style. I thought it would be fun to get matching pairs for her and I, and surprise her with them!

How to Make a Back-to-School Food Board!

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Duda Farms. All opinions are my own. 

It's back-to-school and while this doesn't look like any previous year, there are things we can do to celebrate our kids and help them usher in this new (and different) school year. It's no secret that my family loves food boards, but we have never made one for school, until now! This is perfect for after school when your kids get home, for lunch if they are learning from home, or even as a fun family dinner to talk about what everyone learned during the week. We ate this board for dinner and my whole family devoured it!

The brilliant thing about a food board is that you can mix together different types of food to make everyone happy! For this back-to-school food board I used veggies, such as Dandy Radishes for the pencils, hearts, and stars, fruit for the flowers, meat, cheese, dips, and even alphabet cookies for a dessert. 

The Top Back-to-School Gear For Virtual, Traditional, Blended, or Homeschool Learning!

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Dick's Sporting Goods. All opinions are my own.

Getting ready for this school year has been one of the most complicated back-to-school times that I can remember. No matter if you are getting one, three, or six kids prepared to start the school year, we are all trying to figure out the best choice for our families. For most of us the choice is virtual, traditional, blended, or homeschool. After we decide the best way for our children to be educated, the next choice is the best supplies for them!

You have to make the first choice but I'm here to help you with the second choice. We did much of our back-to-school shopping this past weekend, both in store and online, so we could bring you some of the top items we found for this school year! Thankfully you can find all of this gear at Dick's Sporting Goods, either at your local store, online, or even ordering online and using curbside touchless pickup.

How to Make an Apple Owl Lunch For Your Kids!

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Chelan Fresh. All opinions are my own.

When it comes to school, so much is up in the air right now. Will it be completely online? Will it be in person in the classroom? One thing is not uncertain, our kids are going to need lunch! Well if it was up to them they would want breakfast, snack, second snack, lunch, the sequel to lunch, dinner (but not the dinner you made), and then dessert. This is why I love having meal plans in my back pocket that can work for any meal, like this owl food art idea, and also why I love Rockit (™) apples!

Kid-Friendly Recipe Ideas to Make With Your Family!

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Arm & Hammer. All opinions are my own.

I have had so much fun baking with your family this week at Arm & Hammer Summer Camp! I hope you have enjoyed it as well and that your kids have learned how much joy they can find in baking, science, and crafting with Baking Soda. But guess what? The week isn't over yet! We still have a few recipes to make and since camp is available on-demand, remember that you can watch the videos whenever you want. This also means that parents, if you haven't joined us this week yet, you still can. Just head over to the YouTube channel to jump right in to camp!

One of the best parts of these recipes is that it has helped me bond even more with my daughter. When we were working on these recipes, we had the opportunity to bake side-by-side and it’s an experience that I hope you and your kids get to enjoy as well. In fact, my family has been doing the science and crafting activities too!

Because I believe so much in this virtual summer camp, I wanted to offer you an easy way to access the downloadable recipe activities and watch the videos. Don't forget that this camp may look, feel, and sound like it is for your kids, but it is designed for you parents! During each session we intentionally build in time where your kids are busy baking and you get a few moments to relax and enjoy a little "you time."

Check below for all the links you will need to make more memories with your kids and summer camp strong!

Fun Arm & Hammer Summer Camp Recipes to Create with Your Kids!

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Arm & Hammer. All opinions are my own.

This is going to be one of the highlights of your family's summer! I am so excited for you to join me this week at Arm & Hammer's free on-demand virtual summer camp. As one of your hosts I'm going to be teaching you how to teach your kids how to bake amazing treats such as Rainbow Banana Bread and Hot Lava Mug Cake in a microwave. Here's the secret though. This virtual summer camp might be look and feel like it's all about your kids...but it's really about you, parents! There will be innovative crafts, surprising science projects, and tasty kid-friendly recipes, but you will also get some much needed time to recharge (while you supervise).

Here are the first three activities I led, as well as a few of the downloadable recipes so that you can get a jumpstart on the fun! And if you’d like to see and recreate the rest of the Arm & Hammer Summer Camp activities, head over to Arm & Hammer's YouTube channel to get the full summer camp experience!

How to Make a Mini Cucumber Sea Turtle Lunch!

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Red Sun Farms. All opinions are my own.

Right now we are in the middle of summer, and if your family is like my family, our kids are constantly asking for snacks. At this point, it might be hard to come up with snack time ideas but let me share one of my favorite things to serve this time of year...cucumbers! They are refreshing, tasty, and perfect in a sandwich. This is why I had to take my Red Sun Farms Mini Cucumbers and create a sea turtle food art lunch. It goes great on a plate or in a lunchbox if you want to make it during the school year.

A Food Board Recipe Idea For You and Your Dog to Share!

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Dandy Celery. All opinions are my own.

How is your family holding up during the dog days of summer? My family is finding every excuse to hang out in our little blow up pool or cool off in air conditioning. One of the things that we find every summer is that my family rarely wants to heat up the house by cooking. On days like this we love creating a food board that our family can snack on. But you know what family member also loves snacks? Your dog!

This is why I decided to put together a food board that is perfect for you and the furriest member of your family! That's right, every food on this platter is dog friendly. From the sweet and crispy Dandy Celery sticks to the popcorn, you can feel good about taking one piece for yourself and giving one to your dog! Of course I had to throw some fun food art ideas on to the board as well.

Dandy Celery sticks are the perfect summer snack because they're cold, crispy and low in calories. For me, the crunch is extremely satisfying when I'm craving something crispy like chips. Plus they are always great for dipping. Your dog will wag its tail off when you dip them in a little bit of peanut butter for them! So let's get down to making this board. Remember that while all of these foods are generally considered safe for dogs, make sure your pet doesn't have any food allergies before you start handing over these treats. Just like people, some pets need specialized diets so it is always wise to consult your vetrinarian with any questions.

My Most Controversial Recipe Ever: Fairy Bread and Lunchbox Dad

Dear Australia,
You know I love you. We've had some good times together. Remember when I came and visited and we did some TV Shows in Sydney and some radio interviews talking about lunches? I know, I know, it was few years ago but still they are great memories. But now you've taken it too far. The hate on my TikTok from your fairy bread traditionalists has moved things to a dark place. So before our relationship is irreparably damaged, please let me tell my side.

Watch my Controversial TikTok Video Below!

How to Make S'mores Bars for a DIY Summer Camp in Your Own Backyard!

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Quaker Chewy bars. All opinions are my own.

This year so many events in our kid's and family's lives have been cancelled, but this summer is looking up because it's time for Camp Chewy! Summer camps have either gone away or gone virtual and Camp Chewy is here to help your family experience the fun of camp in your own home. In this post I am going to show you how to give a "chewy" twist to traditional S'mores. And, if you head to NoCampNoProblem.com between July 1  and July 21 2020, you can share how your family is bringing camp home to enter for the chance to win $250 worth of "Play Money" in the form of a gift card and Camp Chewy gear to encourage your family to play this summer!

Click Here to Enter to Win From Camp Chewy!

Summer camp has always been a highlight of my summer and nothing reminds me of camp more than toasting marshmallows over an open fire and using that gooey goodness to build S'mores. In fact, we have been using the fire pit in our backyard almost every weekend to spend quality time as a family and indulge in this special treat. Through our experimenting we came up with this recipe idea that we wanted to share with you today to help bring that summer camp feeling to your backyard as well.

How to Make Ocean Food Art For Your Kids From Canned Food

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Cans Get You Cooking. All opinions are my own.

During these uncertain times it helps to find comfort in foods that you know will always bring you tastiness and value! This is why canned foods are so important. They are a great way to connect with your family at the dining room table when your days are filled with stress. Plus they are always there for you in your pantry when you need them. This is why I made today's food art meal out of canned foods. They are nutritious and fun too!

If you've followed me in the past you know that I love making under the sea themed lunches, but I've never made one like this before. Because right now many of us are making food to eat at our houses, I thought I would use that as inspiration for an at home lunch idea. This meal features protein, veggies, and fruit from cans in your pantry. If your kids are into nature, boats, and ocean life, then try this meal the next time you need a little comfort at the dinner table.

Baseball Breakfast Sandwich and Buffalo Chicken Football Sandwich Recipe Ideas for Father's Day Meals!

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Edible Arrangements. All opinions are my own.

Father's Day is almost here and this should come as no surprise but I love celebrating on this day. It's not because the day is all about dads, it's because it is so fun doing something special as a family! One of the ways that we enjoy this day together is eating fun food. Normally we go out to eat but this year will probably be different. If you are like us, this means you might be looking for some festive food to make at home. If this is true, then the ideas in this blog post are just for you!

These recipe ideas are for the all-star dad (or someone who is like a father to you). Some of my favorite memories of my dad is spending time with him out at the barbecue, he would grill and we would talk about life. I don't have the skill that he did cooking outdoors over an open flame but I can make some fun themed sandwiches. Whether your dad is into spicy, sweet, breakfast, dinner, or dessert, there is something for every father. I've created recipes for Buffalo Chicken Football Sandwiches and Baseball Breakfast Sandwiches and paired them with Edible Arrangements Father's Day fresh fruit arrangements, gift sets, and chocolate Dipped Fruit boxes!

How to Make a Dav Pilkey Dog Man Book Lunch!

Have you heard of the New York Times bestselling book series Dog Man by Dav Pilkey? He is the same author who wrote Captain Underpants and his books are my sons' current obsession. So Dav Pilkey, if you are reading this, please know that your books have provided my kids with many hours of joy! We own almost the entire series so I thought it was time that I make a Dog Man quesadilla lunch for my sons.

How to Make Star Wars Apple TIE Fighters!

We are always up for fun Star Wars themed food art in our house so this year I came up with these apple food art TIE Fighters for Star Wars Day, May the 4th. We are in the middle of watching the entire movie series as a family. We started from episode 1 (yes I know this is controversial) and are including Rogue One and Solo as well. It is such a fun long-term goal to have because you can easily watch part of one movie and pick it up later in the week if you want to. Which movie in the series would you start with?

To make these apple TIE Fighters, you only need apples, toothpicks, and lemons. The lemons are optional but will prevent browning. Other than that you just need a sharp knife. These healthy snacks are simple to make and your kids will love them! Watch the video below to see exactly how I created these. They are perfect for Star Wars day but of course are great for any day of the year!

How to Make Animal Themed Snack Ideas With Quaker® Chewy

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Quaker® Chewy. All opinions are my own.

You can never have too many snack ideas on hand to make with your kids at home. During times like this when you want easy recipes and activities for your kids to do as well, my fun animal snacks with Quaker® Chewy bars are a fun solution!

Quaker® Chewy bars are made with 100% whole grains and other delicious ingredients so they are convenient, plus these animal recipes add fruit too. Did you also know that Quaker® Chewy classic granola bars contain no artificial flavors or added colors? All of this adds up to a snack that you can feel good about giving to your kids and your kids will love eating!

How to Make a Spring Flower Food Board

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Dandy Produce. All opinions are my own.

You don't need to have a big gathering of people to have huge fun with a food board! Food boards are a fantastic way to feed your family and way easier to make than you think. Our family loves them because everybody gets to choose what they want from a huge variety of foods. We like to include vegetables like radishes and celery, and combine them with dips, cheeses, and meats.

I had the idea for a spring flower board because I thought it would be fun to mix your normal charcuterie board food with food art flowers along with actual edible flowers! I started with Dandy Radishes because they are beautiful, tasty, and come in Ready Radishes, Radish Coins, and Radish Ministicks varieties. These radishes are fresh and ready to go right out of the package.