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Sylvia Rose

Healthy Snacks That Support Simple Living (and Happy Kids)

April 18, 2025 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Why I Don’t Believe in Snacking (Most of the Time)

I don’t usually snack. I’m also not in the habit of eating after 6 p.m. But last night? I gave in to my body’s craving for something nourishing and fell into bliss with peanut butter stuffed dates. They hit the spot. Healthy snacks for the win! 

Truth be told, I consider myself lucky. In the grand sweep of history, the habit of snacking is a relatively new one. For most of human history, people didn’t eat between meals—not because they were especially disciplined, but because they didn’t have the option.

Snacking is a byproduct of food abundance, industrialization, and clever marketing. And while I appreciate a good homemade snack now and again, I try not to make it a habit.

Snacking: A Modern Habit

old-fashioned snack ideas for kids

It still blows my mind that we live in a time of overwhelming food availability—yet so many people are still going hungry. In North America, most of us eat three full meals a day, and yet we still feel the urge to nibble between them.

Some of that hunger is real. Some of it is boredom, stress, or habit. And a lot of it is manufactured by food companies with bottomless marketing budgets pushing ultra-processed snacks full of sugar, preservatives, and artificial flavours.

Growing up, I didn’t have snack time at school. Now? My kindergartener has two snack breaks. It’s a ritual baked into childhood from day one—something we teach our children to expect, even when they’re not truly hungry. But in other parts of the world, particularly in places where traditional eating habits still hold strong, snack time doesn’t exist.

Cutting Back on Snacks: The French-Inspired Shift

A few months ago, I started to worry about the picky eating happening at the dinner table. Ever the book lover, I turned to French Kids Eat Everything by Karen Le Billon—and it changed my whole outlook.

Inspired by Le Billon’s insights, I decided to eliminate most snacks between meals. There was some resistance (okay, whining), but I noticed that my kids actually came to meals hungrier and more willing to eat the “real food” on their plates. When kids—and adults—are busy and engaged, they often forget they were ever hungry at all.

That said, snack time is practically sacred at school and at the playgroup I help run. I can’t ignore it completely. But I can choose what kind of food we bring to the table, and 95.9% of the time, I’m packing healthy snacks. 

Real Food Snack Ideas (Without the Guilt)

homemade chia pudding snack

The snack aisles at the grocery store are filled with things that aren’t really food—just edible distractions wrapped in plastic. Sure, I’m sometimes tempted by the relatively “healthy” bulk packs at Costco, but more often than not, I make my own snacks at home.

Here are some of my go-to favourites—simple, homemade snacks that are nourishing, low-waste, and kind to your budget.

  • Plain yogurt with raw honey, topped with fresh or frozen fruit, bee pollen, hemp hearts, or ground flax seeds
  • Homemade applesauce or jello
  • Chia seed pudding with fresh or frozen berries
  • Dried fruit (raisins, dates, figs, mango, etc.)
  • Freeze-dried fruit—mangoes are my favourite, but whatever you select, read the label! Manufacturers love sneaking in added sugar to fruit snacks.
  • Seaweed snacks (especially if you can find them without seed oils)
  • Hummus with seed crackers
  • Apple slices with sunflower seed butter or almond butter. To keep apples from oxidizing (turning brown), squeeze on a bit of lemon or dip them in a lemon water solution.
  • Hard-boiled eggs with a dab of mustard
  • Raw veggies with homemade lemon dill yogurt or kefir ranch dip
  • Leftover oatmeal or cream of wheat from breakfast (waste not, want not!)
  • Smoothies made with half greens, half fruit
  • Popcorn with butter and seaweed flakes
  • Fruit salad with a squeeze of citrus
  • Nice cream: Run 2-3 frozen bananas through a food processor with a handful of frozen fruit. Add a splash of honey or maple syrup and homemade vanilla extract for a dreamy treat. Cocoa powder with frozen cherries is a delightful combo.
  • Nut butter stuffed dates (I love hiding a brazil nut or cacao nib in the centre)

Snacking with Intention

healthy apple slices with nut butter

These healthy homemade snacks offer more nutrition, less waste, and far fewer additives than the boxes and bags you find at the store. They’re quick to prepare, easy on the wallet, and better for your body. Plus, you’re not lining the pockets of corporations profiting from healthwashed junk food.

But here’s a radical idea—if you really want to save time and money, you could just… skip the snacks. I know, I know. That sounds extreme in our snack-obsessed culture. But for most of human history, people didn’t graze all day. They ate hearty, whole-food meals and called it good.

They even made it through rationing during the 1940s—without goldfish crackers or squeezable yogurt tubes. Imagine that!

So if you’re tired of the snack-time chaos, or trying to raise kids who eat real food, try experimenting with a more old-fashioned approach: fewer snacks, more mindful meals, and real nourishment when hunger actually strikes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Healthy Snacking

Is it healthy to snack between meals?

It depends on what you’re snacking on! Mindful snacking with whole foods like fruit, yogurt, or nuts can nourish your body and keep energy levels stable. But snacking too often—or choosing processed foods high in sugar and seed oils—can lead to sluggish digestion and a dulled appetite for real meals.

What are some healthy snack ideas for kids?

Kids love variety and fun textures! I often serve simple, nutrient-dense options like chia pudding with berries, yogurt with honey and bee pollen, or apple slices with seed butter. Smoothies and homemade popcorn are favourites around here, too. These healthy snack ideas are easy to prep and free from artificial flavours and preserv,atives.

Should I try to stop snacking altogether?

It’s a bold idea—but yes, you can go without snacks! Especially if meals are well-balanced and filling. After reading French Kids Eat Everything, I decided to cut out snacks between meals—and it made a big difference. My kids whine sometimes, but they come to the table hungry and ready to eat. It’s a gentle way to restore natural hunger cues.

Why avoid processed snack foods?

Many packaged snacks are filled with refined sugar, preservatives, and seed oils that can impact energy, mood, and long-term health. I prefer making my own wholesome snacks at home, which means less plastic, more nutrients, and more control over what’s going into our bodies.

What are some alternatives to traditional snack foods?

If you’re trying to quit junk food but still want something tasty, try “nice cream” made from frozen bananas, or homemade jello with real fruit juice. Hard boiled eggs, hummus with seed crackers, or seaweed snacks roasted without oils are also great alternatives to traditional chips or cookies.

Love and gratitude,
Sylvia

kiss

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Note: This post was adapted from my original post on Substack. 

Filed Under: Kitchen & Garden, Pantry Wisdom Tagged With: frugal living, Healthy Snacks, Kid-Friendly Snacks, Minimalist Nutrition

9 Ways to Give Vanilla Bean Scraps A New Life

April 24, 2023 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Don’t toss those precious pods in the compost after scraping out that fragrant black gold — get everything you possibly can out of them!

making vanilla sugar

Maybe you finished up a pastry project that has left you with vanilla pod fragments. Perhaps you have spent vanilla beans from making homemade vanilla extract. Either way, one of these ideas is bound to inspire you to turn something from what’s often considered nothing.

If your pods are coming from a near-empty jar of extract, then yes, the alcohol has extracted everything good from those fragrant orchid beans. However, they’ve been marinating in their own extract which makes them fair game. Don’t let them go to waste!

WATCH THE VIDEO

If you’re more of a visual learner, here is the accompanying video for this post. I’m more active on YouTube these days than I am on here, so be sure to subscribe to my channel if you consider yourself old-fashioned at heart and would like to follow along.

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Filed Under: Back-to-Basics, Kitchen & Garden, Pantry Wisdom Tagged With: zero waste kitchen tips

How to Save Energy the Vintage Way – 9 Old-Fashioned Tips

January 15, 2023 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Here are 9 old-fashioned ways to help you reduce your energy consumption and give your wallet a break.

snuffing out a candle

Let’s rewind to a time when folks didn’t rely on electricity to get by to the degree that most of us are accustomed to. At the peak of summer’s sweltering heat, air conditioners didn’t run the way they do today. Depending on the time period, people would go somewhere communal that was air-conditioned, like the movie theatre. In the winter, people bundled up for extra warmth.

It’s not that way anymore, at least, not in North America.

As a Canadian, I would have to say that most people have gotten lazy when it comes to energy consumption. The ways of our forefathers (and mothers) have been forgotten. Convenience is king, but it comes at a cost.

The costs that may come to mind are environmental and financial. Energy based on fossil fuels isn’t as affordable as it once was. In fact, it’s become downright expensive.

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Filed Under: Home & Hearth, Homemaking

The BEST Liver and Onions Recipe – Old-Fashioned Comfort Food That’s Easy to Make!

October 23, 2022 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

This recipe for liver and onions is a comforting, old-fashioned dish that’s easy to make. It features bacon and gravy for a delicious, hearty meal.

liver and onions

Liver and onions is one of those classic dishes that seems to have fallen out of favour over the years. Even though it’s been lost on the palate of the younger generations, this traditional meal still has a lot to offer!

If you thought spinach was a superfood, you haven’t met liver. This variety meat is one of the most nutrient-dense foods around town. Brimming with vitamins A, B, and C, liver is also rich in iron, folate, and copper, to name a few (source).

Despite its rockstar status, not everyone likes liver. Made right, however, it stands a far better chance of making a regular appearance on the dinner table. Let’s get to it!

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Filed Under: Cast Iron Cooking, Kitchen & Garden, Recipes

20 Rationing Tips from WWII (in case you need them)

January 17, 2022 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Rationing tips were plentiful during WWII. Here are twenty vintage pointers that might help you, too, if you ever find yourself in a pinch.

World War 2 Ration Books And Stamps D. D. Teoli Jr. A. C.
Source: World War 2 Ration Books And Stamps D. D. Teoli Jr. A. C.

In 1940, Britain began rationing; in 1942, Canada and the US followed suit. Goods that had previously been taken for granted either became scarce or cost dearly.

Ration stamps were distributed to every household, granting families a purchasing allowance for meat, butter, sugar, coffee, tea, dairy and preserves. Needless to say, this changed the way folks ate.

Since resources were being focussed on the war effort, there was a massive shift from importation to local production and consumption. To do their part on the homefront, women had to be creative in the kitchen, making do with what they could buy for their families. There’s a lot we can learn from them.

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Filed Under: Homemaking, Kitchen & Garden, Pantry Wisdom

Maple Bourbon Pumpkin Pie (so good, you won’t want to share)

November 15, 2021 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

This maple bourbon pumpkin pie is naturally sweetened and lightly spiked.  It makes for a fun twist on this holiday favourite!

maple bourbon pumpkin pie slice with whipped cream

If you’re a sucker for a good old-fashioned pumpkin pie, then you’re going to love this punched-up version. It’s rich, maple sweet and has just enough spice.

The bourbon takes it to a whole new level; a slight twist of orange livens things up. If the orange sounds weird to you, don’t worry, I was skeptical, too. It works, though, and it helps make this holiday classic top-notch.

RELATED: Maple Bourbon Cranberry Sauce Recipe

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Filed Under: Fall, Kitchen & Garden, Recipes, Seasonal Living

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Welcome to the Kitchen!

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Hi! I’m Sylvia, a vintage-loving gal. Join me weekly as I share old-fashioned tips and recipes to help you become more intentional and self-sufficient. Want to get to know me better? Please join me over here.

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