Thanks so much Carolyn MacKenzie and Liem Vu for sharing our top COOKSMART recipes today on The Morning Show on Global TV.

These Apple Donuts are one of our favourite recipes that we do to get kids thinking about food presentation for our COOKSMART Challenge, the fun cooking competition we do to celebrate the end of our afterschool programs and summer camps. Remember we eat with all our senses, starting with our EYES! So bright colours and shapes are key to a make food appealing.

APPLE DONUTS:

Apples
Bright colours -Berries, grapes, pomegranate
Protein spread - greek yogurt, nut butter or cream cheese
Nutrition bits - hemp hearts, pumpkin seeds, dark choc chips

Wash apples and cut into thick slices through the middle.
Cut the centre of the apple slice out to remove the core.
Spread a layer of protein spread on like frosting.
Decorate with the fresh fruit and nutrition bits to make it beautiful!

A super snack and great food craft to make with kids of all ages.

COLOUR BLAST BOWLS

These are the kid-friendly version of grain bowls, and are a big hit at our summer camps for lunch. Easy, colourful and super nutritious especially when the kids learn why our body needs all those bright colours and proteins and good fats! Use what you have at your house to make this a new family favourite.

AIM FOR 4 colours! Choose one grain, at least 6 choices of veggies, and a protein.

Grain - couscous, quinoa, rice or pasta
Green - cucumber, green onions, edamame
Yellow - yellow peppers, corn
Orange - carrots, orange peppers
Red - tomatoes, red peppers
Purple - red cabbage

Protein - beans, chick peas, black beans, grated cheese, feta cheese

Wash all vegetables and beans.

Cut vegetables into small pieces into separate bowls. Grate carrots.

Prepare the grain as directed.

Make a sauce or use a favourite dressing.

Lemony dressing: 1/4 cup olive oil, juice of one lemon, salt & pepper

Prepare your bowl!

Grain on bottom
3-4 bright colours
Add some protein
Top with a sauce or dressing.
Toppers anyone? Hemp hearts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds add great healthy fats and some crunch!

YUMMY and it’s never the same bowl twice!

POWERBALLS - Powerful snack for Energetic kids

This is a favourite of our teens in the in-school workshop Nutrition Action for high school students. A great substitute for sugary granola bars with more protein and nutrition for longer lasting energy. We always use WOW-Butter made with soy-nuts which make them allergy-friendly like all our programs, and nut-free for the lunch bag.

1 cup quick oats
1/2 cup Wow Butter
¼ cup liquid honey
¼ cup raisins*
¼ cup coconut flakes or sesame seeds
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla
Pinch of fine sea salt

* can substitute for other dried fruits such as dried cranberries or blueberries

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl
Form into balls or bars that are wrapped in parchment paper. Roll in coconut if desired.
Refrigerate for 15-30 minutes until firm.
Store in air-tight container.

Hope you can keep some in your fridge for a quick grab & go snack! They disappear quickly in my house.

Thanks for learning more about COOKSMART.CA

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