Snack or Lunchbox Idea: Vanilla Cereal Crunch

Most areas of the country have already gone back to school, but we still have just over one more week to go. With the start of school comes the search for new things to add to the lunchbox or snack bag. Both of my boys still need snacks sent in to school with them and I love to send in something that I made at home. Even something homemade as a special treat at the end of lunch puts a smile on their faces and let's them know I'm thinking of them during the day.

The other day, I decided to try a recipe that caught my eye in Betty Crocker Whole Grains: Easy Everyday Recipes for Vanilla Cereal Crunch. It's a sweet and salty mix similar to Chex Mix only this uses vanilla candy melts to kind of "glue" the bits together.

From Family, Friends and Food

The day I made this tasty snack, I not only had My Boys as taste-testers but also 2 of their friends. Overall, this treat got 4 thumb's up! It was so simple to make that you could have the kids do it nearly on their own. I didn't have the pretzels on hand (I have a pretzel muncher in my house!) but, I think they would add a nice salty contrast to the cereal bits.

Here are some other fun snack ideas to help fill those lunchboxes:

The Mixing Bowl Kids: GORP bars

Dinners for a Year and Beyond: An Elfwich Cookie

Happy. Healthy. Life.: "Better" Party Mix

Vanilla Cereal Chunks
Adapted from: Betty Crocker's Whole Grains

Ingredients
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup Corn Chex cereal
1 cup Rice Chex cereal
3 cups Wheat Chex cereal
1 cup lightly salted dry-roasted peanuts
1 cup small pretzel twists
1 cup mini marshmallows
10 oz. vanilla-flavored candy coating (I used the candy melts you findat Michael's craft store)

Directions
Place chocolate chips in the freezer to chill. This will keep them from melting when you combine them with the melted candies.

In a large bowl combine the cereals through marshmallows.

Melt the vanilla candy in a glass bowl in a microwave for 1 minute, 30 seconds. Give it a stir and microwave for another 30 seconds. Continue until it becomes smooth when stirred.

Gently & quickly stir cereal mixture into candy coating with a rubber spatula. Make sure each bit is evenly coated. Spread mixture onto waxed paper and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Then, break apart into chunks.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.