tiny happy

making journal

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‘tiny happy’ was a journal of my handmade life from 2006-2025.

back to school

February 7, 2011

The kids went back to school today. After such a long break from the school-routine I've found myself wandering aimlessly around and wondering why it's so quiet in the house and no has demanded a snack yet… eerie. Never mind, I'm sure i'll get used to it!

One of the things I'd like to do this year is decrease the amount of packaging in their lunchboxes. I got busy with other things last year and ended up buying muesli bars, etc which were fine, but all the individual plastic wrappings made me uneasy. So this is the first batch of homemade muesli bars for the year. I'm happy with them but they're not perfect… I think I needed to boil the honey mixture for a bit longer so they're a bit sturdier (they're bound to get knocked around in the lunchbox on the trip to school.)

I used this recipe that I blogged about in 2007 (how can that be?) but added slightly different ingredients, according to what was in the cupboard.

Posted in Uncategorized

32 responses to “back to school”

Jo

February 7, 2011

I’m with you on the packaging! Im using as many little containers as I can and trying to avoid the plastic wrap. My two have such different lunchbox ‘tastes’ makes for an interesting morning making it all!

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Holly C.

February 7, 2011

Looks yummy and your packaging so cute!

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paula

February 7, 2011

i love the wrapping

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barbara

February 7, 2011

I’ve been wrapping our kids’ sandwiches in a paper towel all school year – they need it to tidy themselves up after lunch, and it’s a fairly low-impact thing to be left behind after lunch. 🙂

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Francesca

February 7, 2011

This is so useful Melissa! I’ve been looking for a recipe for some healthy “energy” snacks to make for my boys to take to tennis practice (focaccia is just not enough), and this is just the one.

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Sam

February 7, 2011

In our San Francisco preschool it’s all about the “no waste” lunch (you get stroppy notes from the teachers if you send anything that needs to be thrown out). I buy cloth reuseable sandwich wrappers from one of the mums who makes them. It would be easy (for someone crafty and clever like you) to make a museli bar shaped one…kinda like this:
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/43227/how-to-make-a-reusable-sandwich-wrap

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cat

February 7, 2011

They look delicious. Our school has a no plastic policy too which is great! I invested in a couple of tupperware lunchboxes for my girls and they are fabulous, the individual compartments are the perfect sizes for all their bits and they seal perfectly so you don’t get soggy sandwiches!

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Cozy Memories

February 7, 2011

mmm it looks so yummy, Melissa ! I bookmarked your recipe for trying later. I love wrapping with parchment paper … it makes everything look terrific 🙂
I have moved my blog to Typepad, as you can see with the link I used for this message.
Happy go back to school to your babes & to you, and a lovely week ahead too !
xoxo

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louana

February 7, 2011

I hate wrapping too, I have some great lunchboxes that have little compartments = no wrapping! But I’ve been thinking of making some cloth bags for snacks too, I must get around to it!

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Jo

February 7, 2011

They look great! One of my ‘resolutions’ (I use the term loosely) for this year is to try to make more of our basics that we’ve got back into the habit of buying, like granola and muesli bars. When I last did it I found it a fine line between producing something almost inedible and something that fell apart too easily.

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Abby

February 7, 2011

YUM!! Must try this one… I made some the other day using oats, rice bubbles, coconut, dried fruit and marshmallows the kids loved em!
I am loving bento boxes to minimise packaging/wrapping. Oh…and the tupperware sandwhich boxes keep bread etc sooo fresh 🙂
Thanx for the great post!

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Lucinda

February 7, 2011

Wow they look delicious! I have tried making muesli bars in the past and they are always crumbly. Might have to test out this recipe! L

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Margaret Oomen

February 8, 2011

yum, yum and yum

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Maribeth

February 8, 2011

I bought lunch boxes called Laptop Lunch. They are essentially a bento box. Open it up and inside are small washable containers to put the food in. I put a sandwich in one, fruit in another, cookie or sweet bar in another, and so on. No need to wrap anything, and all the food is out for my child to see and taste. My son definitely eats more of the nutritious choices this way.
Here is the link:
http://www.laptoplunches.com/

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Melbourne Road

February 8, 2011

I will join the chorus of everyone else…YUM!
what a good mom you are :o)
Lori

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heidi

February 8, 2011

i remember that post…eeerie! they do look good though! niec to read your blogs again! been awhile since i have been out here reading!

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Ingrid

February 8, 2011

It’s looking delicious..is it easy to make ?

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Lauren

February 8, 2011

What a great idea!
Lauren
http://www.laurensthoughts.com

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tinyhappy

February 8, 2011

hi ingrid, yes, its really easy!

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Nancy Cook

February 8, 2011

I’m going to have to try these bars. My kids are obsessed with grain bars and I’m tired of buying them too.

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jodi

February 8, 2011

these look good. I’ve got my own recipe that I’ll post soon…you might like it. I’m thinking of making those crackers you posted about a while ago. Are they easy?

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Eyecatchers & Wind In The Willow

February 8, 2011

Looks simply devine ~ and such a bonus that they are healthy!

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tinyhappy

February 8, 2011

that’s very cool! thanks sam.

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tinyhappy

February 8, 2011

thanks for the link maribeth!

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tinyhappy

February 8, 2011

cheers, jodi- yep they are super easy!

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brooke

February 8, 2011

delicious.
your blog makes me happy. 🙂

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Stacey

February 8, 2011

Sophie Grey has an amazing recipe in her book ‘stunning food from small change’ call muesli bar magician which makes and combination of favourite ingredients (rices, rolled oats, bran flakes, nuts and fruit) stick together to be baked into muesli bars. You should check it out. It is fab!

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sherrieg

February 9, 2011

I was going to suggest a similar thing – we use cloth baggies with velcro closures – they keep the crumbs in, and you can just shake out or wipe off the crumbs, and toss in the wash when it needs it.
Love the shot with the apples, too. 🙂

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Ingrid

February 9, 2011

maybe i’m gonna try it.It’s odd everywhere i look on blogs i see eating things..hmm i have to eat i think 🙂

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rebecca

February 12, 2011

I’m definitely going to add those bars to my daughter’s lunches. Yummy-scrumbos!
I’ve elimitaded all packaging from her lunches by using “laptop lunch” boxes – it’s a larger box that holds 3-4 different sized containers (some seal-able) and allows me to supply her with really healthy lunches that include edamame, fresh fruit and hummus and veggies! It is a small initial investment, but seems to be working well so far.

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Ara

February 14, 2011

So cute and Yummy! mmm… Seeing the photo makes me drool. It looks very delicious and tasty. =) Oh by the way, if you’re looking for a lunch pack container, you can have the stainless steel bento tiffin box because it’s not difficult to carry, it has a good size, very safe to use, very reusable, and eco-friendly. You can stack fruits in it, cookies, veggies, etc. It’s so easy to prepare and stack foods in it. Try it! 😉

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erin

March 3, 2011

these look great, i’ve been looking for an easy granola bar recipe that includes wheat germ. thanks.

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