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Being a mom of boys, you get used to managing these big bundles of energy that are almost unmanageable both for me, the mom and for the boys. But, their energy is also very subject to what they eat. I am super serious about what I pack for them in their lunches, because I know how quickly their blood sugar can drop, which they then become lethargic and very grumpy. My boys are high-energy, and they tend to get low blood sugar fast. Being at school limits the amount of snacks they can have, so it is super important that I pack the right lunches, as well as give them the right after school snack to boost their blood sugar with a stable energy source. This is where I’ve found that protein is the ticket for stable energy, which enables them to learn more and focus longer.
Check this out, “By the time your child turns 3 years old, he will form 1,000 trillion connections in his brain. Protein makes up part of these connections, called neurotransmitters. For example, the commonly known protein tryptophan helps make the neurotransmitter serotonin, and the protein tyrosine makes the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. Serotonin helps control mood, appetite and sleep. Norepinephrine helps control your heart rate and blood pressure. Protein also keeps the neurotransmitters in good working order.” Read more here!
Protein is an essential energy source for little boys. They move so quickly, and burn through carbohydrates so fast, that they need a protein to help keep them stable. When mine come home from school, and they didn’t eat what I packed, which sometimes they don’t, they are like zombies in a big blood sugar slump after playing and learning. Sometimes my boys just don’t want to eat at school. They are too excited to stop playing. This results in some cranky, tired and hungry little ones when I come to get them. But, I’ve learned how protein can transform a mood in a minute, and keep us out of the slump once they get home. Cheese is one of my boys’ favorite sources of protein. They gobble it up! I pack them Organic Valley Stringles in their lunch, as well as make these super cute and easy, Cheese-tastic rocket ships. It encourages them to actually eat at lunch. If they can play with their food, they’ll eat it!
I choose organic cheese because I think it’s very important. Organic Valley carries a full line of organic cheeses, which we like in all the flavors: Cheddar, Colby Jack and Mozzarella, and the boys prefer this brand to the other brands I’ve bought. Organic Valley actually has a Master Cheese maker, who is the first woman to earn that title, who crafts the cheeses one-by-one. Of course, no antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides or GMOs are used, and most of the cheeses are vegetarian friendly!
And, I have a special $1.25 off any Organic Valley Cheese coupon!
We have a super fun way we like to eat our cheese and get our protein in after school. We make Cheese-tastic Rocket Ships! Now, I am not one of those amazing Pinterest moms with all the monster apple snacks, or ants-on-a-log creations. I just wasn’t blessed with that amazing food creativity. BUT, if I can make these cheesy rocket ships, you totally can! And my boys love them, because they fly them into each others mouth. In this recipe, I’m using the Organic Valley American Singles and Stringles. I found them at Publix on sale, too!
Here’s Our Cheese-Tastic Rocket Ships for Lunches or After-School Snacks!
What do you need?
Singles and Stringles! That’s it!
Step 1: Stack two singles on top of each other
Step 2: Cut a triangle with a flat top, rather than pointy (this is the bottom of the rocket ship)
Step 3: Cut a smaller triangle out of the bottom of the rocket ship. This is the top of the rocket.
Step 4: Cut your Stringles in half.
Step 5: Put the two bottom pieces on each side of one end of the Stringle. Put the top on each side of the other end.
That’s it! My boys just like to look at them, then grab them and fly them into each other’s mouth after school. They can do this with their friends at school too!
More Protein Power We Love: Hot Dog and Cheese Kebabs and Apple and Cheese Stacks
Hot Dog and Cheese Kebabs:
My boys love to help me make these. I give them a plastic knife, and I supervise them cutting the kabob pieces. They feel so big using a utensil they aren’t allowed to have. I use organic, all-natural hot dogs. The boys love the taste, they are super easy to heat up, and the offer a big protein punch when combined with our Organic Valley cheese.
They are in charge of how large the pieces are, and a lot of them get eaten in the midst of making, but that’s fine by me. I then take the pieces and stack them on kabob sticks. These stay ready to go in the fridge, so I can grab them for their lunch, or for after school.
Apple and Cheese Stacks:
These are super simple, and I couldn’t for the life of me get a picture of the boys stacking these. They kept eating them! My boys love apples. I do, too. They have a tendency to want to fill up on fruit if we have it. I created these little stacks that they can help me make. I cut the apples slices and cheese pieces, they get to stack them as high as they want! For after school, it’s a great way to keep them busy and help them eat. If you want to pack them in their lunchbox, put a kabob stick or wrap them in saran wrap to keep them together.
Overall, we use cheese a lot. I mean, it goes with everything! Organic Valley Stringles are so easy to pack by themselves, while the Organic Valley American Singles also melt and taste great on cheeseburgers. We had our fill of Cheeseburgers this past Fourth of July Weekend. Don’t forget you get $1.25 off any Organic Valley Cheese! You can give it a shot and see if you like the taste as much as we do!
