Of course, that statement is something we as parents hear from our kids and grandkids all the time!  Especially if they can’t find any “junk” snacks.  Hey, my husband points that out to me and he’s obviously NO KID!

Snacks should be fun, they should be tasty, but I have always felt that they should be filling and nutritious.

My grandkids have suddenly taken a complete dislike to nut butters.  A couple of months ago their favorite thing was for me to give them a graham cracker and peanut butter and let them make an edible collage with various toppings of dried fruit, 70% chocolate chips and coconut-unsweetened.

Now I get “Grandma you have nothing to eat!”  

Really?  You mean that full drawer of various fresh fruits, wheat thins and the boxes of your favorite chex cereals are NOTHING?

Dinner the other night?  Aidan, my usual sous chef, was in a mood and didn’t want to help.  Dylan, who never wants to help, suddenly did.

As long as I received help-I was appreciative.  The more tired I get from the constant stabbing pain in my entire right arm, the more I’m inclined to be finding shortcuts.

Dylan asked for candied carrots.  Okay.  I gave him my oxo peeler and showed him how to use it.  He peeled 12 carrots!  Then he helped season the chicken quarters with our salt and pepper grinders.  Last-he shucked all 4 ears of corn and helped me not only put on the evoo and salt but he helped wrap them up in foil and ready them for grandpa’s arrival.

Thank goodness for his help-because dinner was not going to be anything close to what it turned out to be.

As for the carrots-I tossed them with some sugar-free pancake syrup, a bit of coconut oil, lemon juice, cinnamon and some water.  When the grill was lit up, I started the carrots.  By the time the chicken and corn were ready-so were the carrots.

The best part-I finally did not hear that there was nothing to eat.  Plus, both boys ate everything.