by pediatric dietitian, Ashley Smith of Veggies and Virtue.

Even as a dietitian mom, I know that getting my kids to eat enough of the right foods can be a challenge. Whether I am encouraging them to learn to like high-quality proteins or vegetables in their natural, visible state, or I am trying to make sure they get enough calcium and probiotics to grow and stay healthy, there is a reason I often say snack foods should be those that fill nutritional gaps.

Snacks are the perfect opportunity to get in the nutrients our children often struggle to eat enough of at meals. Traditional “kid’s snack foods” however, are often void of any real nutritional value.

That’s why I know both parents and kids alike are going to love these yogurt gummy bears. Packed with protein, probiotics, and even some fruit from the blueberries and veggies in the Sneakz protein blend, these are a fun finger food that provides a nutritional punch at snack time or anytime!

Blueberry Vanilla Yogurt Gummy Bears

What you need:

• ½ cup whole milk, divided
• ½ scoop (2 TBSP) Sneakz vanilla protein powder
• ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 TBSP honey, optional
• ½ frozen blueberries, thawed*
• ¾ cup kefir or regular yogurt, plain flavor**
• 2 TBSP gelatin, unflavored (like this one or this one)

How to make it:

1. In a medium-sized, microwave-safe bowl, pour ¼ cup of whole milk. Heat in microwave for 10-15 seconds or until hot but not boiling. Pour remaining ¼ cup whole milk in another small bowl, and set aside.

2. Carefully remove medium-sized bowl from microwave, and add Sneakz vanilla protein powder to milk. Stir until completely dissolved. Add in vanilla and honey, and stir well.

3. Place thawed blueberries into a small blender. Blend on high for 5-10 seconds or until no large pieces remain. Holding a fine-sieve mesh strainer over the heated milk mixture, pour the blueberry mixture through the strainer until all the juices transfer to the bowl. Discard or reserve the blueberry pulp for later consumption in a smoothie or atop a yogurt bowl.

4. While stirring blueberry into the milk mixture, add kefir or regular yogurt. If the temperature of the mixture is no longer hot at this point, reheat in microwave in10 second increments until hot, but not boiling.

5. In the bowl of cold milk previously set aside, add gelatin and mix until combined. Quickly transfer the gelatin and milk mixture to the bowl with the hot milk mixture. Stir well until thoroughly combined and all gelatin has dissolved. Do not let gelatin harden prior to transferring to hot milk mixture.

6. Using a pipette provided in a gummy bear tray like this one, transfer the blueberry milk mixture to silicone molds. If you do not have a silicone tray, pour mixture into a large glass baking dish so gelatin is approximately ½ inch thick. Place molds or dish into the fridge until firm (allow at least 15-30 minutes for a baking dish or shorter for the silicone molds). Remove gummies from the mold, or use a cookie cutter to cut gummies from the baking dish.
   

7. Enjoy immediately, or keep in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

* If frozen blueberries are not yet thawed, place in a microwave-safe dish and heat in 15-second increments, stirring in between until each berry is thawed through.
** Be sure to use kefir or regular yogurt NOT Greek varieties, which may be too thick.
Yield: Makes 3-4 trays of gummy bears or one, a 7x11 pan of gummy cutouts.