Product Praise: Sunbutter

We have no food allergies in our family so I have never had to consider nut alternatives. However, I have to pack Luc's lunches and snacks for daycare and they are nut-free. For those nights when I just have NO time, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich would just be so convenient to pop in his lunch. I didn't have very high expectations for this peanut-free alternative, but I was pleasantly surprised! While this spread has a slight bit of bitterness that peanut butter doesn't have, it's still great tasting and a godsend for convenience. Peanut butter is just so versatile, that I'm so glad that I have an alternative that I can send of in Luc's lunch bag.

If nut allergies are an issue or you are looking for nut-free alternatives for whatever reason, if you haven't already give sunflower butter a try. Use it exactly like you would peanut butter, for instance in Munch's PB & J Oatmeal Smoothie, Tofu PB & Banana Spread, or Senegalese Peanut and Tomato Soup! 

Also check out these awesome Sunbutter Cookies with Chocolate Sunflower Seed Drops from Maryea at Happy Healthy Mama!

What's your favorite way to enjoy 'peanut' butter?

Product Praise: The Antilop

Instead of posting a recipe today, I thought that I would post about one of my favourite products...the Antilop highchair from IKEA. 

Luc had  a more traditional padded high chair originally, but there was an unpleasant incident where he vomited all down himself and the chair and the floor and although we washed the cover immediately and scrubbed the chair we could not get the smell out. I washed the cover four times and it still reeked and the smell had seeped into the straps. So to the landfill it went unfortunately. That weekend I was heading to a big kids consignment sale and I picked up a used Antilop for all of $8 with the tray to use until we decided which new chair to buy.

We all liked it so much that we now would not dream of getting any other. Luc has always had a hatred of being restrained, and the Antilop only has a waist strap rather than a five-point harness so he is much happier in it and is more interested in eating rather than fighting to get out. The best part though is that it`s so easy to clean. No cover to wash, no crevices for food to get caught in and you can just wipe the whole thing down. It`s also easy to take apart and store or travel with if you need to.

While I have mixed feeling about the Swedish mega-retailer, I have been very pleased with the quality of design and construction of several of their children`s products.

What are some of your favourite IKEA kids products?