Snikiddy - Have a healthy day.

Now Available at SuperTarget!

Snikiddy Snacks are now available at SuperTargets nationwide.  Look for your favorite organic snacks, Snikiddy Snacks, on your next visit to your local SuperTarget.

Whole Foods Flavorfest

Joins us August 23rd & 24th at Wrightwood Park in Chicago, IL to enjoy free music, kids activities and food including Snikiddy Snacks.

JDRF Northern Virginia Walk for the Cure

Join Snikiddy Snacks June 1st in Lansdowne, VA to support the JDRF Walk for the Cure.  JDRF Walk for the Cure

Introducing… Mac n’ Cheese Puffs!

The newest addition to our popular line of organic baked corn puffs, Mac n’ Cheese.  The taste of a kid’s favorite wrapped up in a baked organic corn puff.  Snikiddy Snacks will donate a portion of the proceeds of every bag of Mac n’ Cheese Puffs to Vitamin Angels Operation 20/20.  Operation 20/20 is a low cost effort to eradicate childhood blindness by the year 2020.  Just $0.25 can provide a needed dose of Vitamin A preventing a child from going blind.  Learn more about Operation 20/20 at www.vitaminangels.org.  Look for Mac n’ Cheese Puffs at a retailer near you beginning in June.  If you can’t find them, be sure to ask your store manager to carry them.

Join Snikiddy’s Facebook Page!

Become a friend of Snikiddy’s Facebook page and stay updated on the latest news and events.

Snikiddy takes off on American Airlines

In partnership with Kiwi Magazine, Snikiddy Snacks will be offered to families on selected American Airlines flights and in selected American Airlines Admirals Clubs.  Look for the Kiwi activity pack and sample Snikiddy Snacks!

The National Zoo and Snikiddy Snacks

This is the first year that Snikiddy Snacks has participated in Boo at the Zoo at Washington DC’s National Zoo.  You may be wondering what participation means… For us, as a local company, and at a zoo that we are actually members of via FONZ, this includes our entire family giving out Snikiddy Snacks to all the visitors for the zoo’s wonderful Halloween event.  Friday was the first night.  In the pouring down rain, Brett took the lead and gave out snacks.  Last night, on a gorgeous Autumn night in DC, it was a family affair.  My mom, dad, sister, two daughters and niece headed down to the event.  The adults took turns between handing out Snikiddy Snacks at the table and taking the children around to enjoy their own turns at trick or treating.  It was fantastic.  By the end of the night over 7,000 visitors had received a Snikiddy Snack sample and our children had had the chance to see the pandas go “night night”.  The zoo has a web-cam on those cuddly panda bears that you can log onto and watch any time day or night.  I think events like these at local venues are a great way to take your children trick or treating without having to put up with quite as much junk food.  The final consensus, we really enjoyed the event for our family and it was great to see other local families enjoying our snacks.  We’ll do it again in 2008!

Join Snikddy & Wegmans to Support Vitamin Angels

Shop at Wegmans during the month of March and a portion of your Snikiddy Snacks purchase will be donated to Vitamin Angels.  Statistics show that over 30% of the world’s population suffers from micronutrient deficiencies. Vitamin Angels is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing vital nutrition in the form of supplements, to developing countries, communities and individuals in need. Vitamin Angels has set its sights on the issue of childhood blindness, with plans to eliminate childhood blindness by the year 2020 through the systematic distribution of vitamin A to at-risk children. Just $1 provides sufficient funding to preserve the sight of one child.  In addition, Vitamin Angels sponsors programs to supply multivitamins to at-risk children and vital supplements to expecting mothers.  Snikiddy Snacks is proud to partner with Vitamin Angels.

Natural Products Expo West

Visit booth #2901 and sample Snikiddy Snacks at the Natural Products Expo West, March 14th-16th in Anaheim, CA.

JDRF Walk for the Cure Washington DC

Join Snikiddy Snacks in supporting the Juvenile Diabetes Walk for the Cure.  Help a great cause and sample Snikiddy Snacks on May 8th in Washington DC.

Support The Lonliest Road Campaign

Join Snikiddy Snacks and help support The Lonliest Road Campaign.  Five fathers will bike 3700 miles across the US in an effort to raise awareness and money to fight a rare form of pediatric cancer, Neuroblastoma.  The ride culminates in Washington DC on September 10th.  Click on the link and support them on The Lonliest Road.

Join Snikiddy & Wegmans to celebrate Earth Day

Snikiddy Snacks is proud to be a sponsor of the Wegmans Earth Day coloring contest.  Covering four age groups, from 3rd grade through 12th grade, contestants submit their interpretation of what Earth Day represents to them.  Winners receive scholarship awards.  Check out last years winning entries on the Wegmans website.  You can also get a taste of Snikiddy Snacks April 21st at Whole Foods South Street location in Philadelphia as part of their mini “Green” Festival in celebration of Earth Day.  Additionally, check out this great list of Earth Day activities to find out what is taking place near you.

Join Snikiddy Snacks & Sprouts to Donate a Dollar for Healthy School Snacks

Shop at Sprouts Farmers Markets August 23rd - September 6th and add a dollar to your grocery bill.  In partnership with the Department of Eduction Health & Nutrition Services all money raised will go directly to schools to buy healthy snacks for their classrooms.  In addition, students & parents can nominate teachers for a healthy snacks shopping spree at Sprouts.  Ten teachers will be selected for the shopping spree!

Whole Foods Flavor Fest

Saturday & Sunday, August 25th & 26th Jonquil Park Chicago, IL Join in the fun at Whole Foods Flavor Fest and sample organic Snikiddy Snacks!

Feed the Children

Feed The Children believes that no child should go to bed hungry in this blessed and plentiful country.  Whether it be disaster relief or supporting local food programs, Feed the Children utilizes its fleet of semi-tractor trailer trucks to deliver food donations to children in need.  Snikiddy Snacks is proud to support and donate to Feed the Children.

Most Valuable Kids All Star Day

Saturday June 9th Potomac, MD join in the fun at the MVK All Star Kids Event and sample Snikiddy Snacks.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Sunday June 3rd Leesburg, VA join Snikiddy Snacks and Walk for the Cure in support of Juvenile Diabetes.

All Things Organic 2007

May 6th - May 8th, co-located with the FMI show at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.  All Things Organic is the only event in North America focused exclusively on organic products - all products on display must be certified oranic, made with certified organic ingredients, or be approved for use in organic production.  Stop by and sample Snikiddy organic snacks at booth 463.

Snikiddy Tasting Tour

April 15th Harmony Market 11am-3pm Grape Road Mishawaka, IN 46545.  Join us at the Harmony Market Women’s Health Fair to sample our organic snacks!

Snikiddy Tasting Tour

April 28th Madison, NJ Whole Foods 11am-3pm 222 Main St Madison, NJ 07940.  Stop by and sample organic snacks.

Snikiddy Tasting Tour

April 13th El Cerrito Natural Grocery 10367 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530.  Join us to taste our organic snacks.

Snikiddy Tasting Tour

Join us at Whole Foods in Gaithersburg Maryland Saturday March 24th 11am - 2pm to sample Snikiddy Snacks! 

316 Kentlands Blvd
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Type 1 diabetes strikes children suddenly, makes them dependent on injected or pumped insulin for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. While diagnosis most often occurs in childhood and adolescence, it can and does strike adults as well. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. While the causes of this process are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved.

Join us in Northern Virginia on June 3rd for one of the 200 walks to cure to benefit Juvenile Diabetes.

Snikiddy Tasting Tour

Whole Foods P. Street Friday March 30th 4pm - 7pm join Snikiddy Snacks for a tasting tour.  1440 P Street NW
Washington, DC 20005

Snikiddy Tasting Tour

March 28th Bethesda Maryland.  Whole Foods 5269 River Rd
Bethesda, MD 20816

Prevention Magazine

Prevention Magazine

Channel 3 AZFamily

Snikiddy kid tested, mom approved!

Montgomery County Gazette

Snikiddy takes a bite of the organic snack market

Activity of the Week

Spring Cleaning

Spring is just around the corner.  This time of year is a perfect opportunity to join with your parents, grab a trashbag and a recycle container, and head out to a local park for some “spring cleaning”.  Once at the park, take a long walk with your parents and enjoy the great outdoors while helping mother nature by picking up any trash that was left behind.  You will not only be helping the environment and all the friendly animals that inhabit it, but children like yourselves.  Everyone loves a safe, clean park to play in!

It’s Showtime!

As we prepare for our debut at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA starting this Friday, it gets a bit hectic around the house.  Back in the day, we would have a 9 am flight and I would grab a bag, throw in a few pairs of jeans and be on my way.  Now, with two beautiful children to bring, packing starts about three days in advance.  It’s a much more involved journey, but the rewards are greater too.  Arriving at LAX we are met by a very excited “Saba”.  We journey from the airport to Bubbie’s house and are greeted by a plethora of toys and a wonderfully delighted smile.  Just seeing our childen with their grandparents is more than makes up for the 72 hour travel preperations.

One negative experience of our travels was the reminder that, in many public arenas, be it an airport, a sports arena, or even a hospital, the healthy food options for not only children, but adults are limited.  However, in a few days we will see the ever expanding new healthy food alternatives at the largest natural/organic foods trade show of the year, Expo West.

This is the first time we exhibit at Expo West, located in Anaheim, California.  We look forward to debuting our newest flavors including Cherry Oaties, Grilled Cheese Puffs and Rockin’ Ranch Puffs.  We hope to meet many grocery buyers that have not yet been introduced to Snikiddy Snacks.  The show is a great opportunity to get a first hand look at the many new exciting healthier food products that we hope to see (along with Snikiddy Snacks!) in those airports, sports arenas, and especially hospitals very soon.

Washingtonian

A Grilled Cheese in a Puff...

Brainy Baby

There was a big birthday in our house this week… the Big 4-0.  No, not 40 silly, 4 moths old.  Sadie our yougest turned 4 months old on Monday.  They really are like clock work too.  I was just thinking to myself it was time to give her some substance in her diet as she just seems hungy all the time.  So, this brings up one of the first big questions that mothers face with new infants.  What do I feed the baby?  There are many different recommendations including cereals, mashing up your own fruits or vegetables or jarred apples and even frozen organic baby food these days.  Although I think all of these approaches are well suited, I have taken stock in a different one.  The yolk of a poached egg with a pinch of Celtic Sea Salt, and if I am feeling particularly adventurous a bit of grated organic liver to top off this Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acid packed meal.  This is a recipe found in Nourishing Traditions cook book.  It is a fact that these fats help with brain development.  There are recommendations for pregnant and nursing mothers to eat a diet full of these fatty acids as well so that the nutrients are passed onto their brain developing baby.  I am a strong believer!  As Sadie grows older, it is important she is educated on “good fats” and other healthy eating habits.  There is a gym teacher in Illinois who is an excellent example of an educator implementing healthy eating values in a kid friendly way.  In the USA Today article dated Januaray 10, 2007, we learn that this teacher has decided to help school aged children, in her case 2nd graders, learn all about the importance of “good fats”, and good eating habits at a young age.  She takes her class on various field trips, teaching a hands on approach.  In the article they talk of her taking her class to a Mexican restaurant… Objective:  learn to make guacomole… Outcome:  experienced a piece of the Mexican Culture, know the colors of the Mexican Flag, know the names of various spices, learned about the importance of “good fats” in their diet and best of all for their parents will make a tasty dip for the entire family to enjoy.  Things like this are engrained in our children’s memories and stick with them for a lifetime.  The Field Trip Factory is a free community based program that sponsors similar hand-on experiences for children.  Healthy eating habits start with healthy education.  So, if it’s time for your baby to start eating, consider your options, and start out on the right foot and be careful not to get egg on your face!

Trojan Horse

Here is a link to an article on the recent controversial appointments to the USDA National Organics Standards Board (NOSB).  In question are the appointees of mainstream food companies as opposed to organic food companies.  Another link shows who really makes your organic brand. How do you feel about conventional food companies making their way through the back door of the organic market?  I know for me I question why they have now decided to enter the market.  These are companies that have for years stood by their food containing high fructose corn syrup, pestisides, trans fats and so many other ingredients we all now know to try to steer clear of.  That is if we haven’t aleady become addicted to some of them. 

10:00pm at The 9:30

A return from our busy trip out west was met with a calender entry of ”Ray LaMontagne”.  Right, a few months ago when our schedule had larger gaps, we purchased tickets for a concert.  That concert was upon us, and with a little family help, the parents got the night off and a night out. Living near Washington DC we are graced with a cool little music venue called the 9:30 club.  Ray appeared on stage at 10pm and belted out a number of songs evoking tones of Joe Cocker and Van Morrison in his voice. His music is mezmorizing and I could instantly picture myself after a long day of work and parenting, in a bubble bath, glass of wine at my side, and a Ray LaMontagne CD playing in the backgroud.  Beyond realizing where I will spend my next relaxing moments the music was great and most of all it reminded me of how important it is to expose our children to the arts.  I wish I had listened to my mom when she had said to me, “One day you’ll wish you had stuck with your piano lessons”. 

Back at Home

We returned home from the West Coast on Saturday, adjusted to the time difference yesterday, decorated our Christmas tree last night and now are back in the swing of things.  It was a great trip out west.  We met with wonderful grocery stores such as Jimbos, Mollie Stones, Alameda Grocery, Farmer Joe’s and Berkley Bowl.  All of these stores are very excited to start carrying Snikiddy Snacks.  It really is a lot of fun to have our products so well received. 

On our journey we also met with a friend at the Google campus.  He works for Blogger.com which was acquired by Google in 2003.  It was such a great experience to be on the Google campus and see the healthy lifestyle they promote.  While on our visit we were lucky enough to have lunch at Slice, one of their many on-site cafeterias serving organic and wholsome foods.  Our tour guide is intimately involved in the food served at Slice as she is the manager of their operations.  It is not only nutritious but also very tasty.  I could eat their any day of the week.  Good news is it looks like in the near future our snacks will be available to the Google staff.  If any of you have an opportunity to visit Google, take it.  It is well worth the time it takes to find a parking spot!

Away From Home

So as you know from my first blog, Brett and I have two young children.  One is now 20 months and the other is 8 weeks old, well 9 weeks on Monday, big hurdle!  This past Saturday we took off for the airport on our first business trip with the girls.  We travel with them as often as possible.  We were headed west, first stop Los Angeles, to vist with Brett’s parents.  On Monday we left LA and headed South for work down in San Diego.  This was my first night away from our yougest daughter.  I thought I would be totally okay with it, of course miss her, but enjoy a good nights rest and a little break.  As we pulled into a Starbucks for a morning fix, I saw a young mom with her infant sleeping in the stroller, I was instantly longing to see my girls and was ready to turn back for home.  Fact is, the job must go on, and they are in the second best possible hands they could be in.  We are so lucky to have parents that are so helpful and supportive.  So in the end we made it to San Diego, did our speech at the Kid Power conference and then headed back to LA (in a hurry) as we were both really excited to see our girls!  Next stop San Francisco! 

Press and Media Page

Summer

Max

Maria

Chi

Duke

Why Organic?

We here at Snikiddy Snacks believe that using organic ingredients in our products not only helps the environment but also helps you and your family, especially your kids.

What Does Organic Mean?

Organically grown foods have to follow strict regulations by the USDA in order to be certified as organic.  http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/FactSheets/ProdHandE.html

Most people know that organically grown foods are done so without the use of pesticides. But the regulations go much further than that.

For instance, the land that will support the organic crops must be free of chemical pesticides and other prohibited substances for a minimum of three years. The foods cannot be genetically altered [GMO], irradiated or dowsed with sewage sludge. Ew! (Yup, it’s true, many conventionally grown products are grown with the use of sludge.)

Not only is the lack of pesticides good for you and your family, it’s good for the environment. Pesticides can wash away into the groundwater or be swept into rivers and oceans. That affects the wildlife that drinks from these sources too.

Farmers also use less energy when they grow organic crops. Think about the energy used to create, transport and disperse the chemical pesticides; conventional farming uses energy-intensive means to churn out more crops faster, which also leads to poor soil health; irrigation consumes more water and fuel than relying on rain.
http://www.organic-center.org/reportfiles/Energy_SSR_Cons_Summary.pdf

Buzz

Welcome to Snikiddy!

Snikiddy Snacks are here!  This is a very exciting time for us.  For years, our family devoured Snikiddy Snacks.  Now, we can offer them to you and your children.  Snikiddy Snacks are not only a healthy alternative to “otherâ€? snack offerings, but also provide the opportunity for you and your children to share your ideals, thoughts and experiences with other families like yours.  Through our very interactive web-site, which my husband Brett has been so intricately involved with, you can share ideas with other families, participate in our wiki cookbook (submit and see great cooking healthy ideas) and exchange thoughts on our message board.

This blog is my blog.  I am the co-founder (along with my mom) of Snikiddy Snacks.  I am a mother of two children.  My first-born is Sunny, she is now 20 months old and the newest addition to our family is Sadie who is now 8 weeks old.  As you can imagine this has been a very exciting and busy time for our family, but we have loved every moment along the way.  I, as a working mom, work not only at Snikiddy Snacks but also to balance the act that may be the toughest one known.  I call it the working family act.  Thankfully for our wonderful extended family we have lots of help and support and are able to “do it allâ€?.

I will be posting on this blog once a week to keep you up to speed on what is going on with Snikiddy Snacks as well as to share any pertinent experiences that I think might be helpful for readers.  Please join me each Monday morning to see what’s new. 

Thank you for all your Snikiddy Snacks support thus far, enjoy our healthy snacks, my commentary and most of all, “Have a Healthy Day!�

Mary Schulman

Natural Products Expo West 2007

The largest natural products show in the country runs from March 9th-11th.  Located in Anaheim, Expo West will feature over 2600 exhibitors.  Stop by booth 1791 for some Snikiddy Snacks!

Organic Labeling

Organically labeled products must be processed and handled in a certified organic processing plant and there cannot be any mixing of organic and non-organic ingredients.

Products made with organic ingredients are placed in one of four labeling categories. Those categories are as follows:

1) 100% Organic : In order to carry this claim, all ingredients [except salt and water] must be produced and processed organically. Usually, this refers to the raw product such as fruits or vegetables. Nothing can be added, including vitamins or minerals.

2) Organic: If you see a product that is labeled “organic� [such as Snikiddy Snacks] that means at least 95% of the product is made from organic ingredients [again, with the exception of salt and water.] It cannot contain any sulfites [commonly used preservatives].

3) Made with Organic Ingredients: This means the item is made from at least 70% organic ingredients.

4) Less than 70% Organic Ingredients: This is self-explanatory.

** Only products that are 100% organic or 95% organic can display the USDA organic label. We are very proud to be certified organic, with over 95% of our ingredients grown and processed organically.

Labeling : http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/ProdHandlers/LabelTable.htm

What is the difference between products labeled Organic and products labeled Natural?

Although the terminology seems similar, there is actually a huge difference. Products labeled “natural� or “all-natural� means that there are no artificial ingredients, no artificial coloring and no chemical preservatives. Additionally, the ingredients are minimally processed.

So the “natural� label refers to the ingredients themselves, but NOT how they were grown or handled. So it may contain tomatoes, which are natural, but those tomatoes were grown using pesticides or perhaps they were genetically modified. There are no governmental certification regulations for labeling products “natural.�

While natural products are certainly better for you than ones chock full of artificial ingredients, they are not held to the same strict standards as products carrying an organic label.

Are Organic Products Really Better For My Kids?

Yes! According to the Environmental Protection Agency, children are up to ten times more sensitive to toxins and chemical pesticides than adults. This is because kids are still growing and developing; in relation to their body weights, children eat more than adults, which can increase their exposure to and ingestion of pesticides. Pesticides can block the absorption of necessary nutrients as well as possibly causing negative side effects such as long-term developmental problems. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/pest.htm


Research done in 2002 by scientists at the University of Washington discovered that pesticide residues were six times higher in children who primarily ate foods that were grown conventionally than in children who ate predominantly organic food. [http://www.ehponline.org/members/2003/5754/5754.html] An apple can be sprayed 16 different times with chemicals throughout its growth.  You can find more statistics on the benefits of eating organic here: http://www.ota.com/organic/benefits/health.html
Doesn’t it cost more to purchase organic foods?


Organic products may cost a bit more, but we here at Snikiddy Snacks think that the benefits well outweigh the price difference. And hopefully, if more and more people turn to the organic options the cost will eventually recede a bit. Either way, we will continue to provide you and your family with delicious organic treats to enjoy whenever and wherever you’d like.

Evolution of Snikiddy

Banana Nibbles

Chocolate Chippers

Our people

Cherry Oaties

Create Your Own Adventure Pack

We’ll show you how to customize your Adventure Pack.  Take a picture and send it in, we’ll feature the winners on our website!

Hey kids! Thanks for buying our tasty Snikiddy Snacks! Now that you’ve turned your Adventure Pack into a cool carrying case, why not decorate it and have your parents send us a photo of you and your box? We’ll post the photos right here!

You can use the Snikiddy Adventure Pack box for lots of fun things! Color it orange and black and use it to carry your Halloween candy.  Or paint it with blues and greens and take it to the beach to collect sea shells. You can add glitter, and glue on some buttons and give it to your mom to hold some sewing supplies.  The box can hold crafting supplies or rocks and stones from a nearby creek.  Decorate it with brilliantly colored autumn leaves for a holiday centerpiece.  Or turn it into a sweet fort or hideout for your action figures. Or fill it with Snikiddy Snacks to share with your friends while having a tea party. You could even turn it into a pretty plant holder – just be sure to only use silk plants or flowers because the boxes aren’t waterproof.

Get creative! Get colorful! And send us the proof. We can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Instructions

1) On each side of the box you will see ----- lines, cut along each line with a pair of scissors.
2) Find some sort of string (be creative)
3) Insert one end of string into one of the cut slits (from outside to inside)
4) Tie Knot
5) Insert other end of string into other cut slit tie knot
6) You now have an Adventure Pack to decorate and collect your favorite outdoor things
7) Send us your pictures and you have a chance to have your Adventure Pack pictures and stories featured on our website.
8) Take a picture of your new customized Adventure Pack and email it to

Coming Soon

We plan on doing lots of great podcasts, so stay tuned!

Activity of the Week

Plant a Tree
Ask your parents to help you find a tree seedling.

Materials:

Tree seedling
Wood chips/mulch


Directions:

Dig a hole bigger than the seedlings roots.
Pour water into the hole to give your tree an extra drink on its first day.
Set the tree in the hole and cover its roots with soil, filling the hole and packing the dirt around it as you go.
Put wood chips, bark, and leaves around the base of the tree, but not right next to the trunk. The leaves and bark will break down and provide food for the tree. This is called mulching.
Water the tree regularly the first few weeks.


Note: Plant your tree on a special occasion like the first day of school, a birthday, the day you move into a new house, or when a baby brother or sister is born.  This will help to give meaning to the tree you grow.

Organic Trade Association

Rapadura

USDA Organic

Fitness Advisor

Pizza Pie Puffs

Grilled Cheese Puffs

Health e-Lunch Kids

Oregon Tilth

Rockin’ Ranch Puffs

KOF-K

Organic Consumers Association

O’MAMA Report

Human Development Systems

Ecology health Center

Grist

SB-12

The Campaign.org

I’m Organic

What’s in your Milk?

Natural Products Expo East 2006

Visit Booth 2410 at the Natural Foods Expo East show in Baltimore October 5th-7th.  Come by, say hello, and sample Snikiddy Snacks.

Natural Food Network

Natural Food Network

The Shelf Life

Organic Authority

Gastrokid

Nature Moms

Organic Products Retailer

The Serious Business of Fun Snacks
Organic cookies and crackers have taken on added importance for consumers, meaning changes in how manufacturers market these products. Retailers should follow suit.
Read more at Organic Products Retailer.

Mom’s Blog