Eleanor took fairy ballet classes through the park district for a little while, which consisted of an adorable group of little girls in ballerina outfits and wings, wandering around in a loose circle to classical music. I’m not sure how much she learned, but who cares? She liked it and had fun. She wasn’t taking any classes for a while because we spent the summer up in Wisconsin while we were between houses, but a couple of months ago, she brought up those dance classes again, asking if she could take more lessons. She didn’t want to do fairy ballet though — that’s for babies. She wanted to do ninja ballet, which sounds like an awesome (albeit nonexistent) fusion. Brandon and I explained that she could take ninja/karate lessons or dance, but not both, and she chose the ninja path.
Eleanor came with me to watch a class before signing up. We both liked what we saw, and she had her first karate lesson last month. The only problem is that her day at nursery school ends fifteen minutes before her karate lessons start. Twice a week, I pick her up ten minutes early so that she can get changed into her uniform before getting her winter gear on. She’s super-proud of her uniform, and I’m sure it helps that her school friends ooh and ahh over it. “Eleanor, you’re shirt is great!” “Eleanor, is that your karate uniform? Cool!” She feels rather chuffed with herself.
On days when she has lessons after school, she’s gone from lunch until dinner time, so we’ve talked about how she needs good food to fuel her body for a busy day. It must have stuck with her because after an energetic and successful round of kicks one day, she bowed low, and respectfully told her teacher, “I ate a taco.”
The kids eat a small snack at school each day, but Eleanor often needs a little something before her lesson too. We’ve been trying out NatureBox for snacks at home, and I usually carry a bag with me in my purse for the kids. They’re good, wholesome snacks (no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors, and no high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, or trans fats), and Eleanor refers to the Blueberry Almond Bites as her “karate snacks.” The bags each have 3-5 servings, and I like that we can put a subscription on auto-pilot and receive the same thing each time, or switch it up and try new flavors. You can also choose what size you want to arrive monthly from NatureBox: Deluxe Snacker (5 bags), Happy Snacker (10 bags) and Smart Snacker (20 bags), with free shipping in the US (or $1.97 to Alaska and Hawaii).
Of course, we’re enjoying the snacks here at home too. (Those Sweet Blueberry Almonds are so good!)
Win a Deluxe Snacker Subscription
If you’d like to try NatureBox, they’re offering a discount for new customers, 50% off your first box of any size, using the code LOVELY. They’re also giving away two free 6-month Deluxe Snacker subscriptions here to two winners! The giveaway is open until midnight CST, January 23, to US readers only, and you must have a US shipping address. To enter, take a look at the snacks NatureBox offer, then leave a comment below with the one you’d like to try. Good luck!
Andrea
January 16, 2014 at 9:12 amBaked sweet potato fries :) Yum.
Laura @ Rather Square
January 16, 2014 at 9:13 amOh wow, karate/ninja class sounds so much cooler than ballet class. I hope I don’t meet Eleanor in a dark alley someday. ;)
lauralye
January 16, 2014 at 9:15 amThey have so many goodies to choose from! I would love to try the french toast granola, it sounds delicious!
Amy
January 16, 2014 at 9:15 amThe blueberry figgy bars look great. My son would love them!
Melissa lamons
January 16, 2014 at 9:18 amThe mighty mix looks yummy!
Lyn M
January 16, 2014 at 9:18 amThe Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper Pumpkin Seeds sound so yummy! We are thinking about trying Karate with our 4 yr old son. We need to go watch a class!
Jessica
January 16, 2014 at 9:21 amThose praline pumpkin seeds have my mouth watering!
maria anne
January 16, 2014 at 9:23 amOoooh, I can’t pick just one! The sea salt and cracked pepper pumpkin seeds look delicious. So do the baked sweet potato fries! And the baked citrus chipotle chickpeas! Too many to choose, so I might as well stop there.
xo
Maria Anne
chiara
January 16, 2014 at 9:25 amThe chipotle maple almonds look scruuuuumpppptttttious!
Hannah
January 16, 2014 at 9:29 amChili lime pistachios. I need to do a better job of planning my snacks throughout the day to keep me out of the office candy bowl.
Jody Carr
January 16, 2014 at 9:29 amI don’t think there is room to post the ones I would like to try! All the nuts look delicious, and the guacamole bits look awesome as well!
Emma
January 16, 2014 at 9:30 amThe French Toast Granola! Oh. My. Word. :)
Kate
January 16, 2014 at 9:31 amThe blueberry figgy bars look awesome!!
Linda
January 16, 2014 at 9:32 amThe Lemon Meringue Waffles sound yummy, and I am a sucker for peaches so the Dried California Peaches also look great!
ryan
January 16, 2014 at 9:33 amWe’re trying to eat more vegan meals/snacks over here and I love how easy they make it to search by that option! I think I’d have to try the chipotle chickpeas!
Jessica @ SundayLoves.com
January 16, 2014 at 9:34 amThe Mighty Mix looks soooo good. I think I’d like that for my CrossFitting days. :)
Eleanor looks great in her uniform. Way to go on the healthy snacks, too!
Kim
January 16, 2014 at 9:35 amAll of these would be great for snacking at work! But the peanut butter nom noms look so good!
Adrienne
January 16, 2014 at 9:36 amAny pumpkin seeds. Yum!! I also think I want to take karate! :)
Sarah
January 16, 2014 at 9:37 am“I had a taco”! Ha, I love that so much! Glad Eleanor is having fun. Kick some ass, kid!
Kelly
January 16, 2014 at 9:39 amThe Vanilla Macaroon Granola looks delish!
Sarah
January 16, 2014 at 9:41 amOh man, they all look so good. I’d really like to try the flax fortune cookies or the cocoa waffle wafers!
Amy P.
January 16, 2014 at 9:43 amOh wow, everything looks amazing! I’m having a hard time deciding between the salted caramel pretzel pops and the dark cocoa almonds. The sriracha roasted cashews look awesome, too!
Corrie
January 16, 2014 at 9:45 amLemon Tea Biscuits look awesome!
Diana G
January 16, 2014 at 9:48 amThe blueberry figgy bars look so good
andrea
January 16, 2014 at 9:50 amdark chocolate berry trail mix looks awesome!
Elizabeth
January 16, 2014 at 9:51 amThe salt & pepper pumpkin seeds and rice crackers look delicious, but I actually exclaimed ‘Oh figs!’ out loud when I saw the dried figs. I love figs and they are so hard to find fresh in Chicago. Oh, figs! It sounds like I’m trying not to curse!
gina
January 16, 2014 at 9:53 amlemon tea biscuits. yum!
deborah clark
January 16, 2014 at 9:54 ampretty much anything they called “stix” looked amazing. also dried peach slices and honey crisps
sassygirl
January 16, 2014 at 9:55 amI’ve always wondered about these snacks! And I would love to try the Honey Mustard Dippin’ Stixs!
krissy
January 16, 2014 at 9:56 amThose garden tomato crunchies look so good! Such a crazy mix of flavors!
WES
January 16, 2014 at 10:00 amWow those look great. Sadly for those of us with kids with food allergies that company is not a good fit from their FAQ “All of our snacks are currently processed in a facility that may also process wheat, milk, eggs, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, and seeds” :(
Looks like I will continue to have to make all snacks at home or buy high priced safe snacks to get a respite from the kitchen.
Sarah
January 16, 2014 at 10:00 amRoasted kettle kernels, all day long. (PS, Eleanor is the coolest!)
Rebecca H
January 16, 2014 at 10:01 amSriracha roasted cashews please!
Tricia
January 16, 2014 at 10:02 amThe garden tomato crunchies and the avacado bites look amazing.
Chelsea
January 16, 2014 at 10:08 amDark Chocolate Berry Trail Mix YUM! thanks for the chance to try it out.
Maureen
January 16, 2014 at 10:09 amIt’s a toss up between the blueberry nom noms and the honey mesquite almonds!
Jane
January 16, 2014 at 10:11 amOoh, all of the dried fruit and berries sound yummy — especially the peaches and the cherry berry bonanza.
Julianne
January 16, 2014 at 10:15 amThe cashew power clusters look tasty!
Sadie
January 16, 2014 at 10:15 amYum! I’d love to try the french toast granola!
Amy Kelly
January 16, 2014 at 10:17 amI love that Eleanor is taking karate! My brother and I both took karate growing up (all the way to black belt) and we both have so many happy memories from our lessons.
The NatureBox snacks all look AMAZING, but I think the Roasted Garlic Pumpkin Seeds have me literally salivating. ;)
Amanda
January 16, 2014 at 10:18 amThe dark cocoa almonds look yummy!
Megan
January 16, 2014 at 10:18 amMmmm! They all look good don’t they. Umm…how about the wild blueberry flax granola. That looks pretty good! Thank you!
Nollee
January 16, 2014 at 10:21 amSalted Caramel Pretzel Pops, please! Sweet+Salty=Perfection!
Tiffany
January 16, 2014 at 10:24 amDark cocoa almonds! Mmmmm….
Parakh
January 16, 2014 at 10:27 amSeriously?! Siracha Roasted Cashews?! umm…YUM!!!! I would totally eat everything myself!
Angie
January 16, 2014 at 10:28 amLemon Pucker Pistachios! Yummy!
ryan
January 16, 2014 at 10:33 amall the spiced nuts and dried fruits look AMAZING. little eleanor is so adorable in her karate gear!
Whitney
January 16, 2014 at 10:33 amI’d like to try the Salted Caramel Pretzel Pops!
diana
January 16, 2014 at 10:37 amlove all of the dried fruit options! pineapple would be delicious.
AliceB
January 16, 2014 at 10:39 amVanilla macaroon granola!
And I don’t even know if they do lessons for children, but isn’t there Brazilian dance fighting? Capoeira, I think? Sounds a lot like ninja ballet :)
Jo Schaeffer-Crabb
January 16, 2014 at 10:39 amI LOVE Naturebox! They have such great offerings. I’ve been wanting to try their blueberry nom noms and french toast granola! Mmmmm what a great giveaway. Thanks!
kelly
January 16, 2014 at 10:41 amFrench toast granola please!
Emily
January 16, 2014 at 10:44 amOoooh, I gave some Naturebox Snacks as a gift, but I soooo want to try them myself. Especially the Praline pumpkin seeds and the Mexicana mango. Yum.
Katie
January 16, 2014 at 10:48 amHey, thank you! I have never heard of this company, and I just signed up because of your recommendation and discount. Thanks for the helpful post.
Liz
January 16, 2014 at 10:50 amOoooh! Sign me up for the sun-dried California peaches. Those sound divine!
Becky
January 16, 2014 at 10:51 amEverything looks so delcious it’s hard to choose just one thing! I would love to try the praline pumpkin seeds and the bbq sunflower seeds.
Jill
January 16, 2014 at 10:52 amThe praline pumpkin seeds and the dried peaches sound great!
Hillary
January 16, 2014 at 10:54 ami am always looking for dairy free snacks so the whole wheat figgy bars look especially amazing right now!
Joyce
January 16, 2014 at 10:55 amThanks for the giveaway! I’d like to try the Aztec chia seed trail mix.
Janet M
January 16, 2014 at 10:56 amLemon Tea Biscuits are up my alley, but I think the tart & tangy fruit medley would appeal to the tot in my house.
amy v
January 16, 2014 at 11:01 amthey had me at cherry crumble granola!
Ellen
January 16, 2014 at 11:01 amSo many delicious looking choices, but I’d pick the Whole Wheat Raspberry Figgy Bars!
Anne
January 16, 2014 at 11:02 amCitrus Chipotle Chickpeas please. Yummy!
Carolyn
January 16, 2014 at 11:04 amHow can you pick just one?! The Honey Nut Medley, Italian Bistro Pretzels, Dark Chocolate Berry Trail mix..the list goes on and on :D
Jodi
January 16, 2014 at 11:08 amoh, man, NINJA BALLET sounds amazing! you should totally make that a thing.
also, those snacks look super tasty!
brandi
January 16, 2014 at 11:13 amThose praline pumpkin seeds look amazing!
Emily L
January 16, 2014 at 11:19 amI would totally try the Blueberry Almond Bites and the French Toast Granola!
Katie
January 16, 2014 at 11:22 amBanana Bread or Apple Orchard Granola for sure!
KimberlyH
January 16, 2014 at 11:28 amYummmmm! I’d love to try so many but those sea salt and cracked pepper pumpkin seeds are definitely calling my name!
Christa
January 16, 2014 at 11:33 amCoconut Macaroon Granola sounds wonderful!
nicole i
January 16, 2014 at 11:33 amThe trail mix and the dried fruits look fantastic as do the almond clusters. What a clever business.
Megan C.
January 16, 2014 at 11:34 amCherry crumble granola or French toast granola. I do love granola!
Kim Q
January 16, 2014 at 11:35 amThe vanilla macaroon granola looks awesome (but so did so many other ones)! Thanks for the opportunity.
Janna
January 16, 2014 at 11:37 amThose Citrus Chipotle Chickpeas look great
Betsy
January 16, 2014 at 11:40 am“I ate a taco.” That made me laugh out loud!!
We’d probably go for the Naturebox chick peas. Either flavor. We’re big fans.
Carly
January 16, 2014 at 11:40 amMMMMM Peppery chickpeas… yes please! Everything looks great and has made my stomach growl.
Stefani
January 16, 2014 at 11:49 amI’m gonna stick with Eleanor – those blueberry almond bites look delish!
Melissa S
January 16, 2014 at 11:51 amFor sweet I’d go with Cherry Ganache Granola and savory the Guacamole Bites.
Also, I love that Eleanor picked the ninja route! How cute!
Kay
January 16, 2014 at 12:00 pmOhhh! Lemon Tea Biscuits!
Maggie
January 16, 2014 at 12:03 pmPraline pumpkin seeds look super yummy!
Sadye
January 16, 2014 at 12:11 pmThose sweet blueberry almonds! Sold!
Kelly
January 16, 2014 at 12:11 pmCitrus chipotle chickpeas. Yummm.
Courtney M
January 16, 2014 at 12:13 pmI’d like those prailine pumpkin seeds dancing on my tastebuds, pronto!
adrienne
January 16, 2014 at 12:18 pmMmmmm..I’d love to try the Whole Wheat Raspberry Figgy Bars. I had no idea Nature Box did lactose free treats and I love that you can select your dietary restrictions right up front. HOW COOL!
Megan CC
January 16, 2014 at 12:18 pmThe honey mesquite almonds and the cherry crumble granola look so good! Yum!
Ashleigh
January 16, 2014 at 12:23 pmWW Raspberry Figgy Bars please!
katie
January 16, 2014 at 12:25 pmi’ve been meaning to try these, the guacamole bites look so yummy! i have a restricted diet due to health complications, and was recently diagnosed with another disease, so i’m about to be real confused again about what i can eat. something like this seems like a perfect test :)
Marissa
January 16, 2014 at 12:26 pmThere’s nothing I don’t want to try, but the apple orchard’s granola looks particularly tempting!
Abby k
January 16, 2014 at 12:30 pmyum! I would love to try the banana bread granola and the honey nut medley.
eileen
January 16, 2014 at 12:30 pmWould love to try the honey crunch crisps
Jolene
January 16, 2014 at 12:30 pmI love all things granola/trail mix-y so I would have a hard time choosing between those!
Linda L
January 16, 2014 at 12:32 pmfrench toast granola sounds delicious!
Laurie
January 16, 2014 at 12:38 pmI think I might have to start telling people I ate a taco whenever I do something well. That was hilarious!
French toast granola sounds wicked. I’ll bet I snarf it more than snack on it.
iris
January 16, 2014 at 12:39 pm50% off might be too irresistible to not try…I might have to take your recommendation with the sweet blueberry almonds.
iris
January 16, 2014 at 12:48 pmP.S. There’s Groupons around for 50% off your first *three* months of a Deluxe subscription. That might be the way to go…
Lisa MS
January 16, 2014 at 12:48 pmMMM blueberry almond bites!
Gab
January 16, 2014 at 12:49 pmThe blueberry almond bites look yummy.
fellowoakparker
January 16, 2014 at 12:50 pmThe peanut butter nom noms look good.
ErinY
January 16, 2014 at 12:57 pmThose dried granny smith apples look delicious!
Anna Ransdell
January 16, 2014 at 12:58 pmChipotle chick peas look yummy!
Haley J.
January 16, 2014 at 1:03 pmLemon pucker pistachios and sriracha roasted cashews sound amazing!! Ooooh, and salted caramel pretzel pops!