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The perfect summer campfire is not complete without the ooey and gooey goodness of a warm, sticky s'more.

I love s'mores.

But the dietitian/ mama/ foodie in me has led me to craving something more. If you are looking to jazz up the flavor and nutrition of this classic summer treat, here are some ideas that you and the kiddos are sure to enjoy ... (okay, some of these are absolutely more for the grown up palate, but you deserve a fun treat too!)

First, Choose Your Graham Cracker Wisely

Not all graham crackers are created equal. Avoid grahams with high fructose syrup or partially-hydrogenated oils in the ingredient list. Gluten-free "graham crackers" are also available in many stores.

Second, Choose Your Marshmallows Wisely

Your best bet would be to make your own marshmallows following a recipe like this one, but if you are in a pinch there are options available at health food stores sans artificial colors and artificial flavors. Some more "natural" marshmallows still have carrageenan in them (carrageenean is a food additive derived from seaweed that has been associated with inflammation in the body), while others may be made with fish gelatin. S'mores can also be made without marshmallows like a few of the ideas listed below.

Third, Choose Your S'More

1) Dark Chocolate Coconut S'More

Swap out your usual milk chocolate for a rich dark chocolate instead. Dark chocolate will not only boost the flavor profile of your s'more, but will pack in more antioxidant (a.k.a. disease fighting) action from compounds known as flavanols. If you feel like getting really fancy, you can select a fun variety of dark chocolate (raspberry, cherry almond, cocoa nib, sea salt.........), otherwise you can sprinkle some unsweetened coconut flakes over your chocolate to make this treat complete.

2) Berry Good S'More

S'Mores can be 'Berry Good' in so many ways:

  • Option #1: Tuck a few berries (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries) into your usual s'more. Mush them down a little bit to increase the likelihood that they will stay.
  • Option #2: No chocolate, only berries mixed into the gooey marshmallow goodness.
  • Option #3: No chocolate, no marshmallow. Use a generous dollop of yogurt or homemade whipping cream on your graham with berries instead.

3) Butter, Banana and Honey S'More

Natural nut or seed butter of your choice, thinly sliced banana, drizzle of local honey and a warm marshmallow. You are welcome.

4) Jammin' Out S'Mores

If your farmers market is like mine, it is jam packed (pun intended) with a variety of homemade jams, curds and jellies. This opens up your jammin' out s'more to a lot of variety, like some of these options below.

MOJITO:

Key Lime or Lemon Curd, Blueberries, Pinch of Sea Salt, Mint leaves, Marshmallow on a graham cracker. This treat has become my new favorite.

CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRY:

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam, Dark Chocolate, Marshmallow on a graham cracker.

PB& J:

Nut butter, Jam of choice, Marshmallow on a graham cracker

PEACHES AND CREAM:

Peach Jam, Cinnamon, Marshmallow on a graham cracker.

5) You Avocado Hass this S'More

Just add thinly sliced avocado to your usual s'more. That's it. There is a subtle taste difference but the treat is richer and has the added benefit of heart healthy fat. Enjoy!

6) Sweet Potato Casserole S'More

Add a dollop of mashed sweet potato, cinnamon and a drizzle of honey to your s'more (with or without chocolate) and you will be reminded of this traditional holiday dish!

In case you were wondering..........

The invention of the S'More is actually somewhat of a mystery. A recipe for a treat called "Some Mores" was found in a Girl Scout publication back in the 20's.