Smurfy Blue Energy Bites Kids Will Want to Pack Themselves
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Time to Read: 8 min
Welcome to The Pediatrician Kitchen at Ahimsa
I’m Dr. Manasa Mantravadi, pediatrician, mom of three, and founder of The Pediatrician Kitchen and Ahimsa. My mission is to help families feed their children well with recipes that are backed by science, grounded in simplicity, and joyful to make together.
To celebrate the launch of the Smurfs movie and our official Smurfs x Ahimsa partnership, I’ve created a naturally blue snack that’s fun, functional, and perfect for your child’s lunchbox, movie day, or after-school fuel.
It’s also an ideal fit for our stainless steel snack containers: durable, non-toxic, and perfectly sized for bites like these.
These Blueberry Coconut Energy Bites are inspired by the lovable Smurfs, who remind us to take care of our bodies, our communities, and our planet. This is a great recipe to make with your kids, and a fun way to turn snack time into a teaching moment.
About Ahimsa
Founded by a pediatrician and mom of three
Stainless steel is the only kid-friendly material recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
We are guided by a Scientific Advisory Council comprised of environmental and medical experts, guiding us in creating the safest products, following the latest science and promoting policy to protect human health and our planet
Want to know more? Check out our story and our products.
Why the Smurfs Inspired This Healthy Snack
The Smurfs represent values that align beautifully with what we teach at The Pediatrician Kitchen: living in harmony with nature, choosing health over hype, and using everyday habits to protect the planet.
Rather than using artificial dyes or sugary processed snacks, this recipe uses real, whole foods. The vibrant blue color comes from dried blueberries and optional spirulina, a natural, antioxidant-rich superfood.
And when these snacks are packed in a Smurfs x Ahimsa stainless steel container, they stay fresher longer and avoid contact with plastics that can leach chemicals.
Whether you’re watching the Smurfs movie or packing lunch, these energy bites are a perfect addition to your child’s day.
Recipe: Blueberry Coconut Energy Bites Recipe
5 minutes
15 Minutes
10-12 Bites
Snack
Ingredients:
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup dried unsweetened blueberries
- ⅓ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ¼ cup almond butter or sunflower seed butter
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 to 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon blue spirulina powder (optional, for color and added nutrients)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons water, as needed for texture
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, combine oats, blueberries, coconut, flaxseed, chia seeds, and spirulina.
- Add nut or seed butter and sweetener. Mix well until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Add water gradually if the mixture feels dry.
- Roll into small balls, about one inch in size.
- Place on a tray or container and chill for at least 15 minutes before serving. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Tip: Prep your bites using stainless steel snack bowls for a cleaner process. Then let the kids portion and pack them into their own Ahimsa containers.
Mealtime Essentials
How to Get Kids Involved in the Kitchen
When children participate in making their own meals or snacks, they’re more likely to try new foods and develop positive attitudes around nutrition. Here’s how to involve your kids at any age:
Toddlers (ages 2–3):
- Pour ingredients into the bowl
- Stir with help
- Count and roll the bites with clean hands
Preschoolers (ages 4–6):
- Measure dry ingredients
- Help scoop and shape the mixture into bites
- Choose their favorite add-ins or shapes
Elementary-aged kids (ages 7–10):
- Read the recipe and guide the prep
- Customize flavors with cinnamon, vanilla, or swaps
- Pack their own snack for school
Tweens and teens (ages 11+):
- Make the recipe independently
- Learn about the nutritional benefits of each ingredient
- Prepare snacks for the family or younger siblings
Let them pack their own snack into their Smurfs x Ahimsa container. Giving them a designated dish or bowl encourages ownership and reduces waste. Involving kids in meal prep builds confidence, encourages independence, and reinforces lifelong healthy habits.
Why We Pack It in the Smurfs x Ahimsa Round Container
Our Smurfs x Ahimsa stainless steel snack container is more than just a cute accessory—it’s part of a broader educational initiative that teaches kids about:
- Reducing single-use plastic through reuse
- Choosing safe, non-toxic materials
- Making health-forward choices, one snack at a time
These containers are leak-resistant, easy to open for little hands, and designed to last, making them a smarter alternative to plastic baggies or breakable boxes.
Together with the Smurfs movie, our Smurfs x Ahimsa curriculum helps turn every mealtime into an opportunity to build health, sustainability, and joy into your child’s day.
Culinary Medicine in Practice
At The Pediatrician Kitchen, we believe in breaking down the barriers that keep families from home cooking. This snack is a perfect example:
- Time: 10 minutes, no cooking required
- Cost: About $0.50 per bite
- Skill: Simple enough for preschoolers to help
Use stainless steel snack bowls and storage containers during prep to reinforce safe, mindful routines and reduce exposure to harmful plastics.
Culinary medicine is not about perfection. It’s about practical, consistent steps that support health in everyday life.
Final Thoughts
These Blueberry Coconut Energy Bites are Smurf-inspired, pediatrician-approved, and real-life ready. They’re a great way to celebrate the Smurfs movie with your family while reinforcing positive messages about nutrition, sustainability, and independence.
And with Ahimsa’s stainless steel containers and bowls, you’re giving your child the tools to build safe, sustainable routines, bite by bite.
Make them once and they’ll become a regular in your weekly rotation. Because sometimes, big health changes start with small, blue bites.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
More Mealtime Essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use stainless steel instead of plastic? Is stainless steel better for health?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in July 2018 suggesting ways that families can limit exposure to certain chemicals at mealtime, including “the use of alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” The report explained that “…some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard”. Further, “Children are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more, relative to body weight, than adults do, and are still growing and developing.” While stainless steel items meet the recommendation to avoid plastic products in children, Ahimsa® products have the obvious advantage of not breaking like glass.
Is stainless steel better for the environment than plastic?
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel can be recycled over and over and over again without losing its integrity and requires less energy to recycle than to make anew. Most plastic unfortunately ends up in landfills and it is estimated to take 700 years to decompose. Our special coloring process that allows Ahimsa® products to be fully metal is environmentally friendly, so it does not produce toxic run-off into the ecosystem.
Will Ahimsa products break or peel?
No. Our steel is durable, so it won’t break or shatter with everyday use, like glass. And it won’t peel, like other colored stainless steel products you’ve seen. We use a special process that allows the colors to naturally occur in the metal.
Which Ahimsa products are best for my little one(s)?
Our products are meant to last, you can use Ahimsa at ages 1, 8 and 18! We thoughtfully design our products to be safe for little ones and our planet while reducing consumption. Once your child outgrows the Starting Solids Set and can use regular cups and utensils, the training cup is the perfect size rinse cup in the bathroom, the infant spoon doubles as a tea stirrer and the bowl is great for snacks or as an additional compartment to our modular divided plate. Our plates are great for any age as they encourage choosing a variety of healthy foods at each meal and help visualize portion sizes easily. It’s the lasting beauty of stainless steel - grows with your child and reduces waste.
