Smucker’s® #Snackation: Hiking #Smuckers #Sponsored

*This is a sponsored post from Smucker's and the #Snackation campaign. The J.M Smucker Company sent me free product samples, compensation and asked me to write about their products.  All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

With the first couple weeks of school under our belt, we are all wiped out from the hustle and bustle of the school week routine.  The girls are tired.  It's been hot in those non air-conditioned, old brick buildings. There's been homework and after school activities.  Yes, we had a long, lazy Summer but that all seems far behind us now.  

Our mornings are greeted with that mad rush, right through the day until pick up, dinner and then bedtime. Always running.  I feel like since we are all going in different directions these days, it's even more important to connect with one another.  I want our weekends to be spent with one another without too many plans, simply because we need some wind-down time.  The opportunity to sleep in a bit, even if "sleeping in" means 6AM!  We need to reconnect and catch up from the week. It's time for a Snackation!  Walmart is MY Snackation destination!

One activity that we love is hiking!  I've talked about our hikes in the past. There is just something about an afternoon in the woods, or on a trail that makes us come together again.  We can focus on nature, on the stillness of the forest, on squirrels, chipmunks and birds (no snakes please).  It's a pretty special time for us, something we like to share with one another, especially in the Fall. 

One essential on these hikes?  Snacks!  Snacks that fuel our bodies!  Last year I made the mistake of forgetting them...never again! This time, I wanted to make something deliciously memorable.  We headed to Walmart, our go to spot for good prices and brands. Here are a few of the Smucker’s® brand items we saw that would be great for our Snackation!

I thought this would be a great opportunity to test out a recipe using Smucker’s® Jams and their Jif Whips Creamy Whipped Peanut Butter. All of these items are well stocked at Walmart!  We are big Energy Bite people so I decided to go that route.  This recipe did not disappoint when working on my "test run". This recipe is easy, only FIVE ingredients!  You can add whatever Smucker's Brand jam you'd like, Smucker's Peanut Butter, seeds, nuts or dried fruit! 

PBJ Power Bites

• 1/4 Cup Smucker’s® Triple Berry Fruit Spread
• 1/2 Cup Jif Whips Creamy Whipped Peanut Butter
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds 
• 1 cup oatmeal 
• 2 tablespoons dried fruit 

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.  Roll into small balls and place on wax paper. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve. 

Now we have all the ingredients we need for our hike!  PBJ Power Bites, a wonderful forecast ahead and a full day with the family! Stay tuned tomorrow so I can tell you how things went!  Oh, and if you're heading out on your own adventure, be sure to head to Walmart to see what you can create with Smucker’s® Brand items and have your own #Snackation!