Snacks

  • Snacks & Sides

    Entertaining Kids the Healthy Way: Make Cacao Oat Bars Together

    A post about how to make simple Cacao oat bars for kids. Are you looking for some great healthy snacks to replace chocolate? Look no further than this fun and interactive activity that promotes healthy eating habits!

    Are you tired of constantly saying “no” to your child’s request for a sweet treat? The key to providing your little ones with healthy snacks they will actually enjoy is simple: get them involved in the preparation! Making cacao baked oat bars together is a fun and interactive activity that promotes healthy eating habits. In this article, we will explore why healthy snacking is important for kids, the benefits of cooking with your children, and provide step-by-step instructions for making this delicious treat. We will also share tips for making the most out of this fun activity and how to incorporate healthy eating habits into your child’s daily routine. So get ready to bond with your children while whipping up a delicious and nutritious snack that will leave your taste buds wanting more!

    Why Healthy Snacking is Important for Kids

    Now, let’s take a moment to discuss why healthy snacking is so important for kids. Providing your child with nutritious snacks is crucial to their overall health and well-being. Snacks can contribute to a child’s daily nutrient intake, supporting healthy growth and development. But it’s not just about providing healthy snacks – it’s also about setting a good example for your kids. When children see their parents making healthy choices, they are more likely to adopt those same habits themselves.

    Healthy snacking can also help prevent childhood obesity and other health complications. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity affects around 19% of children and adolescents in the United States. By encouraging healthy snacking habits early on, we can help prevent obesity and associated health problems later in life.

    Overall, healthy snacking is an important part of a child’s diet, and making cacao baked oat fingers together is a fun and delicious way to promote healthy eating habits. So let’s get cooking and enjoy a healthy snack with our little ones!

    The Benefits of Cooking with Your Children

    Cooking with your children has numerous benefits beyond just creating a healthy snack. It’s a great opportunity to spend quality time as a family, teach life skills, and encourage creativity. When children are involved in the cooking process, they are more likely to try new foods and develop an appreciation for healthy eating.

    In addition, cooking with your children can improve their vocabulary, reading, and math skills. Measuring ingredients, following directions, and adjusting recipes also promote problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. Making cacao baked oat fingers together can be a learning experience for both parents and children.

    Furthermore, cooking with your children can build their confidence and self-esteem. Seeing the finished product of their hard work and creativity can give them a sense of accomplishment and pride. It’s also a great way to teach responsibility and teamwork.

    With all the benefits that come with cooking with your children, it’s no wonder that it’s becoming a popular activity for families. So grab your aprons and get ready to make some delicious and healthy cacao baked oat fingers together!

    Now that we know the benefits of cooking with our children, let’s move on to what you’ll need for this recipe.

    Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Cacao Baked Oat Fingers

    Cacao Baked Oat Bars

    Cacao Baked Oat Bars

    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup bio yogurt
    • 1 tbsp cacao powder
    • 1 egg
    • Handful of Cacao nibs

    Instructions

    1. Mix the yogurt and egg in a bowl and whisk until mixed.
    2. Add in the cacao powder and mix until smooth.
    3. Add in the oats and mix.
    4. Add cacao nibs and fold through the mixture.
    5. Pour into baking tin.
    6. Bake on 200 degrees C for 20-25 minutes.

    Tips for Making the Most out of this Fun and Interactive Activity

    Now that you and your child are ready to make cacao baked oat fingers together, here are some tips to make the most out of this fun and interactive activity:

    1. Get Creative: Encourage your child to get creative with the toppings. Use fresh fruit, nuts, or even a drizzle of honey to add different flavors and textures to the oat fingers.
    2. Involve your children: Get your children involved in the process by letting them measure the ingredients, mix the dough, and shape the oat fingers. This will not only help them learn basic cooking skills but also make them more interested in healthy eating.
    3. Use this as a bonding activity: Use this opportunity to bond with your child. Talk to them about healthy eating and why it’s important for their health. This can also be a great way to spend quality time together and create happy memories.

    By involving your child in the process of making healthy snacks, you’re not only teaching them healthy eating habits but also making it a fun and interactive experience. Next, let’s take a look at some simple ways to incorporate healthy eating habits into your child’s daily routine.

    How to Incorporate Healthy Eating Habits into Your Child’s Daily Routine

    One of the most effective ways to instill healthy eating habits in your child is to make it a part of their daily routine. Here are some simple tips on how to do just that:

    1. Make healthy food easily accessible: Keep a bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter or stock up on healthy snacks such as carrot sticks and hummus, sliced apples with peanut butter, or homemade granola bars. When healthy food is readily available, your child is more likely to choose it over less nutritious options.
    2. Set a good example: Children are more likely to adopt healthy habits when they see their parents doing the same. Make a conscious effort to model healthy eating habits by choosing nutritious foods and avoiding junk food.
    3. Involve your child in meal planning: Let your child help you plan meals for the week, and encourage them to choose healthy options. This will give them a sense of ownership over their food choices and make them more likely to try new things.
    4. Make mealtime enjoyable: Eating should be a pleasurable experience, so try to make mealtimes stress-free and enjoyable. Avoid pressuring your child to eat or using food as a reward or punishment, as this can create negative associations with healthy eating.

    By incorporating these simple tips into your child’s daily routine, you can help them develop healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime. And by making healthy snacks together, like these cacao baked oat bars, you can reinforce these habits while creating happy memories with your child.,

    Making cacao baked oat bars with your children not only provides a fun and interactive activity, but also promotes healthy eating habits. By incorporating this recipe into your child’s daily routine, you are setting them up for a lifetime of good health and wellness. Cooking with your children is an excellent way to bond and teach them important life skills. Get your children involved in the kitchen and create some wonderful memories while promoting healthy snacking habits.

  • Breakfast, Food

    6 ridiculously easy toddler breakfast ideas

    You know what it is like, another morning where all you want is to sit down over your coffee (or tea) but your brain immediately springs into breakfast mode and what on this earth you are going feed your toddler today.

    We had a great weaning journey from 6 months to a year. So far (at 19 months) she eats everything but tomatoes. I used to share weaning content all the time so I thought I would bring myself out of retirement and share with you some ridiculously easy toddler breakfasts to break up the monotony.

    blur breakfast close up dairy product
    Photo by Ash on Pexels.com

    Let’s get started with the breakfast ideas

    Pancakes

    A firm breakfast favourite in our house is pancakes and I have found these brilliant from weaning and beyond. I use a really simple pancake recipe that is very easy to make. As a side note it also makes great Yorkshire Puddings too. We do have the swan pancake maker which does make perfectly sized pancakes for little hands, but you can easily make these in a regular pan too. Pre-1 year old I would always serve up pancakes plain with the addition of fruit with some yogurt as well. Now she is past 1 years old I still do this but I will also have options such as adding honey. Honey is only suitable for children over 1 year – please do your own research on this. Now I usually add honey with lemon or with her strawberries – and she absolutely loves it. 

    Omelette

    We have a joke in our house that weekends equal omelette as that is her dad’s favourite thing to serve her for breakfast and he often gets up with her and does her breakfast at weekends. There are so many options when it comes to making an omelette and we just crack an egg and whisk it and fry it in a pan. You can add anything vegetables you like as well as topping it with cheese. In our house anything with cheese always goes down well. 

    Baked oat fingers

    Baked oat fingers are a great on the go breakfast or something to pop alongside other parts of the breakfast. These are well loved by both us and our toddler, and there are so many different variations you can create. I tend to stick towards fruits such as blueberries, strawberries or raspberries but I have been known to throw in some chocolate chips from time to time when I make some for us. I have the basic recipe here but you can totally make what works for you. Next on my agenda is peanut butter and banana (I will share the recipe when I have it) and I really recommend white chocolate and raspberry. These can be frozen and eaten hot or cold.

    Baked oat fingers breakfast

    Waffle fingers

    Like above these are another great recipe that you can serve alone or as part of your toddlers breakfast. I don’t have the waffle recipe written out but there will be so many online that you can use. I know I did lemon and blueberry and they went down a treat. All you need to do is create (or replicate) the recipe, cook the waffles in a waffle maker or square mould and then cut them into fingers. I batch cooked these and then put them into the freezer and bought them out 1 or 2 at a time. You can serve these hot or cold.

    Some cereals

    I am, in general, against breakfast cereals because the sugar content is so damn high and they offer very little in terms of nutrition. However, we do have a couple of exceptions and she loves them; Cornflakes or plain weetabix. These work brilliantly on days where I just want to get something served up quickly.

    Egg muffins

    These are a great option any time of day and for adults and toddlers alike. We loved serving these up when we were weaning as they were so simple for H to hold and eat herself. For the recipe, I usually eyeball what I am doing and don’t necessarily follow a strict recipe. I would add a couple of eggs, a dash (or more of milk), some grated cheese and some vegetables. Mix everything together, pour them into a silicone cupcake cases and sprinkle some grated cheese on top. Then cook for about 15 minutes or until well done. These are then stored in the fridge and last a couple of days, if they’ve not been eaten by then.

    My daughter has always been weaned using the baby led weaning approach. We waited until the recommended 6 months before trying her first foods. I hope this helps you on your weaning journey. If you are just starting out don’t forget to download my popular 100 foods before 1 checklist – it’s a lot of fun!