Kids can be very fussy when it comes to food. It's something us Mums struggle with at times - well I know I do! There is something quite heart breaking about your carefully and lovingly prepared food being thrown back at you (sometimes quite literally!) I am, however, determined to establish a healthy attitude towards and education of food with my girls.
I am very aware of how detrimental food obsessions can be at either end of the scale so am very careful with how I word things with my girls.
We use "sometimes food" instead of "bad food" and place much more emphasis on how good certain foods are for us.
We educate the girls to know that eating healthy food is what helps us to learn and concentrate better, gives us energy to play and of course helps us to grow big and strong!
It is paying off. My 5 year old already has a very good sense of a healthy diet and is very interested in what food is healthy. The 2 year old is in the horrible stage of refusing most thing I put in front of her but luckily has a few healthy staples I can count on. I despair most days at mealtimes with her but have to remind myself that Ella, my eldest, did the same at 2 and is great now, so there is hope ;)
We certainly still have treats but they are a sometimes food reserved for special occasions and they aren't generally found in our house. My theory of 'if it's not there you can't eat it' applies to the kids too ;)
Thing is lots of kids like sweet things... or is that just in my house? Well actually the 2 year old is perhaps more of a savoury tooth, but I digress...
I made a decision this year to try really hard not to buy pre packed and to make things myself. This way I am assured of 'real' ingredients, less preservatives, less sugar, less fat and less packaging!
I have tried a few home made muesli bars that Ella has turned her nose up at but today I am sharing with you my latest victory!! This little baby is PACKED FULL of goodness but the secret to getting the kids to eat it is.... chocolate! Or more specifically Raw Cacao powder. If you aren't aware of the benefits of this super food you can read more here.
Essentially it delivers a chocolate taste with lots of added benefits!
Other SUPER ingredients in this recipe are :
Goji berries
Chia seeds
Dates
Linseeds
Pepitas
Sunflower seeds
Ella wouldn't usually eat any of these so I am wrapped that this slice has worked!
The slight "bargain" with this slice was that in order to make it more appealing I topped it with a thin layer of icing made from Cacao, icing sugar and water. But hey, if the kids are eating all the other things in it at the same time I'd say it was s good deal struck ;)
I don't know what the calorie/nutritional numbers are and I don't recommend eating loads of this if you are trying to lose weight but it certainly ticks the boxes as far as being a nutritious snack!
I cook a batch at the weekend and the slice and individually wrap ready for lunch boxes during the week.
Hope your family and friends enjoy this one too!
Jen xx
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| straight out of the oven |
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| wrapped and ready! |
Yummy scrummy, delicious & nutritious choc muesli slice
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup of desiccated coconut
2 tbsp of Raw Cacao powder
1 tbsp linseeds
1 tbsp sunflower seeds
1 tbsp peptias
1/2 cup goji berries
1 tbsp chia seeds
1/3 cup chia bran
1 cup of dates chopped
1 cup of apple sauce
1/3 cup of honey
Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Add apple sauce and honey.
Mix to combine.
Press firmly into a lined slice tin.
Cook in moderate oven for approx 15 mins - keep an eye on it and cook longer if you desire more crunch ;)
Once cool, top with icing made from 1 cup of icing sugar and 1 tbsp of cacao mixed with a little water.
