Tasty and healthy snacks for hungry kids

It’s a season for sweets and treats for the kids, and adults alike. While all those rich goodies may be deliciously tempting, too much of a good thing is, well, too much of a good thing.

Balance the gobbling of sugar-laden goodies with healthful options that are as tasty as they are nutritious.

Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

This chewy granola bar recipe is fun to make and can be customized to kids’ tastes (or whatever is in your cupboard!) Serves: 12-20 Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins Total Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

2 cups (500 ml) oats ½ cup (125 ml) sugar ½ tsp (2 ml) salt ¼ tsp (1 ml) cinnamon or other spices as desired (cardamom, nutmeg, etc.) 2½ cups (300 g) additions: dried fruits, seeds, nuts, flax meal, bran cereal, puffed rice cereal, crushed pretzels, chocolate chips, etc. 1/3 cup (80 ml) peanut or other nut butter 6 Tbsp. (90 ml) Oleiva Traditional Extra Virgin Olive Oil ¼ cup (60 ml) honey, maple syrup, or Agave syrup 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) water

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180˚C (350˚F). Depending on desired thickness, line a square (8x8 or 9x9) or rectangular (9x13) baking dish with parchment paper, then lightly grease the paper with Oleiva Traditional Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Thicker bars are a little more decadent, if you’re planning on using this as a dessert. 2. Process the oats in a blender or food processor until finely ground.

3. If necessary, chop up dried fruit and nuts. Raisin-size pieces are fine, but dried apricots, or apples, let’s say – should probably be chopped.

4. Stir together all dry ingredients (oats, ground oats, sugar, salt, cinnamon, fruits/ nuts/seeds). 5. Whisk together wet ingredients – oil, honey, peanut butter, and water.

6. Mix together the wet and dry ingredients, then spread in the pan. Press firmly into the corners and edges so the top is even.

7. Bake for around 30 minutes, until the top starts to brown. Thicker bars will likely take longer, so you’ll need to watch them, depending on how much batter you’ve spread in what size pan. The edges will become deep golden and they may feel underdone in the center, but that’s okay. They’ll firm quite nicely as they cool.

8. Let cool in the pan on a cooling rack for at least 20 minutes, then take them out of the pan using the parchment. Let cool completely before cutting.

Caramel Apple ChexTM Trail Mix

This easy snack mix will be gobbled up in no time by the kids and parents. A healthier alternative to candy canes and chocolate bites!

Ingredients

2½ cups Cinnamon Chex cereal 2½ cups Corn Chex cereal 1½ cups caramel corn 1 cup original apple chips, broken into bite-sized pieces ½ cup dried cranberries

Instructions

In large bowl, combine ingredients and mix well. Store in covered container.