Hearty snacks

Susan Jane White Eats shoots & leaves

The soluble fibre in oats, known as beta-glucan, gives this carb its superstar status. We’re told that beta-glucans are a chain of immune-boosting polysaccharides, similar to those found in medicinal mushrooms. But they’ve also been shown to benefit heart health by latching onto cholesterol in the bowels and banishing it like unwanted vermin. Talent!

The other type of fibre, insoluble fibre, has the ability to police our bowels, improving congestion and reducing transit time like a tenacious traffic warden.

Oats and dried fruit contain astral amounts of the stuff. That’s why we’ve stuffed them into this recipe, so that both parents and pupils can benefit from the same stash — #CleverBatch. Oats have additional gloating cards — B vitamins will recharge spent batteries and frayed nerves, while their slow-release carbs will have our toes singing all day long. I feel a poem coming on...