Muesli bar – with vegetables!!
I’ve spent all week attempting to make a delicious carrot cookie and after 3 attempts gave up ☹
But then I wondered whether I could add veg to one of my favourite recipes, and it turns out the answer is yes!
This was delicious. The carrot also disappeared seamlessly into the mixture, so it doesn’t even look confronting for those fussy eaters not keen on veg.
It would work with other veg like zucchini (courgettes) or kumara (sweet potato) as well.
A lot of children are comfortable with muesli bars, and I always prefer home-made as we can control the ingredients.
Some variation is also positive for building eating competence (store bought are always exactly the same).
This recipe is a great as it sticks together really well as cookies do, so there is none of the unwanted crumble associated with many home-made muesli bars.
You can make as a cookie first if your child is not comfortable with muesli bars and then gradually reshape into a bar.
It’s flexible as you can add or omit the veg.
You can also add whatever additional ingredients are a fit for your child.
Please bear in mind we are used to low sugar recipes so adding some honey/maple syrup (which also helps bind) is probably advisable.
Recipe
1 1/8 cup oats
½ cup oat flour (I make this by putting wholegrain oats in my spice grinder)
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
A sprinkle of salt
½ cup butter
½ cup softened dates
2 eggs
½ tsp vanilla
½ cup grated carrot (or other veg)
1 heaped dst spoon of ground linseeds (optional omega 3 boost)
Add honey or maple syrup for more sweetness (optional)
¾ cup of additions of choice (raisins, apricots, choc chips, nuts, seeds etc.)
Method
– Put it all in the food processor aside from the additions and blitz
– Add extras.
– Form into cookie/bar shapes on greased or silicon tray
– Bake at 180° for 10-12 mins
– Cool on a wire rack
Judith, MA Cantab (Cambridge University), Post Grad Dip Psychology (Massey University), is an AOTA accredited picky eating advisor and internationally certified nutritional therapist. She works with 100+ families every year resolving fussy eating and returning pleasure and joy to the meal table.
She is also mum to two boys and the author of Creating Confident Eaters and Winner Winner I Eat Dinner. Her dream is that every child is able to approach food from a place of safety and joy, not fear.
Learn more about Judith here: https://theconfidenteater.com/about/