3 Healthy Snacks for your Kids

October 24, 2014 Siobhan Berry

When your child reaches one year they will need a mid-morning and a mid afternoon snack. They are important for keeping your child fuelled and will help maintain blood sugar levels, enabling them to feel energised and alert. Snacks are also a great opportunity to get more fruit and vegetables into your child’s diet. Here are 3 great snacks to have on hand throughout the day.

Apple, Oat and Sultana Muffins – These muffins are perfect for a mid-day snack or for breakfast. They are packed with healthy ingredients, and not too sweet. They are best served fresh so make a batch and freeze any extra muffins and heat through before serving.

Cheese biscuits – These biscuits are delicious eaten warm with some butter or eaten cold as part of a packed lunch. Perfect to prepare with the help of your kids.

Oaty Biscuits snacks – These biscuits are a great way to encourage your toddler to help you cook. With the addition of the oats and raisins, these biscuits are healthier then the shop bought alternative.

Apple, Oat and Sultana Muffins

Makes: 12 muffins

Ingredients

100g Plain flour

100g wholemeal flour

50g porridge oats

3 level tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

50g caster sugar

2 medium dessert apples, peeled and grated

125ml plain, full-fat yoghurt

125ml whole milk

1 egg

50ml rapeseed or sunflower oil

75g sultanas

Note: For smaller babies leave out the sultanas as they are a choking hazard.

Method

Preheat your oven to 190°C. Grease your muffin tray or use a silicon muffin tray.
Mix together your flours, oats, baking powder, cinnamon and sugar.
Grate your apple and add it to the mixture making sure it is evenly distributed through the mixture.
Whisk your egg and combine with your yoghurt, milk, egg and oil. Add this to your dry mixture and then add your sultanas.
At this stage it is important to mix lightly until everything is combined.
Drop spoons of your mixture onto the muffin tray. Bake for 25-30 minutes until risen and golden brown.
Transfer to a wire rack. Muffins can be frozen and will keep up to 3 months in your freezer.

Cheese Biscuits

Makes: 12-16 biscuits

Ingredients
130g Self-raising flour

30g butter

120g grated cheddar cheese

30ml milk

1 egg

Method

Preheat your oven to 180°C
With your fingers, rub in the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the grated cheese. Stir in the milk and eggs until the mixture forms dough.
Now the fun part! Dust a clean surface with a little flour and tip the dough onto it. Sprinkle the dough and your hands with a little flour too. Gently flatten the dough with your hands or a rolling pin until it is approx 1 ½ inches thick. Use a round cutter or a knife to cut out 8 wedges. Re-roll and re-cut any extra dough.
Grease a baking pan and transfer the biscuits onto it. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until they are golden brown and well risen.
Once cooled, store fresh in Mummy Cooks Portion Pots or freeze for up to 1 month. Carefully defrost and heat through before serving.

Oat Biscuits Snacks

Makes: 12-16 biscuits

Ingredients

100g butter

60g light brown sugar

30g maple syrup

100g self-raising flour

200g rolled oats

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

32g golden raisins, chopped

*Please note this recipe isn't suitable for babies under 12 months due to the addition of maple syrup. The other 2 recipes are perfectly fine for babies.

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Grease a baking sheet.
Melt the butter, sugar, and syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat.
In a bowl, combine the flour, oats, spices, and raisins. Pour in the melted mixture, and mix to a dough.
Place a teaspoonful of the dough onto the prepared sheet. You should have enough for 12-16 cookies. Gently flatten the tops. Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.