Healthy Homemade Granola. Childrens Lunch Box Ideas

When granola is served in our house there are happy faces all round. These yummy ' Homemade Healthy Granola' are perfect for children’s packed lunches, not even a crumb comes home from school which is proof the little ones love them too. A delicious, healthy snack which satisfies any sweet cravings and mid afternoon lulls.

The recipe is rammed full of oats, seeds and dried fruit and we use natural ingredients to bind it all together creating a bar of sweet, sticky loveliness. OK, so these bars crumble a little round the edge when cutting to serve, as do most homemade granola bars, just pop the crumbly bits in an airtight container. I can assure you they’ll soon be eaten and we have a lovely suggestion on how these tasty crumbs can be used below.

Healthy Homemade Granola

Servings: 20

Prep Time: 35 mins + 1hr cooling

Ingredients:

• 200g Rolled Oats
• 25g Sliced Almonds
• 35g Pumpkin Seeds
• 30g Sunflower Seeds
• 70g Shredded Coconut
• 25g Desiccated Coconut
• 30g Sultanas
• 30g Dried Cranberries
• 80g Dried Apricots
• 80g Chopped Dates
• 65g Wheatgerm
• 150g Honey
• 65g Agave Syrup
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 3 Tbsp Coconut Oil
• 3Tsp Nativa (Stevia)
• Large Pinch of Salt

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 175°C
2. Combine the oats, pumpkin seeds, almonds, shredded and desiccated coconut and sunflower seeds together and place on a baking tray.
3. Roast in the oven for approx. 10 minutes or until it is just starting to go golden.
4. Allows to cool a little then place in a large bowl and add the wheatgerm to the dry mix.
5. Turn the oven down to 150­°C.
6. In a small saucepan heat the honey, agave syrup, vanilla, stevia and coconut oil over a medium heat until this mixture starts to boil. Once boiling, remove from the heat.
7. Add this mixture to the toasted oats dry mix and combine well.
8. Add the dried apricots, sultanas, dried cranberries and dates, mix well.
9. Tip onto a lined baking tray and press down with a wooden spoon to ensure the mixture is fairly compact.
10. Place in the oven at 150°C and bake for 25 mins or until golden on top.
11. Allow to cool completely (at least 1hr) before cutting.
12. Serve and enjoy.

Author Tips:

After cutting you will have some crumbly bits if granola left over. Store the crumble in an airtight container. It tastes delicious sprinkled on top of fruit salad and yoghurt. Excellent for a healthy breakfast.

Using greaseproof paper and a little ribbon you can create lovely little granola parcels for you little ones to open. A novel way to pack some sweet goodies into their lunch boxes.

NB; These granola bars contain nuts, simply omit the almonds if making for school and increase the amount of sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds to suit.

Try our No Bake Energy Balls, an absolutely delicious recipe that children (& adults!) will love. Small, sweet and perfect for lunch boxes. Our no bake energy balls make a fantastic healthy snack and are really easy to make.

Happy Granola Bar Making Everyone!