Welcome to Mummy Season, in this post I will be sharing with you my healthy oat bars for kids recipe. My kids absolutely love oat bars and they are really quick and easy to make and store.
I personally made these healthy oat bars because I was concerned about the amount of oat bars my toddler was eating which I didn’t really know what the ingredients were. So I thought how hard could it be…and it was SUPER easy!
This post is all about healthy oat bars for kids!
Why Healthy Oat Bars Are Perfect for Kids
By making your kids homemade snacks you are guarenting that they are eating less sugar and less or no perservatives as you have complete control over what is put into the recipe.
This recipe is super simple, quick to make and is made with wholesome ingredients. Remember that when you start adding extra ingredients, what is a healthy option to be adding in.
These oat bars are also super versatile, you can use them for breakfast, as snacks or even as lunchbox fillers for nursery or a day out with the family.
What Makes These Oat Bars Healthy?
I really needed to learn about food, as soon as I had kids I started to realise the rubbish we were eating and wanted to learn more about whole foods and how on earth I can help my family eat healthier. I wanted to make it easier for my kids by having them grow up eating healthy food and to not really know the difference.
For this recipe, we have oats, bananas and honey or peanut butter as the main ingredients.
- Oats: Full of fibre, which means the kids will be full for longer and also supports their digestion.
- Bananas: Packed with vitamins and potassium, plus is a natural sweetner for taste.
- Honey or Peanut Butter: Sweetness and healthy fats for energy, just make sure you use 100% peanut butter and not the peanut butter full of added sugar. (Yes it does cost more, but if you buy a big tub it tends to be cheaper overall – Aldi have a 1kg tub you can purchase)
I didn’t know that since I was a kid I have been eating the peanut butter with added sugar in, I had no idea what 100% peanut butter was and that it even existed!
Kid Friendly 3 Ingredient Oat Bar Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Oven
- 1 Small Baking Dish
- 1 Parchment Paper
- 1 Fork
- 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cups Rolled oats
- 2 ripe Bananas Mashed
- 1/4 cup Honey or natural peanut butter
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a small baking dish with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Mash Bananas: In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until smooth and creamy.
- Mix Ingredients: Add the oats and honey (or peanut butter) to the mashed bananas. Stir until fully combined. The mixture should be sticky and hold together.
- Press Into Pan: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Use the back of a spoon to press it down evenly into a flat layer.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Cool and Cut: Allow the oat bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares or bars.
- Optional Add-ins (if desired):A handful of raisins, chocolate chips, or chopped nuts for extra flavor and texture.
Notes
Tips for Customizing Your Oat Bars
- Swap honey for maple syrup as a vegan option.
- Add seeds, shredded coconut for flavour and texture or add dried fruit.
- As a treat you could even add chocolate drops into the mix – as you have control over the amount and what chocolate drops that you buy.
Why Your Kids Will Love These Oat Bars
The only hurdle I struggle with is the fact they don’t come in a packet and I have been thinking of making some fake packets to send the oat bars in to nursery or just into their lunchboxes to make them super fun!
These oat bars are super soft, chewy and are naturally sweet, there is no need to add any additional sugar.
They are also a healthier alternative to cookies and sugary snacks that usually come in a packet, but they still taste great!
Storage and Meal Prep Tips
These oat bars can stay on your work top for up to 3 days in a sealed container and they can stay in the fridge for up to a week. I have frozen these bars too and there consistency stayed the same, which has made them a grab and go snack for lunchboxes in my house!
This recipe is super quick also for any batch cooking you are wanting to do or meal preparation for the following week. I like to batch make these oat bars and freeze them in ziplock bags so you can grab how many you need at the beginning of the day. They are usually thawed out by lunchtime.
FAQs About Making Oat Bars
- Can I use instant oats instead of rolled oats? – I tend to use whatever oats I have on hand, I usually buy the cheapest oats I can get and then blend them if I want a finer consistency.
- Are these bars suitable for toddlers? – Absolutely, this is a great option as finger food in kids lunch boxes and for a snack throughout the day. Plus, they aren’t very messy which is a winner!
I hope you love this recipe and please do try this and comment below how its gone for you! I love these, these are my go to oat bars now. It has definitely become a family favourite and they are also a go to snack for me as a busy parent.
Now, don’t forget to pin this to save for later!
This post was all about healthy oat bars for kids!
