Healthy lunchbox treats for your fussy toddler

It’s not uncommon for parents to worry about their toddler’s nutrition. Most toddlers are preoccupied with exploring that eating a well-balanced meal is the last thing on their minds.

Healthy snacks at the right times are essential for balancing out an unbalanced diet and avoiding blood sugar slumps. Ideally, three main meals and three snacks should be consumed each day.

If your toddler prefers to graze, make sure there’s always something healthy nearby. Healthy snacks don’t have to be difficult to prepare, but some do necessitate advance planning. Take a look at these simple recipes that your toddler can even help you make and are perfect to add into their school lunchbox.

Yummy energy balls

Ingredients

• ¼ cup finely grated carrots
• ¼ cup rolled oats
• ¼ cup raisins
• ¼ cup wheat germ
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• 1 tbsp honey
• 3 tbsp sugar-free peanut butter

Method

Mix the ingredients together and roll into balls.

Healthy chicken fingers

Ingredients

• 450g skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
• 1 egg, beaten
• ½ cup almond meal
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp ground coriander seed
• ¼ tsp ground cumin seed

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine almond meal with spices on a plate or shallow dish. Place beaten egg in a separate shallow dish.
3. Dry chicken with paper towel. Dip in egg; then dip in almond meal mixture, coating all sides. Place on baking sheet. Repeat until all chicken strips are coated.
4. Bake for 18-20 minutes, turning once in the middle of baking, until cooked completely.

Grain-free granola bars

*Makes 18 bars

Ingredients

• 1½ cups sliced almonds
• 2 cups unsweetened, desiccated coconut
• 1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1/3 cup raw pumpkin seeds
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds
• ½ cup almond flour
• 1/3 cup extra virgin coconut oil, melted
• ¼ cup unsweetened almond butter
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¾ tsp baking soda
• 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
• 1½ tbsp water
• ¾ cup chopped dried fruit (optional)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a 22cm x 33cm baking pan with coconut oil.
2. Mix ground flaxseed with water and let sit for 4 minutes.
3. Pulse pumpkin seeds and a food processor until same size as sunflower seeds.
4. Add coconut oil, almond butter, honey and vanilla to flax mixture and mix well.
5. Add almond flour and baking soda. Stir to combine.
6. Add almonds, shredded coconut, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and dried fruit. Stir to combine.
7. Spoon batter in baking pan. Spread out and flatten.
8. Bake for 22 minutes, until golden brown. After removing from the oven, flatten the bars with the back of a spatula.
9. Let cool completely before cutting into 18 bars and store in the fridge.