Coming up with new snack ideas for toddlers and young kids can be quite a task for many mothers. Recently I tried these healthy oat muffins and I instantly knew I had to share this recipe with other mothers looking for easy toddler snack ideas.
So many toddler moms are dealing with picky eating, that every new idea counts. This age group is also the most assertive and rule challenging. It can be tough debating with your toddler why they can’t have 5 cookies all at once.
One way around snack time battles is to have a recipe bank of toddler approved healthy snacks. This way whatever the toddler picks is healthy too.
Here are some easy and healthy toddler snacks from previous blog posts
Before we get to the recipe, I want to discuss a common question I get asked by toddler moms on Instagram
HOW TO CONTROL JUNK SNACK CONSUMPTION IN KIDS?
Many mothers complain about junk snack wars at home. They feel like it’s a losing battle with excessive exposure to junk food in our societies.
Some of us become a little hard on our kids when it comes to junk snacks. While some of us completely lose control of the situation.
Either way, the results are always disastrous. Too much restriction creates an unhealthy relationship with food. And giving in too much to the child’s demands for sugary foods leads to the replacement of healthy meals by junk snacks. In the long term, this can lead to lifestyle disorders like obesity, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, and cardiovascular problems.
In our attempt at clean eating and eating healthy foods, we must also acknowledge the child’s needs and desires for sweet treats and fun looking foods.
As parents, we know that bakery goods and packaged foods contain high amounts of added sugars, many chemical additives like stabilizers, added colors and preservatives to increase the shelf life of the product.
But at the same time, we don’t want to continuously say “No” to our child’s demand for such treats. Unfulfilled needs in childhood may set a negative relationship with food in the long run.
Striking a balance between healthy food and treat food is important. The parent must lead the way here.
The child will observe, learn from you and then make the correct decision when the time comes to make a choice or decide how much to eat.
Educate your child on what is healthy food and why junk food is called “Junk” what it does to the body in the long run. Teach them to read ingredient labels.
At the same time showcase by example what “sometimes- treat days ” look like.
Do not shame the child for wanting what he sees his peers eat.
Instead of strict rules, have a positive environment that encourages questions and conversation. Relax the rules sometimes and let them have the fill of their favorite snack too. Once their desire for the said food is satiated they quickly move on from it.
Cook with your child and make these healthy treats at home, talk about the quality of ingredients chosen. This way the child realizes on his own that treats made at home are better quality than those that come in packets.
A consistent healthy approach to food as a family sets good eating habits in the long term.
Whether you choose to make such treats for consuming at home, as a snack to go or for school lunch box, making healthy treats at home over packaged foods is a lifestyle change that benefits the entire family.
HEALTHY OAT MUFFINS RECIPE FOR KIDS
This recipe includes egg, but you can exclude the egg if you want an egg-free oat muffin and add a flax egg instead.
The muffins last in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week. You can warm them in a microwave before consumption.
Whole wheat flour makes the muffins denser, therefore, I prefer mixing 1:1 of whole wheat flour to all-purpose flour.
I would use these oat muffins as lunchbox snacks for school. They are homemade, you can control the sugar content on these making them easy and healthy lunch snacks for school.
Healthy Oat Muffins For Kids
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup walnuts chopped
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 1 cup milk
- 1 large egg beaten
- 2-3 drops pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F .
- Mix together the rolled oats, flours, brown sugar, salt, baking powder, cinnamon. Sieve the flours at least 3-4 times. This adds air to the dry mix.
- In a separate bowl add molten butter, and then add in the egg, milk and vanilla extract. Combine these ingredients well with an electric mixer.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and add the chopped walnuts and raisins and stir together. Be sure not to over-mix, just gently fold in the batter together.
- Now scoop into the muffin tray and bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove from oven, cool on a cooling rack, and enjoy!
These oat muffins are wholesome and yummy. The whole wheat flour makes the muffins a filling snack option for the lunch box.
Go on, try these healthy oat muffins and write back to me. If you make substitutions to this recipe make sure to comment below and tell us how the muffins tasted.
Until next time,
Ciao!
