These quinoa puff bars make a nutritious lunch box snack for kids and adults alike. Quinoa is a naturally gluten-free grain and a powerhouse of protein and fibre to keep your child's tummy full throughout the day. If you are looking for a yummy way to add some protein and fibre to your child's diet, or even their lunch box, give this super yummy and easy recipe a try.
Facts
Quinoa is an ancient grain in the amaranth family, it provides a complete source of protein, is gluten-free, and is high in dietary fibre (twelve grams per cup), and minerals like iron and magnesium.
You will need puffed quinoa for this recipe which can be found in most health food shops or the 'health' aisle of your local supermarket. Puffed quinoa has already been cooked and 'popped' and won't need further cooking.
This recipe also contains tahini (sesame seed paste) I like to use hulled tahini which has a milder flavour and is lighter in colour, your tahini should be smooth and a runny/soft paste (not hard and dry) for the recipe to work well.
Note: this recipe does contain honey or rice malt syrup so is not suitable for children under 12 months of age.
Honey or rice malt syrup is still considered as an added sugar and the recommendation for children under 2 years of age is to limit/minimise intake of added sugar.
To make this recipe low in fructose use rice malt syrup as a replacement for honey.
Ingredients
2 cups of puffed quinoa
1/4 of a cup of tahini (hulled sesame seed paste)
3 tablespoons of honey or rice malt syrup
30 g of butter
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal
Method
Add the puffed quinoa, ground flaxseed meal and cinnamon to a bowl and set aside.
To a pan add the butter, tahini and rice malt syrup and stir over low to medium heat until it melts and combines to a caramel consistency, ensuring the mixture does not burn or brown.
Poor the mixture into the puffed quinoa mix and stir well until all grains are coated.
Add the mix to a lined tray and press down firmly until the top is even and flat. I like to use another piece of baking paper and press down firmly on top with a book.
Set in the fridge for a few hours or overnight, slice when cold.
Can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days.
X Anna
For more nourishing snacks for children. Check out the Nourish Little Lives Kids Snack Guide, Packed with over 40 pages of information on how to approach, manage and support your child with snacks, as well as easy-to-prepare snack ideas and kid-approved nourishing recipes for when you have a bit more time. It is the resource you will keep referring to with simple-to-use recipes great for toddlers, lunch boxes, ELC, and snacks on the go.
It is designed to be used from the very first snack you introduce to your baby and through childhood (up to 10 years) to support lifelong healthy eating habits and prevent fussy eating.