How to Fuel Your Busy Mornings

Happy New Year!  As your year gets off to a new start, I hope your busy mornings start off with a great breakfast.  Here is a kid-created energy bar recipe that can really help fuel you in the morning.  It is packed with fruit and flavor that kids and adults are sure to enjoy.  These energy bars can be made in advance and frozen, which is great for busy mornings at home or your Kids Eat Smart Breakfast Club.

Isaac’s Fruity Spice Energy Bars

Ingredients (makes 32 small bars or 16 large):

• 2 cups pitted dates
• 2 cups dried apricots
• 1 cup large flake oats
• ⅔ cup unsalted pumpkin seeds
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ¼ cup pure maple syrup

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, soak dates in hot water for 30 minutes. Drain well.
2. Place soaked dates, apricots, oats, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon and cloves in food processor and pulse until broken up and starting to combine. Drizzle in maple syrup and blend until incorporated and there are still some chunks in the mixture.
3. Line an 8 inch (20 cm) square pan with parchment or wax paper. Scrape date mixture into pan and using damp spatula press down mixture into pan to even out. Freeze for at least 4 hours or until solid. Cut into 32 small bars or 16 large bars and wrap each bar in plastic wrap and place in resealable bag or container. Store in freezer.

This recipe has been sourced from Kid Food Nation.  For more recipe ideas visit https://kidfoodnation.ytv.com

At Kids Eat Smart, we support the education, health, and well-being of school age children in Newfoundland and Labrador through nutrition programs, primarily through a breakfast club, run by volunteers at schools and community centres. Click here to learn more about us.