Baked Oat Bars

Designed as a grab & go breakfast for time pressed families, they go as well with your morning coffee as they do in kids lunchboxes. The ultimate mix, needed for ADHD brains of protein and natural fats from eggs and seeds. Add in gut feeding beta glucan carbs from oats and anti-oxidant polyphenols from blueberries and dark chocolate, a focus, learning and memory winner. Now, I have added some extra options to make this recipe go a whole lot further - let’s go!

Ingredients for basic recipe:

2 cups of milk (full fat or plant based)

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 cups of oats

1 tablespoon of chia seeds

1 teaspoon of pumpkin & 1 teaspoon of shelled hemp seeds

Handful of blueberries (frozen makes it easier)

Handful of dark chocolate chips & / or goji berries

1 teaspoon of coconut oil (odourless) or butter

Method:

Line a 20cm by 20cm baking dish with baking paper and wipe with coconut oil or butter. Mix all the wet ingredients with a whisk, add dry ingredients so you have a loose mix, pour into the lined, heated oven tray, sprinkle over your blueberries and choc chips. Bake for 35 mins at 180 degrees.

Allow to cool as it firms as it cools. Cut into squares and enjoy just as they come, or with a dollop of Greek yoghurt. Keep in the fridge for three days and heat in the oven when you want them warm again.

Let’s look now at the extra options, with pictures to inspire you:

1/ Keep the recipe above but mash a banana into the base of the dish first.

2/ Stir a tablespoon of peanut butter into the mix for extra fat and protein.

3/ Use up leftover porridge and add everything except the oats to the original recipe above - we loved this.

4/ This next one is my favourite. Cut the bars into cubes and fry in butter or coconut oil till golden brown and throw on top of Greek yoghurt, seeds & fruit.

5/ For kids that struggle to put on weight or just for an indulgent treat cook in coconut oil or serve with the cream from the top of the tin - delicious!