Easy, healthy bites and bars recipes that are perfect for spring break (or ‘just because’) snacking!
These snack recipes are perfect for inviting your kids to explore new foods while having fun in the kitchen when you’re at home for spring break! Note: any recipe that calls for nut butter, feel free to substitute with a nut-free seed butter if allergies are a concern.
I’ve been on a mission lately to find healthy and tasty snack recipes to add some variety to my son’s lunchbox. Enter these double chocolate chia protein bites! They’re kid-approved and school safe.
My kids love these sweet and salty chocolate lentil granola bars. Think of these as your store bought granola bars…but way more delicious and healthy! Plus, five surprising facts about lentils you need to know!
Finding healthy snacks I feel good about serving, and that my kids love to eat, is no easy feat. And this is why I’ve fallen into the not-so-great habit of sending store-bought granola bars with my son to school in the past; the thought of making homemade granola bars seemed daunting and way too time-consuming. Until I finally decided to start making them that is.
This recipe for blueberry bars is a product of vacation time. I love them. The kids love them. The family loves them. I originally made them as a breakfast bar, and they’re wonderful that way, but they work for a healthy snack or after dinner treat too.
These 5-ingredient cookie dough protein balls are as easy to make as they are delicious and nutritious. Gluten-free and vegan, they’re a perfect healthy snack for everyone!
These cocoa-coconut bliss balls make a perfect lunchbox treat—both for your kids and you. They are dairy-free, gluten-free, egg-free, and aside from the coconut, nut-free, making them very allergy-friendly.
Apple Cinnamon Oat Bars are ready in just 30 minutes and make the perfect breakfast, snack or lunch addition! They are chewy, filling and nutritious.
We used our favourite bar mix by Made With Local (their original goodness granola bar mix, which is now 100% gluten-free!). This mix is perfect for homemade bars, bites, cookies and muffins. Purchase on the Made With Local shop and use Sarah20 for 20% off your entire online order!
Want an easy and fun meal or snack idea that both parents and kids alike are guaranteed to love? Try making these nutritious snack boards!
Slightly crunchy on the outside and reminiscent of creamy hummus on the inside, these broccoli bites are much more exciting than the traditional veggies and hummus snack. And, they are super simple to make! A food processor does all the work for you!
These easy Vegan S'mores Bars are made with oats, graham crackers, and cashew butter for a healthier spin on the classic! Gluten-free option.
These homemade nut free protein bars are a wholesome, on-the-go option that provide a filling combination of protein and fiber and are great allergy free protein bars for those allergic to nuts, gluten or dairy. Homemade vegan protein bars have never been easier!
These Carrot Cake Energy Bites are the perfect mid-day treat. They are:
- Filled with fibre
- Naturally sweetened
- High in antioxidants
This mix and dump granola bar recipe contains all the superb nutritious ingredients like quinoa, honey, pumpkin puree, tahini, & cocoa powder. These are naturally gluten-free, nut-free, and can be adapted to make vegans (and non-vegans) happy.
These are a great nut-free snack to send to school with your children or to eat for an after exercise pick-me-up. They are also a fun way to get your children in the kitchen helping.
15 Bars & Bites Recipes for Spring Break: Lentil Granola Bars & More
With ingredients already in my kitchen I created these super tasty and nutrient-packed lentil granola bars. Because I like to make the most of my time in the kitchen, I made a big batch (they freeze really well!).
Ingredients
- 1 cup red lentils (cooked)
- 2 cups water
- 3 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 3/4 cup flour (I used whole grain)
- 1/4 cup ground flax
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 3/4 cup raw almonds, coarsely chopped
- 2/3 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp coarse sea salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Combine water and lentils in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer (uncovered) for 20-25 minutes. Drain excess liquid and allow to cool.
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Combine oats, flour, flax, coconut, almonds, cinnamon and salt in a large mixing bowl and whisk together until well blended.
- In a separate large bowl, combine lentils, peanut butter, honey, maple syrup, and vanilla. Blend with a hand blender or manually with a whisk.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients and mix until just blended. Add chocolate chips and mix well.
- Transfer the mixture into a greased 9" X 13" baking pan and bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown on top
- Allow to cool, cut into bars and serve as a snack on their own, or pair with fruit for healthy on-the-go breakfast.
Notes
Inspired by: Two Saucy Sister's Grab And Go Chocolate Chip Lentil Granola Bars
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As a registered dietitian I love finding creative ways to incorporate locally sourced nourishing ingredients into my baked goods, like…LENTILS! Lentils are packed full of plant-based protein, dietary fibre and vitamins and minerals. They are also budget-friendly, SO versatile and accessible.
Not only have I included Canadian lentils, but I’ve also used other Canadian-grown ingredients like wheat flour, eggs, butter, and oats. Visit Canadian Food Focus (canadianfoodfocus.org) to learn more about nourishing Canadian ingredients, from farm to fork !
Makes 12 large cookies
Ingredients:
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• ½ cup brown sugar (packed)
1 egg (room temperature)
• ¾ cup cooked red lentils
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup flour (all-purpose or whole wheat are both fine)
• ½ cup rolled or quick-cooking oats
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips (or chunks)
• Coarse sea salt for sprinkling on top (optional)
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 375F and line a baking sheet
2. Cook your red lentils as per the package (or as I’ve described above)
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together wet ingredients (butter, brown sugar, egg, lentils, vanilla)
4. To that bowl, add the dry ingredients (flour, oats, baking soda and powder, cinnamon and salt)/ Fold those into the wet ingredients (do not over-mix).
5. Fold in the chocolate chips
6. With a spoon, scoop out about ¼ cups worth of batter (for one cookie) and evenly distribute one dozen onto the cookie sheet. Top with a tiny bit of coarse sea salt if desired.
7. Bake at 375 for about 15 minutes, checking at the 13-minute mark (as some ovens are hotter than others). You want your cookies slightly under-baked. Enjoy!
#lovelentils #lovecdnfood #lovecdnfarms #lovecdnrecipes](https://www.sarahremmer.com/wp-content/uploads/sb-instagram-feed-images/382016981_140634385792877_1677666589623245277_nfull.jpg)
Comments
Who needs kids to be able to eat all of these delicious looking bars! lol! I don’t even know which one to try first!
Haha. So true! Thanks!
Love this roundup! Good job!
My kids would love these! Pinning this to use later!
I love all the creative and tasty ways to make healthy energy bars. Thanks so much!
Mmmm those lunchbox bars look divine! Thanks for all the bar/bite inspo 🙂
I really needed this list! Great recipes!
Oo these look so amazing! Saving this for later!
HI, Being a food lover and traveler I love to try this recipe once. Thanks for sharing keep it up.