Oatmeal bars

10 month old bar crumbled for self-feeding

My kids LOVE bars. They are probably one of their favorite snacks and while I love the convenience of them I can end up going through several boxes a week. I also don't always love the ingredients in many store bought bars or they contain nuts which we can’t bring to school. While I don't make them every week, when I have the time I love to make a new flavor to rotate in or even have the girls help me. We love eating them for breakfast, adding them to their lunches, or having them for snacks. They pair well with yogurt for breakfast. These are no sugar added but feel free to add a little honey or maple syrup if needed. We've made so many variations of these but this seems to be one of our favorites..

Ingredients:

2 RIPE bananas

2 cups of rolled oats

1 tablespoon of chia and flax seeds

½ tablespoon of cinnamon

Dash of vanilla extract

1 cup of milk

1 cup of diced blueberries, strawberries, or apples

Directions:

Mash the bananas in a small baking dish. Add all ingredients except for milk and fruit. Stir to combine. Add the milk and stir again. Now add the fruit to sprinkle on top.

Bake on 350 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Notes:

Use fresh or frozen fruit- I usually add frozen because it is what I have on hand. You can also add a cup of pumpkin puree which is always delicious too! Toppings to add when it’s finished- nut butter, cream cheese, or honey.

Serving suggestions:

6-9 months: Mash with loaded spoon. You can add some liquid to help make easier to scoop. Additionally you can cut into strips for self feeding.

9-12 months: strips, diced pieces, or mashed in a bowl for scooping

Let me know if you try them!