Moma-Made Snacks

I've been making all of the girls solid food ever since they've started eating. Steaming/roasting veggies or fruit and then pureeing it in the processor. I feel better about what their eating knowing that I prepared it for them.

Over the past month, they've learned how to pass a toy from one hand to the other and such. Savannah even holds her sippy cup all by herself...

Go Savy!!!!!! Go Savy!!!!

I figured it was time that they could start having some snacks that they could hold themselves. I know they make little cookies for them, but I found this recipe for some homemade snacks. Goes along with the whole homemade thing, ya know.

Take a look...

Cream Cheese Bites

These are the perfect little snacks because you don't have to worry about a big chunk coming off and your baby choking. Why? Because the more they move the snack aroundin their mouth, the more it dissolves. That doesn't mean that you can go without watching, but it does take a bit of the fear away...for me at least. *smile*

What you'll need:

1 carrot

1 apple

4 oz cream cheese room temp

Here's what you'll do:

Mush up your cream cheese

(Do you like my fancy words? yeah, I know you do)

Grate up you apple and carrot super fine. You want zero chunks. --BUT--if you're making these for an older toddler, no need to worry about the chunks.

Mix it all together and put in the fridge to firm up.

It will probably look like this...I know, not too appetizing right now.

Once it's firmed up, take the mixture and form into small balls. You can kinda see in the picture how big the ones I made are compared to my hand.

What is that I"m rolling it in?

Well, it's wheat germ.

It's a really healthy whole grain that is awesome if you can incorporate it into your baby's diet and according to Wikipedia:

It is packed with protein, fiber, polyunsaturated fat, vitamins, and minerals. A cup of wheat germ gives you a whopping 25 grams of fiber. This kind of fiber, insoluble fiber, adds bulk to your stool and dilutes the carcinogens in it. It also speeds your stool through the gastrointestinal tract so it’s not hanging around causing trouble. This makes wheat bran good for curing constipation and maintaining a healthy gut as well as protecting you against cancer.

But fiber might not be the only hero. Wheat germ also has a lot of phytic acid, a substance with antioxidant properties that may stop tumors. Those who doubt fiber’s anticancer power point to phytic acid as a possible explanation for wheat bran’s effectiveness against colon tumors.

Applause!!! Applause!!!!

In my opinion...it's an awesome source of healthy-fication stuff. Yes...that's my wordiness there.
The reason I rolled the cream cheese balls in the wheat germ is
#1- the extra fiber
#2- the texture of the wheat germ helped them to hold on to the cheese balls.
#3- introduces them to a different texture in their mouth besides smooth pureed foods.




Moving on....


The next snack is Oat Bars.


What you'll need:

1 1/2 cups rolled oats
2 Tbspn wheat germ
1 tspn cinnamon
1 egg
1 tspn vanilla
1 1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup currants, raisins, or any dried fruit that you like. Cranberries or blueberries would be yummy too!!!

Make sure to chop up your dried fruit really good.

Once you have it all mixed together well, take a baking sheet and line it with foil. Make sure to spray it with nonstick spray. Spread the mix on the sheet.
 



Bake the oat mixture for 30-40 minutes at 350. I baked mine for 35 minutes and they came out perfect!!!
The bars were firm enough for the girls to hold on to...as you can see.....

They really enjoyed them.




Now here's a quick note:
You can use the quick oats if that's all you can find. In the case that you do, make sure to follow this simple change. Instead of 1 1/4 cup milk, only use 1 cup. It'll make a big difference.

I have another recipe for banana cookies, my friend Kelly was really wanting that one, but I guess my Mommy brain has returned...it's M.I.A. I will share it with you as soon as I find it though.

I like the fact that these snacks are all natural and whole grain and I feel good that I'm giving the girls a healthy snack.


Are you gonna try them out? I'll be honest, I like the oat bars for myself. Their super yummy warm out of the oven. *smile*