Breakfast Bars

These healthy breakfast bars are the perfect treat to make together with your toddler. If you feel your toddler is steady enough to stand on a chair, they can help you make this in the kitchen. Otherwise, s/he can sit in a highchair or at a table. Your little one will have fun helping measure out the dry ingredients and dumping them into the bowl. If you don't want any spillage, you can help dump ingredients - little ones still feel proud of helping.

Many thanks to my friend Liz for passing along this recipe!

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 375; Cook time = 30 minutes; Serves = 14 bars

2 Cups Oats

1.5 Cup Whole wheat flour

.25 Cup Wheat germ

1 Cup Dried fruit (craisins or dried apricots are good choices)

.75 tsp Cinnamon

6 Tbsp Brown sugar

.5 tsp Salt

1 Cup Apple or other juice

.5 Cup Mashed Banana (fat substitute...you could get creative and use pureed pears etc)

Directions: Spray a 9 x 13 pan with nonstick spray. Mix all ingredients, pat thinly on bottom of pan. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon and bake. Bake for 25-30 minutes and remove from oven when still a little sticky in center for softer bars. WAIT TO COOL before removing or they will crumble.