An Easy, Savoury Oat Bar Bake (Vegan and Veggie)
Table of Contents
When Should I Start Introducing Snacks To My Baby?
As a parent, you may introduce snacks to your baby as part of baby-led weaning (BLW) when they reach around 9-12 months of age.
When offering snacks, it's important to choose appropriate foods that are easy for them to grasp and eat, such as soft fruits, cooked vegetables, or small pieces of toast.
Always supervise your baby closely during snack times to ensure their safety and to encourage positive feeding experiences.
Remember to avoid foods that pose choking hazards and to consult with your health visitor for personalised guidance on introducing snacks during BLW.
How Do I Serve Oats To My Baby?
Oats are a wonderful addition to a baby's diet, offering a range of benefits for their health and development.
Rich in fibre, oats can aid in digestion and promote a healthy gut, while also providing essential nutrients such as iron, magnesium, and B vitamins.
When it comes to introducing oats to your baby, it's important to consider their age and feeding method.
For younger babies who are just starting out on solid foods, blending oats into a fine powder using a food processor can make them more easily digestible.
As babies grow older and are ready for baby-led weaning (around 7 months) leaving oats whole can encourage them to explore different textures and develop their chewing skills.
Whether blitzed, left whole or made into an oat bar as finger food, oats can be a nutritious and versatile ingredient in your baby's diet.
Can My Baby Eat Raw Courgette?
Courgette, also known as zucchini, is a fantastic addition to a baby's diet during baby-led weaning.
This versatile vegetable is rich in essential nutrients such as Vitamin C, potassium, which are beneficial for a growing baby.
Courgette is soft in texture and easy to grasp, making it an ideal option for baby-led weaning.
While it can be introduced to babies in its raw form (grated) to encourage exploration of different textures, it's important to keep a close eye on the baby to ensure they can handle it safely.
Raw courgette can be a great choice for encouraging sensory exploration and promoting healthy eating habits from an early age.
How To Serve Carrot To My Baby?
Carrots are a fantastic choice for baby-led weaning (BLW) due to their natural sweetness, bright colour, and rich nutritional benefits.
Packed with essential nutrients such as beta-carotene, fibre, and vitamin K, carrots promote healthy eyesight, digestion, and overall growth in infants.
When serving carrots for BLW, it's crucial to prepare them appropriately to prevent any choking hazards.
Start by steaming or boiling the carrots until they are soft enough for your baby to grasp and chew easily.
Once cooked, cut them into thin strips or small, manageable pieces (from 9 months), making it simple for your little one to pick up and self-feed.
Additionally, incorporating carrots into other BLW-friendly dishes, like carrot fritters or carrot cake muffins, can further enhance the variety and nutritional value of your baby's meals, making mealtime an enjoyable and nutritious experience.
Why You Should Make This Recipe?
As you embark on the exciting adventure of baby-led weaning, it's crucial to offer your little one a variety of nutritious and flavourful foods.
This good savoury oat bar recipe are an excellent choice to introduce into your baby's diet.
Packed with essential nutrients, including iron and fibre, these oat bars provide a wholesome and satisfying option for your baby to explore during mealtime.
By incorporating a range of flavours and textures early on, you can help cultivate a diverse palate and a positive relationship with food.
This healthy snack is not only nourishing but also convenient for on-the-go snacking, making them a versatile and practical addition to your baby's feeding journey.
Ingredient information
Rolled oats - Oats are great for so many recipes and are packed with fibre. from savoury recipes to sweet recipes they are an absolute staple in my cupboard.
Whole courgette - Courgettes are such a great veg to stick in recipes such as a bolognaise or a lasagne for extra veggies.
Carrot - Carrots are a great allrounder vegetable that are suitable from 6 months old.
A versatile carrot can be made into a carrot fritter, carrot cake muffin as a sweet treat or as part of a pasta salad.
Flaxseed - This is packed with Omega-3, great to add to recipes such as porridge, oat bars and also can be a great egg replacement too for some recipes such as a black bean burger recipe.
Chia seed - Packed full of protein and fibre, this is a great ingredient to include within your baby led weaning recipes. Chia seed pudding is a great breakfast option for your baby.
Serving suggestion
The veggie oat bars would be great served with a mango pot, a strawberry dessert or a peach melba!
They are great as a stand alone healthy nutritious snack for you and your baby.
Storage instructions
The oat bars can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, if stored in an airtight container.
If you wanted to freeze the the oat bars, you will need to get yourself a freezer bag or an airtight container.
Make sure that which ever you choose are labelled with the item and the date. I use masking tape to label the airtight container.
The oat bars will store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To defrost the oat bars, leave in the fridge overnight to defrost and make sure it is fully defrosted, before serving.
Once the oat bars have been defrosted you will not be able to re freeze.
Equipment used to help with this recipe
Large bowl - Definitely choose a stainless steel one - they are lighter than the stone or glass ones and very easy to clean.
Nutri bullet - I have found a blender to be an invaluable tool in the preparation of many of my baby led weaning recipes.
Airtight container - I much prefer the click-shut lids on these containers compared to others.
They are also dishwasher and freezer safe and BPA free, so very suitable for food use.
Baking dish - A square rust-resistant non-stick baking tin - very versatile and can be used for your cake bakes or roasting meat and veg!
Recipe | An Easy, Savoury Oat Bar Bake (Vegan and Veggie)
Ingredients
Makes 8 bars
155g rolled oats
130g courgette, grated
80g carrot, grated
1 tablespoon flaxseed
1 tablespoon chia seeds
160ml water
Instructions
Preheat your oven to a medium heat of 180C or 350F. Line a 9x9 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
Blitz the oats in a food processor or Nutri Bullet, until a fine oat flour.
Add the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl - oat flour, chia seeds and flaxseed.
Next add the wet ingredients to the bowl - carrot, courgette and the water.
Stir together until combined.
Spoon the oat mixture into the prepared baking pan. Push the mixture down using the back of a spoon until level.
Pop in the oven for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Leave to cool at room temperature before serving.
Hope you and your family enjoy!
Recipe notes
You could use olive oil instead of the parchment paper to grease the baking tin.
Parchment paper does work better but, olive oil is a good second choice if you did not have any parchment.
Why add in some fresh herbs such as fresh parsley or sage and black pepper, if you wanted to add in an extra punch of flavour to the snack bars.
©The Petit Spoon
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