Healthy sweet treats?

[Clara]

For parents who have got to wean themselves off the sugar before LO realises that her rice cakes aren´t them same as our flapjack......

I wanted to find a flapjack-ish recipe that doesn´t use sugar (or butter), but having no luck googling - sugar-free just brings up recipes with sweeteners .

I was thinking of using honey instead, and maybe a touch of molasses - ok so it´s sugar but at least it´s rich in iron and stuff.

Any other ideas for oat bar type snacks? I should mention that we don´t have fridge/freezer.

Clara x.

[Annpan]

I have the same problem with the rice cakes. My reaction was to just eat rice cakes, you can get plain ones in health food shops here, which are just the same as what E gets (but bigger) I think that our babies are about the same age... 9 months?

There was a post recently about homemade cereal bars, I can't remember if they had sugar.

How about just experimenting with oats and dried fruit and honey? Oh and by the way over her they suggest not giving honey to babies under 2 because it can have botulisim spores???? in it.

[the.fee.fairy]

Here's the cereal bar thread:

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... php?t=5925

Also, how about those squahsed flat fruit things (looks like a steam roller has gone over the fruit). Can't remember how to make them, but i#m sure there'll either be a recipe here, or someone will know how.

[Milims]

AnnPann - its true about the botulism. I worked for enviromental health for a while and we had a baby with botulism. Honey was one of the foods that was tested although as turned out it was actually in the formula milk (sorry to be scary here). Botulism is nasty - the child was really badly affected and still is I believe. I'm guessing you'll be avoiding honey now! The thing is there are many sources - the soil is one of them and I know my kids took great delight in eating soil!
Sorry to have gone off the healthy snack thing - and I don't even have a recipe to offer - but I do give my kids pop corn instead of crisps if that any help.

[Clara]

Here's the cereal bar thread:

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... php?t=5925

Also, how about those squahsed flat fruit things (looks like a steam roller has gone over the fruit). Can't remember how to make them, but i#m sure there'll either be a recipe here, or someone will know how.

Thanks, did you have a go? I think I´ll substitute the powdered milk, perhaps use milk and cut back on the juice?

I´m going to make some fruit leather - I think that´s what you mean - it looks like I´m gonna have a lot of plums.

Annpan - I already eat her rice cakes too, a bit of a snackaholic! DD is coming up to 9 months, and eats everything we give her, which is presently, fruits, veggies and grains. I wasn´t really looking to give her the flapjacks, just try to control our sweet tooth, because I feel a bit of a hypocrite at the moment! So I won´t be giving her honey.

I wonder how long I can keep the junk at bay. A very sweet old man who owns the grocery store was trying to give some doughnut type thing the other day - he was only being kind and I was having to work really hard with my Spanish to decline without causing offence.

And as regards botulism in formula milk, well don´t get me started.....but that´s why nature gave us t!tt!es

[Jerseymum]

Tried to post from work, but my pupils turned up early (for once)
Have you tried fruit leather?

Here's a useful link:
http://www.spokane-county.wsu.edu/food/season3.htm

It's yummy - I think a well known cereal manufacturer make a version that's full of sugar and colouring, but this is really easy and stores well.

Sarah

[Milims]

Thanks for that Jersey - I think we'll be trying that - I think that it would work well with an Aga - oh I wish I had one!!

[ina]

Have you tried dried banana for your kid? At 9 months they won't be able to chew them yet, of course, but I've seen quite young ones suck them like a lolly... And they are really sweet, without any added sugar. Just a bit sticky and messy on the hands. (I love them, too - occasionally!)

[Clara]

Have you tried dried banana for your kid? At 9 months they won't be able to chew them yet, of course, but I've seen quite young ones suck them like a lolly... And they are really sweet, without any added sugar. Just a bit sticky and messy on the hands. (I love them, too - occasionally!)

Bananas and everyother fruit you can think of, she loves it. And yes she does chew, even with only two bottom teeth and a set of gums! It helps their speech and language development not to mush everything up.

Just to reiterate - I DON´T WANT TO FEED MY DAUGHTER CAKE OR BISCUITS - so not shouting at anyone, I just don´t want anyone to think that. My post is to wean me and Mr Clara off the sugar!

[the.fee.fairy]

To be fair, a bit of sugar is good for you.
unless you're eating excessive amounts of sugar, it perfectly healthy to eat some. You sound like you've got a good diet anyway.

[Clara]

I posted the same thread on a crunchy mothering forum and they came up with this http://www.calorie-count.com/recipe/44821.html.

I substituted extra virgen olive oil for the canola (as it is THE local ingredient), and baked it in the solar cooker. Very tasty it is too, just wish I´d made more as I expect they won´t last the night!

I think you could also subs some of the honey for molasses for a deeper taste - it would be even richer in iron too.

Will try Wombat´s version next.

Clara x.

[the.fee.fairy]

oooh...looks tasty...i might have to make some of those when i get home!!

[Meredith]

I posted the same thread on a crunchy mothering forum and they came up with this http://www.calorie-count.com/recipe/44821.html.

I substituted extra virgen olive oil for the canola

Clara x.

Please go back to the olive oil, Canola is not good, in my opinion. Olive oil is tried and tested.

[Clara]

Sorry I didn´t make it clear - the recipe calls for canola, I USED EVOO as I live in the main olive growing region of europe. I have no idea what canola oil is, why is it not safe?

[Meredith]

I'm sorry, I shouldn't come out with sweeping statements like that, canola oil is made from a genetic variaton of rapeseed, it was developed in Canada and has been hailed as a wonder oil, however there is quite a bit of controversy about it's safety. If you google 'canola' you should find out the details if you are interested. Then you can make your own mind up whether to eat it. I prefer to stick to good old fashioned foodstuffs.

Meredith