Get up and go!

My daughter has never been a big breakfast kind of girl.  She's either not hungry that early or she'd rather have more of a lunch or dinner food.  I don't like sending her off to school without anything in her belly and I'd like something more substantial than cereal. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day! ;)

She has also been diagnosed with a possible dairy allergy. I say possible because we are in the elimination phase; taking dairy out of her diet entirely for 4-6 weeks.  We're hoping to see if ailments such as ear infections, eczema and constipation will subside.  Gosh, she would kill me if she knew I was revealing TMI!

This little snag in her diet has posed a challenge.  It's hard to tell a 9 year old that she can't eat cheese, milk or (gasp) ice cream!  Reading lots of labels these days and searching for dairy free recipes.  This weekend, I cam up with Oatmeal to Go bars.  I think this will satisfy her and make me feel better knowing she has something filling in her belly at school.

 

Oatmeal-to-Go Bars!

 

2 cups Old-fashioned rolled oats (not steel-cut or quick cooking)

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

pinch of salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 cups almond milk

1/2 cup applesauce

1 large egg

3 tbsp agave nectar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup (total) walnuts, pepitas, and sunflower seeds

 

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2. Grease a 7x11 inch baking dish

3. In a medium bowl combine oats, flour, cinnamon,salt and baking powder

4.In a large bowl, whisk together the almond milk, applesauce, egg, agave and vanilla extract

5.Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients,stir until combined, and add dried fruit and nuts.

 

 

6. Pour the oatmeal mixture into grease baking dish and bake for 30 minutes until thick and golden.

7. Cool and cut into squares.  Bars will last up to 5 days in fridge. 

 

 

 

Bars will freeze well and last for 3months in freezer.  Just cut into squares and place into freezer bag.