Amber is well and truly settled into reception now and is obviously working much harder than at nursery as she always comes home starving! The after school snack debate is one which is always a big topic between parents, do you give them something big then a small dinner, or a piece of fruit and some milk?

I’ve trialled a few options, toast and crumpets normally go down well especially with marmite (got to get the Vitamin B12) in there. However when Amber has a sweet tooth I need to look for something satisfying yet healthy.

We have tried the Punk’d Oaty Bars by Organix which Amber loves. As you know this is a brand which I have used since Amber was weaning. She recognises their packaging now and always knows that she will enjoy whatever is in the box.

The cocoa & orange bars are great, enough sweetness in there to keep the little ones taste buds happy and the orange flavour really comes through. Think Terrys chocolate orange but in an oat bar. These come in at an impressive 94kcal per bar and 5.6g sugar which are natural sugars.

The strawberry & vanilla bars (which are my personal favourite are incredible, it’s sweeter than the cocoa & orange one with lots of flavour and is really nice dipped into yoghurt, according to Amber. These come is at 96kcal per bar and 5.5g sugar.

The good thing about choosing an oat-based snack is that oats are slow-releasing energy food so they keep you fuller for longer, this is perfect for active kids who burn a lot of energy. Oats can also control blood sugar levels. The high fibre and complex carbohydrates slow down the conversion of this whole food to simple sugars, and beta-glucan delays the fall in blood sugar levels before meals and slows the rise after a meal.

Other good oat-based snacks are homemade flapjacks or oaty pancakes which you can make by putting oats into a food processor or blender to make oat flour.

Also if you are looking for fun ideas after school why not attempt this gruffalo tin meal.

Gruffalo Themed Muffin Tin Meal

Organix Goodies is partnering with Chessington World of Adventures Resort and its new Gruffalo River Ride Adventure as it splashes into the Wild Woods, to offer little explorers (and mums and dads too) the chance to GO FREE*. To celebrate this partnership, Organix have created a fun Gruffalo themed muffin tin meal so little ones can recreate the story at home.

Ingredients:

Homemade potato wedges (Terrible Tusks)

Cooked peas (Poisonous Warts)

Lightly steamed sliced carrot rounds (Orange Eyes)

Organix Goodies Cheese & Chive Breadsticks (Knobbly Knees)

Sliced Organix Goodies Apple & Date Fruit Bar (Terrible Teeth)

Sliced roast chicken breast (Roasted Fox)

Or for a vegetarian option, replace the chicken breast with:

18g sliced cheddar cheese, cut into triangles (Terrible Claws)

How to Make:

Prepare your ingredients; make the potato wedges using the recipe below, cook the peas, lightly steam the carrot, chop the fruit bar into 5 pieces, slice the chicken breast or cheddar cheese if using.

Place small portions of each ingredient into silicone or paper cupcake cases.

Pop them on a platter, plate or into a 6 hole muffin tin to serve.

Simple Potato Wedges Recipe

Ingredients:

• 250g new potatoes
• 1 tsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper to season (optional)

Method:

Preheat the oven to 200°C (Gas mark 6/390°F).

Scrub the potatoes in cold water then pat dry.  Slice each potato into 4 or 6 wedges, (depending on potato size).

Place in a roasting tin and drizzle over the olive oil. Season with a little salt and pepper if using.  Shake the tin until the potatoes are coated in the oil.

Put the tin in the oven to cook for 20-25 minutes, taking out and shaking every 10 minutes to help the potatoes cook evenly.

– ENDS –

*Go Free

• Each voucher gives ONE ADULT or ONE CHILD FREE entry with a full priced adult ticket purchased at the entrance until 30.04.18 at Chessington World of Adventures Resort.
• Full priced adult tickets are £49 and full priced child tickets are £45.
• To redeem, vouchers should be cut out and taken to the entrance.
• The voucher can also be redeemed at Alton Towers Resort or SEA LIFE Bray (The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure is only located at Chessington World of Adventures Resort).
• Only one free adult or child per entry voucher.
• Children under 3 enter the Theme Park free of charge.
• This voucher cannot be used with any other promotion, advanced booking or tickets bought online or by phone.
• Full T’s & C’s at chessington.com/organix

*Contains PR samples.