Fruity Bircher Oats

I love this recipe because it is so simple and makes breakfast the following day super easy. This recipe easily makes enough for a family of four to eat a healthy and scrumptious breakfast together – without having the notorious sugary kid’s cereals sitting at the breakfast table with you!

Little people will absolutely love being able to experiment with their independence by adding their own choice of toppings to their bowl of deliciousness (I have included some suggestions below). Remember that you want your little one to associate breakfast with fun (or any mealtime for that matter), which is an important part of ensuring that they have a healthy and happy relationship with food as they grow and develop.

Oats really is the prize breakfast choice to meet the demanding, growing needs of little people: a bowl of oats is packed with iron, calcium, fibre and b-vitamins (which are essential for nerve function and energy metabolism). I have opted for rolled oats because of its consistency and because it is less processed than instant oats.

Almond and coconut milk are both fantastic because they add a delicious flavour to the recipe. If you would prefer to use cow’s milk then opt for full-fat dairy until your child is at least two years old (read up more around dairy in my previous post on The Skinny on Dairy). You could really use any dried fruit or fruit juice, so check what you have in your pantry and get creative with that!

What you’ll need:

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk/coconut milk or full-fat milk
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• 1 tsp vanilla powder/essence
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp orange rind
• 1 Tbs unsweetened nut butter (macadamia, cashew, almond or peanut butter will all do)
• 1 cup plain full cream yoghurt
• 1/4 cup dried mango, chopped into small pieces
• 1/4 cup dried dates, chopped into small pieces

Method:

• Place all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
• Mix together using a spoon until all the ingredients are well combined.
• Cover with cling film and leave overnight in the fridge.
• Serve in individual portions with a variety of toppings to mix and match.
• Add your choice of toppings (or let your little person decide for themselves!):
  • Blueberries, raspberries, chopped strawberries, mixed seeds, crushed nuts, grated apple, grated pear, raisins or sliced banana.
• Finish off with a swirl of honey for babies older than one.
• Freeze leftover individual portions and defrost in the refrigerator overnight to enjoy the following day.

Note:

• If your child has an allergy to any of the above-mentioned ingredients, this recipe will need to be adapted.

• Never leave your child unsupervised while eating.