Banana and Seed Porridge Bread

This delicious Banana and Seed Porridge Bread is a perfect snack for kids after school and should keep them full until dinner. Children whatever age love a snack, at times it seems like they are constantly hungry and asking for snacks. This recipe could help its quick and easy to make, tastes yummy if frozen and it’s packed with nutritional goodness!

Kids are super-active, burning off lots of energy, if their snacks are high in sugar, white/refined carbs and ultra-processed. They give them a quick burst of energy as their blood sugar jumps up, but very quickly after their blood sugar drops, so does their energy. And they then want another snack high in sugar or white carbs. Causing their blood sugar to yoyo. Which can affect their mood, behaviour and sleep.

It is very hard to find a snack in the supermarket that keeps your child’s blood sugar balanced, packed with protein, healthy fats and complex carbs.  

I am always coming up with snack recipes for my kids that are low in sugar and often contain some hidden healthy bit.

I aim to include the following food groups so that my kids don’t keep asking for snacks.

⭐Include wholegrain (oats, quinoa), lentils or beans - packed full of complex carbohydrates and fibre to help keep our child’s gut healthy. Complex carbs are also packed with protein, B vitamins, iron, zinc and magnesium. Taking longer to digest than refined, white carbs so your child is fuller for longer. They are a stable source of energy and reduce the number of blood sugar spikes, helping your child's mood, behaviour and energy.

⭐Nuts & seeds (almond flour, nut butter, flaxseed, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds) packed with healthy fats and protein. Healthy fats provide slow-burning, long-lasting energy to fuel your child’s body and enhance their brain development. Nuts and seeds are high in folate, helping cell growth, and important for growth spurts. They are high in zinc, essential if your child suffers from frequent infections or decreased appetite and is a fussy eater. 

⭐Eggs are packed with protein and choline for brain development. Choline is an important nutrient we all forget about, it supports memory, attention, learning and problem-solving.  They are useful source of vitamins D and B12 as well as the mineral iodine. 

⭐Fruit or Vegetables are packed with vitamins, minerals & phytonutrients, that support a healthy gut, and are immune-boosting and mood-boosting.

⭐Protein is a key ingredient in a child’s snack if you want to keep them fuller for longer. It also helps make brain hormones called neurotransmitters that affect your child’s mood and behaviour. If your child is allergic to eggs or is vegan then beans, lentils, oats, quinoa, nuts and seeds are packed with protein.

Ingredients

300g Oats

1 Soft banana

1 Egg

2tsp Almond butter

2tsp Flax seeds

1tsp Bicarbonate of soda

1tsp Ground cinnamon

60g Chopped dried fruit, apricots, dates, raisins

30g Sunflower seeds

30g Pumpkin seeds

1 x 500ml Tub of natural yoghurt

1tbsp Treacle or maple syrup

Method

Preheat the oven 200oC.

Grease a 900g loaf tin or line with baking paper.

Put the oats, cinnamon, flaxseed, bicarbonate of soda, seeds and chopped dried fruit in a bowl and mix.

Crush the banana with a fork, add the egg, treacle and almond butter and mix together. Then add the yoghurt and mix well.

Add the yoghurt mix to the oat mix and mix well, pour into the tin.

Sprinkle over some seeds and bake for 25 minutes.

Lower the temperature of the oven to 160oC. Cover the loaf in foil and bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer is inserted and clean.

Cool for 15 minutes and then transfer to a rack. Allow to cool for 2 hours before you slice.

Great toasted with some melted butter.

Suitable for freezing, enjoy!