Feeding a toddler is tough. There, I said it. It's messy. Extremely messy. Wasteful. Oh so very wasteful. And, if you're a perfectionist like me, it's time consuming. You see, I have a real issue with processed foods. I hardly ever buy anything processed. Yet the snacks targeted at babies and toddlers are all super processed, even if they are organic. And while sometimes, I do cave and give my daughter a store-bought pouch of pureed organic fruit when we're on the go, I refuse to give into purchasing the onslaught of convenience foods targeted at busy moms and hungry babes. I make Hazel's snacks myself. I've made muffins, healthy cookies, trail mix, smoothies, and these incredible raspberry crumble bars. Or I give her whole foods, such as a piece of fruit, berries, seaweed, veggie sticks, and cheese. I'd rather know exactly what she's consuming instead of relying on a snack company's ingredients.
I still have a lot of improvement to do in regards to planning ahead and trying new snack recipes. Sometimes, Hazel is super hungry and the only easy snack food I have on hand is a banana. And while that's perfectly fine, I'd like to get a bit more creative before she starts getting tired of bananas. She's also still nursing, so I do have the convenience of offering the breast when she wants a snack on the go. Gotta love breastfeeding!
These bars really are incredible, though. We ate them far too quickly. And the chia jam was absolutely perfect on toast with almond butter. I highly recommend making the bars with the whole vanilla bean, pod and all. You (and your toddler) won't be disappointed!
Raw Raspberry Crumble Bars Recipe
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