The more children are involved in food prep, the more likely they will try new things. This recipe is especially fun (and easy) for children because all ingredients are rough measurements. The children can substitute ingredients for a variety of choices that they prefer.
As you’re preparing items, invite the children to scoop the ingredients with their (freshly washed) hands and describe what they feel. The nuts may be rough, the seeds smooth and the dried fruit squishy. If they close their eyes, can they identify what they feel? Can they smell which is different? How does it smell once it starts baking?
Ingredients
- 5 cups rolled oats (not quick-cooking or instant)
- 1-2 cups of nuts and seeds: sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pecans, almonds, etc
- 1 cup dried unsweetened shredded coconut, if desired
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, more or less is fine
- pinch of salt
- 1 cup honey, more or less is fine
- 1 cup of dried fruit: raisins, cranberries, cherries, etc
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine oats, nuts, seeds, coconut, cinnamon and salt. Add honey. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 25-35 minutes (time may vary depending on how many ingredients used). Wait for mixture to brown evenly, without burning. Remove pan and add dried fruit. After the granola has cooled, add a few chocolate chips . . . the darker the chocolate, the healthier. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator.
