Lunchbox-friendly and no nuts? Yes please ššš« These Banana Oat Energy Balls are the perfect little grab-and-go snack for busy days. #FlahavansIrishOats
Serves 15
INGREDIENTS: 2 cups (170g) Flahavanās Progress Oatlets 1 Fyffes banana 12 dates 3 tbsp coconut oil 3 tbsp maple syrup 1/2 cup (80g) chocolate chips Some boiling water to loosen if necessary
METHOD: Mix all ingredients together (except the chocolate chips) in a blender.
Remove from the blender and mix in the chocolate chips.
Shape into balls.
Drizzle some chocolate on top or roll in oats and/or cinnamon sugar.
Let the balls firm up in the fridge, and theyāll get less sticky.
You can freeze these and put them in the lunchbox in the morning. Theyāll be defrosted by the time the kids eat their lunch!
These are perfect for Motherās Day and amazing for kids lunchboxes or as healthy toddler snack AND they freeze really well.
For Mums on Motherās Day, it is so lovely for your little one to bring you up one of these in bed, served with fresh cream and strawberry jam. Mine always included their little homemade card and flower from our garden. Itās so simple but to them and me, it meant everything š
All of the ingredients are fromĀ @dunnesstoresĀ and comment RECIPE and Iāll DM the ingredients straight to your inbox.
This tomato, cucumber and avocado sandwich is the perfect light and easy lunch. With just a few fresh ingredients, you can have a satisfying meal in just 10 minutes. Creamy avocado and hummus provide plant-based protein and healthy fats, while juicy tomatoes and crisp cucumbers bring refreshing crunch and flavor. Layer it all on whole-grain bread for an extra boost of fiber, and youāve got a quick and wholesome sandwich at the ready!
Refreshing, light and satisfying, our Cucumber-Avocado-Tomato Sandwich is an easy and delicious lunch that will really hit the spot. Every sandwich starts with and needs a good condiment. For this one, we amplify store-bought hummus with the sweet tang of honey mustard and fresh dill for a hit of herby brightness. Then we stack on the fiber-packed veggies: cucumbers and onions give a nice crunch and contrast to the creamy, heart-healthy avocado and the juicy tomato; the alfalfa sprouts add great texture. Cheddar cheese adds bone-boosting calcium and a salty, sharp flavor that complements the fresh veggies perfectly, and hearty toasted whole-wheat bread is the perfect vessel for all these wholesome toppings. Keep reading for our expert tips, including recommendations on swapping out hummus flavors.
Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen
These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!
Experiment with different flavors of hummus for your spread. Try garlic hummus, dill pickle hummus or even make your own. To prepare a batch of our Classic Hummus, use a food processor and add a handful of ingredients: garlic, chickpeas, lemon juice, olive oil, tahini and salt. Best of all, this flavor-spiked hummus takes just 10 minutes to make!
While a chefās knife can cut cucumbers, a serrated knife is more effective for slicing tomatoes. The serrated edge easily cuts through the skin and flesh without damaging the soft interior.
Nutrition Notes
Cucumbers arenāt brimming with the typical vitamins and minerals that youāll find in many fruits and vegetables, but they are an important vegetable because they contain antioxidant phytonutrients that can help protect against inflammation. They are also more than 95% water, which makes them a hydrating vegetableāgreat for your skin.
Avocados are known for being high in fat, but itās the type of fat that your heart loves: monounsaturated fat. Avocados are also brimming with fiber, which has been shown to improve the health of the microbiome, and impacts your health in many ways, including strengthening your immune system, improving cognition and lowering inflammation.
There are few things tastier than a really good tomato, and they are really good for you. Tomatoes are high in vitamin C, which is essential for healthy immune function. They are also high in a carotenoid called lycopene, an antioxidant that helps maintain healthy cells throughout the body, and eating foods with lycopene regularly can help lower your risk of heart disease.
Whole-wheat bread is a heartier choice of bread for this sandwich and youāll get the benefit of more nutrients and more fiber. Eating more fiber can lead to better digestive health. Whole-wheat bread is also a source of important B vitaminsāessential for your working metabolism.
Ingredients
¼ cup plain hummus
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1½ teaspoons honey mustard
2 thin slices whole-wheat bread, toasted
1 (1-ounce) slice sharp Cheddar cheese
½ small tomato, thinly sliced
¼ medium avocado, thinly sliced
¼ cup alfalfa sprouts
¼ cup thinly sliced English cucumber
1 tablespoon thinly sliced red onion
Pinch of salt
Directions
Stir ¼ cup hummus, 1 tablespoon dill and 1½ teaspoons honey mustard together in a small bowl until well combined. Spread the hummus mixture on 1 side of each of 2 toast slices. Layer 1 cheese slice, tomato slices, avocado slices, ¼ cup alfalfa sprouts, ¼ cup cucumber and 1 tablespoon red onion over the hummus on 1 toast slice; sprinkle with salt. Top with the remaining toast slice, hummus-side down. Cut the sandwich in half diagonally.