Easy and healthy snacks for family days out

Family days out are a great opportunity to create unforgettable memories in the great outdoors. But don't forget that your little explorers' stomachs are still developing, and need to be fed little and often. So there's a good chance that your children's tummies will start rumbling in the middle of your hike or bike ride.

It's a sign that it's time to take a break, settle down and recharge with a well-earned snack.

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Check out our favorite recipes below for healthy snacks that are easy to prepare, easy to pack in your backpack and easy to eat on a day out with the kids.

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1. Apple and carrot muffins

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Preparation time: 10 min

Cooking time: 30 min

Total time: 40 min
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Ingredients (4 to 6 muffins) 

• 2 apples

• 1 carrot

• 100ml milk

• 50ml oil (olive, rapeseed, sunflower or coconut) 

• 100g flour

• 50g to 100g sugar (to taste)

• 3 tsp honey or maple syrup

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp cinnamon powder

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Equipment 

• Peeler or blender for grating fruit and vegetables

• Bowl for mixing ingredients

• Muffin tin

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Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. 

2. Grate the carrot and apples with a peeler or in a blender.

3. Mix grated apples, grated carrot, milk, oil and honey (or maple syrup). 

4. Add flour, baking powder and cinnamon. 

5. Mix well and pour into a muffin tin. 

6. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the muffins comes out clean. 

7. Leave to cool before taking out of the tin.

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Photo credit: Alina Karpenko on Unsplash

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2. Oat bars with peanut butter and dark chocolate

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Preparation time: 15 min

Cooling time: 1 hour

Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes

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Ingredients (12 bars) 

• 200g rolled oats

• 120g peanut butter

• 80g honey or maple syrup

• 150g dark chocolate

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Equipment 

• Bowl for mixing ingredients

• Parchment paper

• Rectangular or square baking tin

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Method

1. Mix the rolled oats with the peanut butter and honey in a bowl. 

2. Stir until smooth and sticky.

3. Line your baking tin with parchment paper and pour in the mixture. Press down well to create a compact layer.

4. Melt the dark chocolate in a bain-marie or in the microwave. 

Mix until smooth.

5. Pour the melted chocolate over the oatmeal layer and spread evenly.

6. Place in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

7. Remove from the fridge, unmould and cut into equal-sized bars.

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Photo credit: Craig Thomas on Unsplash

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3. Berries and banana oat bars

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Preparation time: 5 min

Cooking time: 25 min

Total time: 30 min

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Ingredients (12 bars) 

• 3 bananas

• 150 g rolled oats

• 60 g butter

• 4 tablespoons honey

• 2 handfuls fresh or frozen red fruit

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Equipment 

• Salad bowl for mixing ingredients

• Parchment paper

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Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. 

2. In a bowl, mash the bananas with the back of a fork. 

3. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. 

4. Pour the mixture onto an ovenproof tray lined with baking parchment. 

5. Spread in a thin layer and bake for 25 minutes. 

6. Leave to cool, then cut into squares.

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4. Banana bread

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Preparation time: 15 min

Cooking time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes

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Ingredients (10 slices) 

• Butter to grease the mould

• 140g wholemeal flour

• 100g self-raising flour

• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 pinch salt

• 300g mashed banana from overripe black bananas

• 4 tablespoons honey or maple syrup

• 3 large eggs, beaten with a fork

• 150ml plain low-fat yoghurt from a pot 

• 25g chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

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Equipment 

• Bowl for mixing ingredients

• Parchment paper

• Cake tin

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Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. 

2. Grease your cake tin with butter and line with greaseproof paper (leave 2cm of greaseproof paper over the top of the tin).

3. Mix the flours, baking soda, baking powder and a pinch of salt in a large bowl.

Mix the bananas, syrup, eggs and yoghurt. 

4. Quickly fold into the dry ingredients, then carefully pour into the tin and sprinkle with walnuts, if using. 

5. Bake for 1 h 15 min, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

6. Leave to cool, then turn out.

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Photo credits: Jeff Siepman on Unsplash

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5. Hummus and vegetable sticks

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Preparation time: 30 min

Total time: 30 min

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Ingredients - Hummus

• 1 tin chickpeas (400 g), rinsed and drained

• 75g tahini

• 25g olive oil

• 1 lemon

• 1 garlic clove

• 1 pinch of salt

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Ingredients - Vegetable sticks

• 1/2 cucumber

• 4 carrots

• 1 small bell pepper
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Equipment 

• Peeler

• Blender

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Method

Hummus

1. Pour the drained chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, juice of half a lemon, crushed garlic clove and a large pinch of salt into the bowl of your blender. 

2. Blend for 10 seconds or until smooth. 

3. Adjust the flavours by adding a little more lemon juice and/or olive oil.

4. Place the hummus in a small, airtight container for easy transport. 

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Vegetable sticks

1. Wash all the vegetables

2. Peel the carrots

3. Cut the cucumber and carrots into thin sticks

4. Cut the bell pepper into strips

5. Place the raw vegetables in an airtight container for easy transport.

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Photo credits: Antoni Shkraba Studio on Pexels

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It’s hard to enjoy a day out with an empty stomach. We hope these recipes help you find inspiration to fuel your outdoor adventures with your kids. Once neatly packed in airtight containers, these healthy snacks can be easily slipped in a backpack and follow you wherever your curiosity takes you.

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It is also essential to keep hydrated throughout the day, even more so when you are active, and in hot weather. Make sure to pack plenty of water and, if you don’t already have one, check out our range of handy bottles, including some models for specially designed for kids!

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Keen to learn more about fuelling for performance and adventures? Then check out our Nutrition category for more handy tips, advice and recipes.