My Heart Is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall

Heart Healthy Energy Bars

Ingredients

• 1 pound of dates
• 1 cup of nuts (almonds and cashews)
• Handful of dried cranberries
• Couple of dried apricots
• Spoonful of unsweetened cocoa powder
• Handful of coconut flakes

Directions

1. Put the dates and nuts into the food processor
2. Chop the dates and any other dried fruits that you are using in a food processor(Adult Job).
3. Scoop the resulting paste aside
4. Finely grind the nuts and spices. (Adult Job)
5. Mix the fruits and nuts together, kneading the mixture into a lightly greased pan (or one that is covered in wax paper).
6. Flatten the mixture down by covering it with plastic wrap and pressing down and shaping with the back of a spoon.
7. Then cool in the refrigerator overnight.
8. Cut the mixture into individual bars or use a COOKIE Cutter to create shapes, tightly wrapping each with plastic wrap and storing in the refrigerator

Other Great Sources for Energy Bar Recipes

Heart Healthy Activities for Kids 

• Heart Healthy Food Sort

• Heart Healthy Facts Printable

Printables for Heart Healthy Activities from Nourish Interactive

The American Heart Association recommends this eating pattern for families:

• Energy (calories) should be adequate to support growth and development and to reach or maintain desirable body weight.
• Eat foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.
• Keep total fat intake between 30 to 35 percent of calories for children 2 to 3 years of age and between 25 to 35 percent of calories for children and adolescents 4 to 18 years of age, with most fats coming from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, nuts and vegetable oils.
• Choose a variety of foods to get enough carbohydrates, protein and other nutrients.
• Eat only enough calories to maintain a healthy weight for your height and build. Be physically active for at least 60 minutes a day.
• Serve whole-grain/high-fiber breads and cereals rather than refined grain products. Look for “whole grain” as the first ingredient on the food label and make at least half your grain servings whole grain. Recommended grain intake ranges from 2 oz./day for a one-year-old to 7 oz./day for a 14–18-year-old boy.
• Serve a variety of fruits and vegetables daily, while limiting juice intake. Each meal should contain at least 1 fruit or vegetable. Children’s recommended fruit intake ranges from 1 cup/day, between ages 1 and 3, to 2 cups for a 14–18-year-old boy. Recommended vegetable intake ranges from ¾ cup a day at age one to 3 cups for a 14–18-year-old boy.
• Introduce and regularly serve fish as an entrée. Avoid commercially fried fish.
• Serve fat-free and low-fat dairy foods. From ages 1–8, children need 2 cups of milk or its equivalent each day. Children ages 9–18 need 3 cups.
• Don’t overfeed. Estimated calories needed by children range from 900/day for a 1-year-old to 1,800 for a 14–18-year-old girl and 2,200 for a 14–18-year-old boy.

This eating pattern supports a child’s normal growth and development. It provides enough total energy and meets or exceeds the recommended daily allowances for all nutrients for children and adolescents, including iron and calcium.
Source:  American Heart Association

This post was written to promote the heart project.  Need more info?  What is The Heart Project

Hope your little ones enjoy learning about their heart and how important it is to our health.  If you are looking for more Healthy Eating Tips stop by our Food Groups Series called Balanced Eating Fun from Little Hands that Cooks with Books.

• Fruit Group Books, Activities and Recipe
• Vegetable Group Books, Activities and Recipe
• Meat Group Books, Activities and Recipe
• Dairy Group Books, Activitites and Recipes
• Grains Group Books, Activities and Recipe