This week is back-to-school for many children. I have been excited to start packing the girls Lovable Lunches again this year.

One thing I want to do more of this year is pack more homemade items in my girls lunch boxes. Today I made nut-free bars that my girls love, so this will be one of our lunch staples for the year.

2 dozen

Nut-Free Bars

Name: Nut-Free Bars
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 1 cup raw sunflower seeds; 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds; 1/4 cup hemp hearts; 1/4 cup chia seeds; 1/4 cup goji berries (soaked); 1 cup unsweetened coconut; 2 Tbsp coconut oil; 1/2 cup honey; 1 tsp vanilla extract; pinch of sea salt (I use Celtic); (You can make this recipe using any seed combinations and if you do want to add nuts you can replace some of the seeds with nuts - you really can make this recipe your own. You can replace the goji berries with raisins or chocolate chips if you like too).

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

These nut-free bars pack in protein and are great for school lunches!

Ingredients

1 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup hemp hearts
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup goji berries (soaked)
1 cup unsweetened coconut
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of sea salt (I use Celtic)
(You can make this recipe using any seed combinations and if you do want to add nuts you can replace some of the seeds with nuts - you really can make this recipe your own. You can replace the goji berries with raisins or chocolate chips if you like too).

Instructions

Soak the goji berries in hot water for 3-5 minutes.
While they are soaking, line a 9x12 pan with parchment paper and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, mix together coconut, seeds and hemp hearts and set aside.
In a small pot, melt the coconut oil and honey. Once melted stir in the vanilla, sea salt and strained goji berries.
Pour the honey mixture over the seed mixture. Stir till well blended.
Push mixture into the pan and bake at 300 degrees for half an hour. Remove from oven and let cool completely or they will fall apart. Once it is completely cool you can cut them into bars. I like to place mine in the fridge after they are cool for about 15 minutes and then I use a pizza cutter to cut them. I keep them in the freezer and take them out each morning to put in my girls lunches. They would keep in a sealed container for 7-10 days.

What are some of your favorite homemade recipes to pack in your kids lunches for school?

You may also like this Rhubarb Platz Recipe.

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Lynda Cook

Wednesday 26th of August 2015

These are packed full of great healthy seeds, love it, I need to make a trip to Bulk Barn, would love to make these for myself!!

Annie

Monday 9th of February 2015

Hi!! I'm just about to make these and I was curious if you had any suggestions for something that would bind the bars together that wasn't a sugar. I'd like to use some honey, maybe 1/4 cup -- is there anything else I could use to hold them together? Thanks!

Jody @ Mommy Moment

I know some people use sunflower butter or a nut free type peanut butter. I love using honey in this recipe too

Alexa Nernberg

Sunday 7th of December 2014

Your Nut Free Bars look really good. These are definitely on my list to make. Thanks for sharing this recipe with your readers.

Judy Cowan

Saturday 6th of December 2014

These sound very yummy and healthy! Thanks for sharing the recipe, will have to make some up!

Florence C

Friday 5th of December 2014

Looks delicious. I would like these.