Snack - Yogurt parfait with fresh berries and nut-free granola

Total prep time: less than 5 minutes

Canada's Food Guide Servings:

1 Milk and Alternatives (3/4 cup yogurt)
1 Grain Products (1/2 cup granola)
1/2 Vegetables and Fruit (1/4 cup of berries)

Add 3/4 cup of your child's favourite yogurt to a seal-tight container.  I prefer Liberte or Stonyfield Farm yogurt, both affordable organic options.

• Sprinkle 2 tbsp of any nut-free granola over the yogurt.  You can find nut-free granola at many health food stores.  Enjoy Life makes nut-free granola and can be found at Loblaws, Sobeys and Whole Foods.  You can also get creative and make your own nut-free, homemade granola.  My favourite recipe can be found below.  Give it a try, let your children join in and you'll never buy store-bought granola again!
• Top with a handful of washed, fresh berries (you can also substitute with frozen berries - they should be fully thawed by snack time).  

Simple Granola Recipe

Ingredients:
4 cups oats (NOT quick-cook or instant)
1/2 cup flax seeds
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups raisins or dried cranberries

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. 
2. Mix oats, flax seeds, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon in a bowl.
3. In a saucepan warm the oil and honey. Whisk in the vanilla extract.
4. Pour the honey, oil, vanilla mixture over the oat mixture and mix gently with a spatula until the granola is coated.
5. Mix with your hands, crumbling any large clusters.
6. Spread out onto a sheet pan and bake for 40 minutes (stir after the first 20). Cool and break up any clumps. Mix in dried fruit.

Yield: about 9 cups
Cook Time: 40 minutes

*TIPS*
1. Store in a glass jar in your pantry for up to two months.
2. This granola has many more uses.  Serve in a bowl with milk as a breakfast cereal or use it to top your favourite fruit crisp for dessert.  You can also add different dried fruits, nuts and seeds (pumpkin and sunflower work well) to make an easy on-the-go snack.

What child wouldn't love a snack like that?  Snacks can be healthy.  Snacks should be healthy.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe!