Healthy Gluten Free Snacks

I hope you will enjoy these healthy snack ideas that can liven up your daily gluten free diet.

A piece of fruit, such as an apple or banana, makes an ideal treat, but sometimes you want something a bit more exciting. Try these simple, but healthy snack recipes, which can be popped in a lunch box and taken to school easily.

The first two gluten free snacks don't even need cooking!

Fruit squares

• 1 cup raisins or sultanas
• 1/2 cup blanched almonds
• 2.3 tablespoons honey
• a little desiccated coconut for lining the trays

Put the raisins or sultanas, and almonds, in the food processor with the honey and pulse until coarsely chopped.

Sprinkle your ice cube tray with coconut so that the bottom is well covered.

Press the fruit and nut mix tightly down into the squares and bang out onto the counter (I put a dishcloth underneath to muffle the noise somewhat).

Date Balls

In fact, dates are too good to only bring out at Christmas time! Enjoy these date balls at any time of year, by making up the recipe below and storing them in the fridge, ready to pop into your lunchbox.

• 1 block pitted dates
• Water to cover
• 1 1/2 cups desiccated coconut
• 1 1/2 cups millet flakes
• 1-2 tablespoon tahini or peanut butter

Soak the dates in boiling water until the water is cool enough for you to tolerate.

Drain, keeping some of the water aside.

Add the coconut and millet flakes, plus the tahini or peanut butter.

Mix together in a blender, or with your hands, and add a little of the drained date water if necessary.

Roll into balls and store in the fridge.

Fruity Millet Bars

There is no need to waste any leftover crumbs! You can use them as a crunchy topping for yoghurt or ice cream, or add them to your breakfast granola.

• 2/3 cup (4oz - 115g) dried fruit (sultanas, cranberries or favourite dried fruit)
• 3 tablespoons apple juice
• 1/2 cup (4oz - 115g) butter or margarine
• 4 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons clear honey
• 1 1/4 cups millet flakes (or buckwheat flakes or gf oats)
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 2 tablespoons ground almonds (or almond flour)

Put the dried fruit and apple juice in pan and heat gently. Turn off the heat as soon as the juice begins to bubble. Leave ther fruit to soak up the juice for about an hour. This will plump up the sultanas nicely.

Preheat the oven to 170^oC (325^oF/Gas Mark 3).

Prepare a 7 inch square baking tin by greasing and lining with baking paper.

Put the butter, sugar and honey into another pan, and heat gently until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Take the pan off the heat.

Stir in the fruit, millet, sesame seeds and ground almonds and mix thoroughly.

Spread the mixture into the pan. Pop it in the oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Cut into bars, leaving them in the pan to cool down and set for a few minutes. Then turn out onto a cooling rack.

Enjoy!