Calm & Brave Muesli Slice: A Nourishing Snack for Little Minds

Looking for a delicious homemade recipe to add to your kids’ lunchbox that brings a little extra support to their everyday wellbeing? These Calm & Brave Muesli Slice squares are made with wholesome oats, seeds, dates, nut butter and a layer of chocolate, with Harker Herbals Children’s Calm & Brave blended into the mix.

Designed for busy family life, this easy seed muesli slice is a tasty way to incorporate Children’s Calm & Brave into a familiar snack. It’s perfect for school lunchboxes, after-school snacks or keeping on hand when little ones need a nourishing pick-me-up.

Growing up can come with plenty of big feelings, new experiences, worries and everyday stresses. Supporting children’s emotional resilience isn’t about eliminating those feelings, but helping them build positive routines and giving them the tools and support they need to navigate them. Alongside sleep, nourishing food, movement, connection and plenty of reassurance, simple wellness rituals can become part of a child’s everyday routine.

With a delicious combination of crunchy seeds, creamy nut butter, naturally sweet dates and maple syrup, plus a smooth chocolate topping, this Calm & Brave muesli slice makes wellness feel like a treat. Make a batch ahead of time, pop a square into the lunchbox, and enjoy a simple homemade snack the whole family can love.

Ready to make them? Here’s the recipe for our Calm & Brave Muesli Slice.

Makes 12 squares

Ingredients

• 175 g rolled oats - 1¾ cups
• 70 g pumpkin seeds (½ cup)
• 60 g sunflower seeds (½ cup)
• 45 g desiccated coconut (½ cup)
• 55 g chopped dates (⅓ cup)
• 100 g smooth peanut or almond butter (⅓ cup)
• 40 g pure maple syrup - 2 tbsp
• 50 g butter or coconut oil (¼ cup)
• 60 mL Harker Herbals Children’s Calm & Brave (12 tsp)
• 1 tsp orange zest
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp salt
• 90 g milk chocolate, roughly chopped (½ cup)

Method

1. Line a 20 cm square baking tin with baking paper.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the butter, maple syrup and nut butter. Microwave in 20-30 second bursts, stirring between each, until melted and smooth.
3. Add the oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut and chopped dates to a large bowl and mix to combine.
4. Pour the warm mixture over the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly until everything is evenly coated.
5. Add the orange zest, vanilla, cinnamon and salt, then mix to combine.
6. Allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes, then stir through the Harker Herbals Children’s Calm & Brave until evenly incorporated.
7. Transfer to the prepared tin and press down very firmly and evenly.
8. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in short bursts, stirring between each, until smooth. Spread evenly over the top of the slice.
9. Place in the freezer for approximately 1 hour, or until firm. Allow to sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before slicing into 12 squares.
10. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Optional: Finish with a little flaky sea salt while the chocolate is still soft.

Recipe by Lara Flannery, Founder of Feeding Lara and Qualified sport nutritionist