Apricot Chocolate Oat Bars (High Iron!)
I made these bars because I know just how hard it can be to maintain your iron levels during pregnancy. This is no surprise considering that your iron needs go up by a MASSIVE 50%. Considering most women aren’t getting enough iron when they AREN’T pregnant, you can imagine how easy it is to become deficient when they are.
Apricot and chocolate oat bars: to the rescue! I might be a little biased, but I think these are the perfect high-iron pregnancy snack.
NUTRITION BITES
Just one of these bars will meet 16% of your daily iron requirements if you’re not pregnant, and 10% of your daily iron requirements if you are.
These apricot chocolate oat bars…
Are super easy to make
Great for kids - if you have a child aged 4-8 years, just one bar will supply them with about 1/3 of their iron for the day
Versatile - you can add in anything you’d like (just don’t take out the apricots, as these supply most of the iron)
APRICOT CHOCOLATE OAT BARS
Makes: 8 large bars
Time to make: 30 minutes
INGREDIENTS
WET
- 1/3 cup runny honey
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 4 tbsp water and left to sit for 10 mins
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup melted butter (I use plant based)
DRY
- 1 cup organic rolled oats
- 1 cup wholemeal spelt flour
- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
- 1 cup dried apricots (diced)
- pinch salt
- 50g chopped 70% dark chocolate, plus more for drizzling
THE HOW TO
In separate bowls, combine wet and dry ingredients.
Fold wet and dry ingredients together until just combined.
Press into a lined slice tin and bake at 175C for 20 minutes or until golden.
Drizzle with melted chocolate, slice into 8 bars and enjoy!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gemma is a fertility and women’s health naturopath in Auckland, New Zealand. She is a mother to 3-year-old Laura and an avid (perhaps slightly obsessive) cook. In her spare time, you’ll find her rummaging through her cookbook collection, hitting up local restaurants or pottering in the veggie garden.