A mum and healthy snack enthusiast has shared a simple recipe you can make at home that’s sure to delight kids and adults alike – plus, it’s healthier than store-bought alternatives
A mum has shared a healthy snack recipe that she claims her toddlers can’t get enough of.Meaghan Williamson, who shares nutritious snack ideas for children on her Instagram page, recently posted a reel showing how to make ‘date bark’, a favourite among her little ones.
In the caption of her reel, she wrote: “Let me tell you the secret to happy toddlers. Snacks. Lots and lots of snacks! But almost everything you buy at the store is filled with unnecessary ingredients and fillers. Most of them barely contain any protein but are packed with sugar. That’s where I come in. The key is to give them a snack with a balance of protein, healthy fats, and carbs.”
According to the mum, this helps maintain steady blood sugar levels between meals and meltdowns. Her recipe includes 20 pitted dates, peanut butter, hemp seeds (or alternatives like peanuts or pumpkin seeds), 2/3 cup of dark chocolate, two teaspoons of coconut oil, and a sprinkle of sea salt.
Meaghan’s Instagram reel showcasing her date bark recipe has racked up an impressive 3 million views, 56,700 likes and 1,800 comments. She starts by arranging dates on a parchment-lined baking sheet in rows of five, slightly overlapping, then covers them with another piece of parchment paper.
With gentle pressure from her hands or a glass, she creates a uniform layer before removing the top parchment. A spread of peanut butter is applied over the dates, followed by a sprinkle of hemp seeds.
In a small pan, Meaghan melts dark chocolate with coconut oil until smooth and pours it over the peanut butter layer, ensuring an even coating. The final touch is a pinch of sea salt before freezing for 30 minutes until set.
Once frozen, the bark is broken into pieces, perfect for toddlers to enjoy. The top comment on her post says: “Made it and added peanuts. Ate all in one day. It was delicious for sure.”
Another fan exclaimed: “Date bark is ELITE! ” while a third shared their own twist: “I’ve made multiple batches of this over the last fortnight and I’m OBSESSED. I mixed my crunchy peanut butter with dark chocolate instead as I just had it at home. So easy and a much better snack than super processed alternatives.”
There are numerous types of dates available, but the medjool date is particularly popular due to its sweeter and stickier flavour and texture. According to BBC Good Food, dates offer a variety of health benefits, including being rich in antioxidants, high in fibre which aids gut health, and containing essential minerals such as magnesium and calcium.