Shalini Ekanayake is a current Master of Human Nutrition student at Deakin University with hopes of becoming a registered clinical nutritionist upon completion. She has a strong passion for cooking and loves trying her hand at various cuisines and experimenting with all sorts of ingredients! Of all the types of cuisines, her favourites are Italian and of course Sri Lankan cuisine (her family’s culture).

Check out our full range of recipes here.

Healthy homemade muesli bars

Tasty, chewy and packed with healthy ingredients, these muesli bars are perfect for school lunches or for a cheeky afternoon snack.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups rolled oats
• ½ cup sesame seeds
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• ½ cup mixed dried fruit
• ¼ cup pepitas
• ½ cup shredded coconut
• ½ cup honey
• ½ cup hulled tahini
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• ¼ cup cashew nuts (you can also add other nuts too)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160℃.
2. Line an oven tray with baking paper.
3. Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
4. Melt the honey, tahini and coconut oil in a small saucepan over low heat until the oil is melted and the texture is smooth.
5. Pour the honey mixture over the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
6. Pour mixture onto the baking tray, spread evenly, flatten, and press it down firmly.
7. Bake for 30 minutes, checking and rotating the tray halfway through the baking time.
8. Allow to cool for 30 minutes before cutting into bars.
9. Store in an air-tight container in a dry, cool place.