Gluten Free Stem Ginger Oat Biscuits - 160g - Nairn's

It's time our kids go back to school! If you are looking for healthy snacks that are perfect for taking to school or after school, then this short list is for you. Eating healthy snacks can benefit your children in many ways. These healthy snacks will help your kids grow, develop and learn. To make your life easier, you can buy healthy snacks online and fill up your pantry with nuts, dried fruits, seeds, popcorn and dark chocolate. This way, you will always have some healthy snacks at hand. Popcorn Popcorn is a whole grain that is low in fat and rich in complex carbohydrates, making it a perfect snack for kids (if you don't add butter and salt). Corn has excellent health benefits for children. It contains a lot of dietary fibre, essential vitamins and minerals. High fibre improves digestion, helps avoid constipation, and stimulates digestive juices' secretion, keeping the bowels healthy. Popcorn also contains a good quantity of iron and calcium, manganese and phosphorous, which are vital for maintaining healthy bones and the functioning of cells. Additionally, corn is loaded with B vitamins, including vitamins B3, B6, pantothenic and folate acid, which are great for the brain and mood. Popcorn contains carotenoid antioxidants like zeaxanthin and lutein that help protect eye health. Nuts A handful of organic nuts or a serving of as little as 30g daily can benefit your kids in many ways. Nuts like almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, cashews, pistachios, macadamias and Brazil nuts are loaded with nutrients, protein and fibre to help children thrive and are an excellent fuel for the brain. In general, all kinds of nuts offer amazing health benefits, but every kind of nuts can also offer something special including preventing depression and anxiety. Walnuts contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and DHA, which help fight inflammation. They contain twice as many antioxidants as other nuts, which improve cognitive functioning. Hazelnuts, almonds, pecans and macadamia nuts are heart-healthy. Almonds help improve your kid's memory. Pistachios are rich in oils that help preserve fatty acids and prevent inflammation. Macadamias also help in normal brain functioning. Dark chocolate Dark chocolate is a very healthy snack when consumed in moderation. It contains powerful antioxidants and flavonoids. Flavonoids improve blood flow to the brain, which can significantly improve memory and brain functioning. Veggies and Fruits Fresh vegetables are an obvious healthy snack. Packed with vitamins, they contain everything your children need to grow and develop in the right way. Dried fruits can be an excellent replacement for fresh fruits due to their longer shelf life. They contain all the nutrients of fruits but can last longer in your pantry. Your kids will love dried fruits like cranberries, dried apricots, cranberries, dates and figs.

Raisins. Those small but tasty fruits that are full of sweet and juicy flavour, in fact, one could describe them as nature’s very own candy! They are featured in many traditional British baking recipes, but can also be used in savoury dishes, along with being a quick and healthy snack. But what even are they and are raisins any good for you? And what’s the difference between raisins and sultanas? Well, we have the answers for you right here in this very article. Read on raisin fans! How Are Raisins Made? Raisins are in fact dried grapes. The grapes can be dried either by the sun or by a mechanical process, which results in what we call, raisins. These dried fruits are produced and eaten all over the world. The drying process affects the shape, sizes, colours, and flavours. You may wonder why it is then that raisins don’t actually taste like grapes, considering most dried fruits still taste like their fresh counterparts. This is possibly because the drying process concentrates the sugar content in the fruit. As grapes ripen there is also a flavour progression. Raisins probably came to exist entirely by accident. It is said they were likely discovered in prehistoric times when some grapes were accidentally left out and dried in the sun. Some curious growers decided to try the wrinkled fruit and enjoyed the sweetness of them - What a tasty mishap! Guess everything happens for a raisin 😉 Different Types of Raisins There are many different varieties of raisins out there, but here are some of the most popular and well known types, and the differences between them - Raisins The most famous guys on this list are the standard raisin. They are a type of grape that has been dried for around three weeks. As the grapes dry the begin to darken in colour, which is what gives raisins their dark brown colour. Raisins are generally made from the Thompson Seedless variety. However, in Australia, raisins are made exclusively from larger grape varieties including Muscat, Lexia, and Waltham Cross. Standard raisins are typically larger than sultanas and currants, they are dark in colour, have a soft texture, a sweet flavour. Sultanas Sultanas are made from green seedless grapes, usually the Thompson Seedless variety. Unlike raisins, sultanas are usually coated in an oil-based solution prior to drying to speed up the process. For this reason, they are often lighter in colour than raisins and currants. Sultanas are typically smaller than raisins and are sweeter, juicer and lighter in colour than both raisins and currants. Currants Currants, also referred to as “Zante currants,” are tiny, dried grapes. Despite their name, currants are actually made by drying a variety of small, seedless grapes called Black Corinth and Carina. Currants, much like raisins, are dried for up to three weeks. Because of their small size, they have a sweet, tangy, and intense flavour and add texture and sweetness to both sweet and savoury dishes. Health Benefits of Raisins So now we know what they are, are raisins actually good for you? Well good news for the raisin lovers, there are actually many health benefits to be had by including them in your diet. Firstly, raisins contain higher levels of antioxidants in comparison to other dried fruits. The process in which they are dried also helps to preserves these antioxidants, more so than in fresh grapes. Raisins contain iron, which may aid in cardiovascular health. They’re also a good source of potassium, copper, manganese, and vitamin b6. Raisins have a good amount of calcium, which benefits bone health, and they contain the mineral, boron. Boron helps in maintaining good bone and joint health, can improve wound healing, and may improve cognitive performance. Raisins are also a rich source of soluble fibre, which helps the digestive system and can reduces stomach problems. They also contain tartaric acid. which may have anti-inflammatory properties, can improve intestinal function, and aid in regulating the balance of bacteria in your gut.

If you walk down the health aisle of any UK supermarket, you are bombarded with "miracle" powders and dried berries from the most remote corners of the globe. From Acai to Goji, these products carry the title of "Superfood"—a term that implies they possess magical properties that our local larder lacks. But here is a scientific truth: "Superfood" is a marketing term, not a nutritional classification. It was coined in the early 20th century to sell bananas, and today it is used to justify the high price tags of exotic imports. At Whole Food Earth, we prefer the data. When you look at the biochemistry, the humble oats aren't just a "filler" for your morning porridge. They are a nutritional powerhouse that, in many ways, outperform the most expensive "exotic" alternatives. The Beta-Glucan Factor: More Than Just Fibre While exotic berries are praised for their antioxidants, oats contain a very specific type of soluble fibre called Beta-glucan. Biologically, Beta-glucan is a heavy lifter. When it enters your digestive tract, it forms a thick, gel-like substance. Scientifically, this gel does two critical things: Cholesterol Management: It binds to cholesterol-rich bile acids in the gut, preventing them from being reabsorbed into the bloodstream. This is one of the few "food claims" that is actually backed by rigorous European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) data. Gut Health: Beta-glucan is a powerful prebiotic. It doesn't just "push through" you; it feeds the Bifidobacteria in your large intestine, supporting the microbial diversity that keeps your immune system sharp. The ‘Fibre Matrix’ vs. The Sugar Spike Many "super-fruits" are high in fructose. While natural, this sugar can still cause a spike in your blood glucose. Oats, however, are a masterclass in the Fibre Matrix. Think of the fibre matrix as nature’s own "packaging" or a tiny cage that locks up the sugars and starches inside your food. In whole staples like jumbo oats or beans, these "walls" act as a biological speed bump, forcing your body to take its time breaking everything down. This is why you get a steady, slow-release stream of energy instead of a sudden sugar spike and that dreaded 3pm slump. When food is heavily processed, those walls are smashed to bits, but keeping the matrix intact means your gut stays fed and your energy stays level. Because whole jumbo oats or steel-cut oats retain their complex cellular structure, your body has to work hard to break them down. This leads to a slow, sustained release of energy. In a world of "quick-fix" energy drinks and sugary snacks, the slow-burning starch of an oat is the ultimate biological "life hack" for consistent focus and mood stability. The Myth of "Exotic" Protein We are often told that ancient seeds like Quinoa are the only grains with significant protein. While Quinoa is excellent, oats are surprisingly competitive. 100g of oats contains roughly 13g to 17g of protein, which is higher than almost all other common cereals. For a UK-grown staple, the amino acid profile of an oat is remarkably balanced, providing the building blocks for muscle repair and neurotransmitter production. The Sustainability of the ‘Invisible’ There is a hidden "nutrient" in oats that Goji berries can't match: Sustainability. The Carbon Calculation: Exotic superfoods often travel thousands of miles via carbon-heavy shipping or air freight. Oats thrive in the cool, damp climate of the UK and Northern Europe. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): From a thermodynamic perspective, the energy required to bring 1kg of British oats to your table is a fraction of what is needed for an exotic import. Choosing oats is a decision that supports your local ecology as much as your personal biology. How to Unlock the Oat To get the most out of your oats, you need to choose the right "grade" of processing: Instant/Powdered Oats: These have had their fiber matrix destroyed. They cook fast but spike your blood sugar faster. Rolled/Jumbo Oats: The "Goldilocks" choice. They are steamed and flattened but retain their integrity. Perfect for porridge and flapjacks. Steel-Cut Oats: The rawest form. These are the whole groat cut into pieces. They take longer to cook but offer the lowest glycemic load and the most "work" for your digestive system. The Lifestyle Tip: Remember our article on The Five-Minute Soak? Applying that logic to your oats overnight doesn't just make them creamier; it neutralises the phytic acid and makes that "invisible" iron and zinc finally available to your body. You don’t need to spend a fortune on "exotic" labels to be healthy. The science shows that the most sophisticated nutrition is often the most humble. By choosing high-quality, organic oats in bulk, you are investing in a product that is biologically superior, environmentally sound, and—honestly—just as "super" as anything found in a rainforest. Shop our range of Organic Oats