Homemade Granola Bars

I'm always looking for quick and healthy snacks for them to eat before we have to run off to our next activity.  My girls are big granola bar fans.  Not all granola bars are that healthy though.  Some of them just look like candy bars covered in chocolate!  That's fine for an occasional treat, but not what I want my kids to have every day. 

I came across a recipe for chewy granola bars in a cookbook my Mom had lent me.  (Sorry Mom, yes I still have it!)  This book is great because it has healthier recipes with the nutritional content and it also includes the price per serving information.  Great when you are meal planning on a budget!

I actually had all the ingredients I needed in my pantry.  It was super quick too.  Ten minutes for prep and twenty minutes for baking.  The recipe said that it made 6 bars, but that was a little too large for me.  I recalculated the nutritional values and cost for 8 bars.  This was closer to what I thought a granola bar should be. 

You can also add any extras that you want to these.  How about dried cherries, slivered almonds, or shredded coconut.  The options are endless.  Try them out and see what you think!

Chewy Granola Bars
by Healthy Meals for Less (Jonni McCoy)
Makes 8 bars

1 c rolled oats
1/2 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c brown sugar, packed
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 c honey (I used agave syrup)
Optional dried fruit, coconut, chocolate chips, nuts...

Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl and mix well.  Stir in vanilla and honey (or agave).  Stir any extra items in at this time.  Press all evenly into a greased 8x8 pan.  Bake at 325 for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool completely before cutting.



Calories:  169
Fat:  1.5 g
Cholesterol: l 0 mg
Carbs:  36 g
Fiber:  .75 g
Protein:  4.5 g
Sodium:  189 mg

Costs less than $0.11 per serving!