Diet OAMM: Nutrient Packed Breakfast Bars Healthy Recipe
We’re big fans of on the go snack bars around my house but we know that the processed bars aren’t the greatest for our health. So, I’ve been looking around for a great recipe to make homemade snack bars and finally found one on eatingwell.com with great reviews! Due to a nut allergy, I played around with the ingredients to find a recipe that tastes great and that our family can eat. We love these bars!
The great thing about this recipe is that there is a substitute for almost every ingredient. So, you can be creative! If you can find a store that sells each ingredient in bins, you can measure exact quantities needed to reduce waste and save a bit of money. You can also make several batches to use up all of the ingredients and freeze for later. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!
Author/Source:
Adapted from eatingwell.com
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds or pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 tablespoon flaxseeds, preferably golden
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 cup Kashi’s Go Lean Crunch
- 1/3 cup currants
- 1/3 cup dried apricots, chopped
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries, Craisins or golden raisins, chopped
- 1/4 cup creamy almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or unsweetened peanut butter
- 1/4 cup turbinado sugar (optional)
- 1/4 cup Agave or honey
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Spray an 8-inch-square pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Spread oats, almonds/pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds and sessame seeds on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes. Stir contents and then continue baking another 10 minutes or until the oats are lightly toasted and the nuts are fragrant.
- Remove seeds/nuts from oven. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in cereal, currants, apricots and dried cranberries/Craisins/raisins.
- In a small pan, combine seed/nut butter, sugar, honey, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Heat mixture over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, 2-5 minutes, or until the mixture bubbles lightly.
- Immediately pour the seed/nut butter mixture over the dry ingredients and mix together thoroughly.
- Transfer to the 8-inch-square pan and press the mixture down firmly to make an even layer.
- Refrigerate until firm or about 30 minutes.
- Cut into 8 bars.
Freezing Instructions
- Wrap each bar in wax paper and place in freezer bags.
Serving Suggestions
- Thaw one serving in refrigerator or on counter for about 10 minutes.
Nutritional Information
Servings: 8 • Serving Size: 1 bar • Calories: 245 Fat: 10
Protein: 7 • Carbs: 38 • Fiber: 3 • WW Points: 5 • Points +: 8
This Post will be linked at:
- Friday Favorites at Simply Sweet Home’s
- Family Food Fridays at Get Healthy Cheap
You are my toddler’s new best friend! She just asked for “bar” this morning and I realized we’d forgotten to restock her granola bars when we went grocery shopping yesterday. Panic! (OK, really just a little bummed we have to find a different snack.) But, lo and behold, literally the instant I started thinking of what to mix up, your post came across my RSS reader! Yay! And they all rejoiced with great joy. ;) I love it, making it now. Thanks Christine and congrats & welcome to your new OAMM role.
Thanks so much!! I hope your toddler enjoys this recipe as much as mine did!
I am horrible about eating breakfast, and by my first break at work, I am usually really feeling it. This is definitely something I will have to try- a breakfast item that is quick and easy to grab, I can eat while drinking my coffee, and can finish within a 15-minute break, or even while I walk the 5 minutes to work!
Thank you, and have a safe and happy 2011!!
Yum! I made these today and they are great! Going on the list for lunches and such from now on! Thanks!
Excellent! I so want to make these as the store bought ones are full of junk I don’t want to eat, thanks!
[...] Nutrient Packed Breakfast Bars [...]
I was wondering if there was a diet/healthier version of the “fruit & grain bars” from last year??
No there is not but perhaps Christine can look into that.
Do you use ground flaxseed? I was thinking about using chia seeds too, or in place of the flaxseed even since it is what I have on hand.
Yes Sheri it should probably say milled or ground flaxseed. You can definitely add the chia seeds if you would like.
[...] http://onceamonthmom.com/diet-oamm-nutrient-packed-breakfast-bars-healthy-recipe/ [...]
Curious where everyone found currants. Even tried the health food store with no luck. Thinking of subbing dried tart cherries for them.
Btw, this is my first try at using this site and I’m so glad to find OAMC I can do on a diet plan!
I am going to hope others answer but you can use cherries or raisins too.
I found currents by the raisins and other drided fruits. Sunmaide is the brand I found. However, I make these all the time (seriously can’t keep them around, they are eatend daily!) and I usually just make sure I have a cup of dried fruit (whatever I have in my pantry or was on sale) and 1/4 cup of nuts.. I’ve used peanuts and cashews instead of almonds. You could easily make a mixed nut version. I also add a small amount of dark chocolate chips into these for a little treat. Off to go make some more!
These taste great but were more like granola for me…how do you get them to stick together to make bars?
I don’t have Kashi Go Lean on hand – could I sub uncooked oatmeal, or maybe another kind of cereal? (I think there are Cheerios and Special K in the cupboard – would any cereal work?) These sound great, thanks!
I think it would work!