Homemade Granola Bars

Reasons store-bought granola bars are good:
-Convenient lunch snack

Reasons store-bought granola bars are bad:
-Many unknown ingredients
-They pretend to be “natural” when they often have tons of sugar and extra unknown ingredients
-You can’t tailor them to suit your needs (allergies, dietary restrictions, taste)
-They are wrapped in excess, wasteful packaging
-You can’t control the portion size
-They’re expensive
-They usually only come in packages of five

If you want the convenience of granola bars – a quick grab-and-go snack – but want to get rid of all the negative stuff, just make your own! These no-bake bars can be whipped together in a matter of minutes. This recipe makes about 25 bars. (Recipe adapted from naturalmommie.com)

Ingredients:

- 3/4 cup pecans (optional, substitute for dried cranberries if you wish)
- 1 cup of oatmeal
- 1/2 cup shaved coconut (I used sweetened but you can use either)
- 1/3 cup cocoa
- 1/4 cup ground flax seed
- 1/4 cup bran
- 1 cup natural, crunchy peanut butter (almond butter, soy bean nut butter or date paste are good alternatives  if allergies are a concern in your family)
- 1/3 cup honey (substitute for the same amount of agave nectar or 1/4 cup maple syrup)
- 1/3 cup peanut butter chips (substitute for chocolate chips).

Directions:

• Start by toasting the pecans. This is an extra step but it makes a huge difference in flavour. Add pecans to a dry pan over medium heat. Toast for three to five minutes or until you just start to smell the nuts. They burn quickly so keep an eye on them.
• While the pecans are toasting, combine the rest of the ingredients and mix until everything is evenly distributed. If the mixture seems too dry and is not sticking together, add a little bit more peanut butter (or whatever substitute you’re using).
• Once nuts are toasted, add them to the mixture and mix in with your hands until it all comes together.
• Press mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (no oil or butter needed).
• Place in fridge for about thirty minutes, then remove and cut into squares.
• OR if you want to serve these to your kids as “cookies” cut them into fun shapes with a cookie cutter.

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