Ditch the store-bought snacks and make a batch of these low fat granola bars. Lower in sugar and fat, but with plenty of flavor.
From all of your responses to Recipes for Good Healthy and Weight Loss in 2012, it sounds as though many of you are dedicated to either continuing healthy habits or creating some new ones. I alluded to a weight loss journey I have been on over the past several months and will be giving you tips and tricks that have worked for me. Let's start with what they call "the most important meal of the day". No, I'm not referring to that bowl of ice cream at 10pm when the kids are in bed and the sugary treats begin their siren call. I'm talking about breakfast. That is where these low fat granola bars, packed with bananas, dried cranberries and pecans, come into play.
Both my husband and I are runners and we log enough miles in the week to get our hunger urges revving at full speed. In addition, my husband lifts free weights and I attend an aerobic/strength training class a couple of times per week. That's where this recipe comes in. The amazing woman who teaches the strength training class often provides us with her favorite healthy eating tips and the occasional recipe. I took this recipe, filled with fiber and natural sugars, and made a few tweaks based on my family's taste preferences. It works perfectly as pre-exercise fuel or to curb afternoon hunger cravings.
These granola bars are soft and chewy rather than crispy and have a pleasing level of natural sweetness from the bananas, ground cinnamon and grated nutmeg. However, if you prefer granola bars with a touch more sweetness, consider adding a couple of tablespoons of maple syrup or honey. I snuck in some healthy omega-3 fats in the form of ground flax seeds, which are available in most grocery stores. Actually, we found our last batch of flax seed meal at Costco for a smokin' price.
One of these bars, along with half an apple gives me enough fuel to carry me through my workouts. If you're looking for an alternative, try my Healthy Yogurt Parfaits with Blueberries & Granola.
What are your favorite ways to fuel-up before your workouts? I'd love to hear your ideas.
The recipe:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9- by 13-inch baking sheet with parchment paper, with about 1 inch of parchment paper overlapping the sides.
Spread out the oats and chopped pecans on a baking sheet. Place in the oven until they are lightly toasted, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
In a medium bowl, mash the bananas with the back of a fork. Stir in applesauce until combined.
Transfer the oats and pecans to a large bowl and stir in dried cranberries, ground flax seed (flax meal), cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
Stir the banana mixture into the oat mixture until well combined and starting to clump together. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and press down evenly.
Bake until the bars are golden brown and starting to separate from sides of the pan, about 30 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Use the parchment paper to lift the bars out of the pan. Let cool to room temperature, then cut into bars. Serve or store in an airtight container.
Other granola bars recipes:
Family Fresh Cooking's Telluride Trail Bars
Two Peas and Their Pod's Peanut Butter Granola Balls
Brown Eyed Baker's Crunchy Good-for-You Granola Bars
Shutterbean's Fully Loaded Granola Bars
Printable Recipe
Low Fat Granola Bars with Bananas, Cranberries & Pecans
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cup oats
- ¾ cup roughly chopped pecans
- 3 large ripe bananas
- ⅔ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seed or flax meal
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a 9- by 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, with about 1 inch of parchment paper overlapping the sides.
- Spread out the oats and chopped pecans on a baking sheet. Place in the oven until they are lightly toasted, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, mash the bananas with the back of a fork. Stir in applesauce until combined.
- Transfer the oats and pecans to a large bowl and stir in dried cranberries, ground flax seed (flax meal), cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
- Stir the banana mixture into the oat mixture until well combined and starting to clump together. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and press down evenly.
- Bake until the bars are golden brown and starting to separate from sides of the pan, about 30 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
- Use the parchment paper to lift the bars out of the pan. Let cool to room temperature, then cut into bars.
- Serve or store in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Claire
Would you recommend instant or original oats?
Dara
Hi Claire, I recommend old-fashioned (original) oats.
Athina
Amazing recipe! Thank you so much for posting it! I realise I'm commenting in 2021 but just in case you're monitoring comments, it would be a really massive help if you could clarify how big a cup you were using. I messed up with dosage there I think because I was using a different cup but the recipe still kind of worked a more of a wet oatmeal cake, still tasty but not granola bar consistency sadly. Oh well. Many many thanks anyway!
Kimberley
Loved making a healthy snack or breakfast for my family. It was a little costly to buy all the ingredients, but in the long run I now have all the ingredients and can make more. Will make this a couple times over. Thanks for sharing!
Laur
We love these!! I brought them in to work and each person who tries it, wants the recipe! Simple and delicious! Thank you so much for sharing!
kate
wow - sorry i didn't see your answer forever!!
i plan to use almond butter - onlyt made these all of last winter and none of them turned out right (i ate em though) need help with the moist/dry ratio i think.
😉
thanks.
kate
hi.......loved this recipe except for the bananas ;(.. what else would make a binder? i've experimented much but can't get the bars to stick together.....either flaky or rocklike......
thanks 😉
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Hmm, since the bananas are such a big part of this recipe, it's hard to put in a one-to-one alternative. Perhaps you could try peanut butter, but you'd have to play around with the ratios.
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Denise Leonard
Hi there, these sound great! I was wondering can I actually add protein powder to these and also thinking of using Almond Meal instead of Flaxseed (as have Almond Meal already) - is that okay do you think?
Also is it possible to freeze these?
Thanks 🙂
Lovisa
can I substitute the bananas for something else? I'm allergic 🙁
jenndpan
Our family made the switch to a clean eating diet and have struggled finding great and satisfying snacks for the kids and hubby. I just made these and they are delicious!! I love the natural sweetness from the banana. I made them just as instructed, except I added 1 tbs of honey. Great chewy texture and very satisfying!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I'm so glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for letting me know.