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
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Low Fat Granola Bars with Bananas, Cranberries & Pecans
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cup oats
- ¾ cup roughly chopped pecans
- 3 large ripe bananas
- â…” 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.
Katelyn
These look good, but for workouts I usually try and eat something with more protein. I really like the following protein shake. It tastes like an indulgent milkshake, but the calories are a little over 300 and it packs 32 grams of protein. It's also fairly compatible with a low carb diet, about 13 grams of carbs, 3 of which are from fiber. Without the stevia this shake is still sweet, but if you want it milkshake sweet, you can add around 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon stevia.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Protein Shake
Yields 1 shake
1 scoop Twinlab 'Vanilla Slam' Whey Protein Powder (available in 5 pound containers on Amazon for a reasonable price)----130 calories, 25 g protein
1 tbsp natural unsweetened peanut butter---100 calories, 5 g protein
8 ounces unsweetened chocolate Almond Breeze almond milk, chilled---45 calories, 2 g protein
A 2 inch chunk of banana---35 ish calories
1 teaspoon chocolate extract (optional-I like this to pump up the chocolate flavor even more)---10 ish calories
stevia to taste---0 calories
a handful of ice
I use my immersion blender to blend this, so clean up is simply rinsing off the head of the immersion blender.
JenE
I don't know how to say this, b/c I usually love your recipes... but not so much this one. I'm trying to come up with a way to make it a little more tasty and still healthy. Everything I've seen has TONS of sugar, or NO added sugar. Help!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Hi Jen, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy these. Admittedly, I have cut most sugar out of my diet, so find myself satisfied with dishes that are sweetened naturally (e.g., the bananas). I'm assuming from your comment that the issue was taste/sweetness rather than texture. If that's the case, then I have a few suggestions. First, try increasing the sweetness by adding a few tablespoons of maple syrup or honey. Taste the mixture before you bake it to help you judge. Secondly, you could add in some shredded coconut for added sweetness/flavor/texture. Third, you could increase the amount of the spices (cinnamon and nutmeg) or substitute them with spices that are more to your liking. Ground ginger would be really good. I hope this helps!
JenE
Good ideas, thanks! I've been on WW for over a year and am cutting out sugar too.... but I think the holidays set me back a bit. I had 2x today: once w/ some greek yogurt (YUM - great protein-rich snack) and then later just plain. Taste much better today, after being in the fridge overnight 🙂 . Oh, and I added a few Ghirardelli 70% chocolate chips from the get-go? This mama needs a little chocolate! I'm putting this back on my "starred" list!
JenE
I must totally revise my comment. Now I love them. But I stand by my addition of Ghirardelli 70& chocolate chips 🙂
Just came in from shoveling after our first big snow in chicago and had one of these... what an AWESOME energy boost. Thanks, XO Jen
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Jen, I'm so glad that these eventually caught your fancy. Nothing wrong with tossing a little dark chocolate in there. I might try that myself next time.
marla
I am loving up these granola bars! How funny - I LOVE to use purees in our granola too!
Kate
They look dee-LISH-US. I'm curious if you know the nutritional data per serving of these bars? I like to keep track. Thanks! 🙂
Jeanette
Love how simple these chewy granola bars are to make and love that there is no added sugar in them!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
Dara, these look awesome.
And I just saw your feature on Deborah's site..I loved reading more about you 🙂
Deborah
My daughter loves granola bars - I'm thinking that these would be a great healthy snack to have on hand for her! (and for me, of course!)
beti
this is great! granola bars have been on my baking list for a long time, no I don't have any excuses 🙂
MikeVFMK
Love homemade granola bars. And these look so good, Dara. Cranberries are a must too. Happy new year to you and your family!
Monet
Now these look like bars I need to make and share ASAP! Healthy and delicous....perfect. Thank you for sharing yet another delectable post. I'm exhausted after my first day back from vacation, but happy to be reading your words and seeing your eats! I hope you are doing well, my friend.