I don’t know who invented the term “lazy days of summer,” but it certainly doesn’t apply in our house! Having the kids around more is great, but we’re all just so busy. I can’t remember being this busy growing up, but I guess I was once I hit the teenage years. Work and friends and running around – there aren’t enough hours in these long, hot days!
The other thing there isn’t enough of, apparently, is food in the house. I feel like all I do is grocery shop. And I’m going broke with the ever-growing price of groceries. I had just returned from the store and was putting away the groceries when….
Courtney: “I’m hungry.”
Me: “The pantry and fridge are full! Make yourself a snack.”
Courtney: “But what is there? I don’t know what to have.”
Taylor (walking in the door from work): “We need ‘grab food.’”
Grab food. Hmmmm. I guess my suggestions to “cook a chicken breast, boil an egg or make a salad” weren’t quite what they were expecting. So I perused the overflowing pantry in search of “grab food.” Turns out they’re right….sort of. I’m always in favor of self-sufficiency, so I don’t take well to blank stares or “I don’t know how,” when I suggest making a sandwich or cutting up an apple. However, I do appreciate that sometimes you just want something you can grab and eat on the run, throw in your purse, etc.
Granola bars! They’re supposed to be healthy, right? I can just keep a bunch of granola bars on hand and they can pair it with fruit for a healthy snack. That will be our “grab food” for these types of emergency appetite flare-ups. Back to the store I went.
I could not believe it. $5.49 for a box of 6 tiny granola bars. SIX. Six will last a day in our house. The grocery budget I try to live by isn’t going to support this “grab food” habit, I can tell already. Well at least they’re healthy, right? I try to ignore for a second that they’re covered in chocolate as I turn the box around…fiber, a little bit of protein, not too high calories….some brands pretty high in sugar….an ingredient list a mile long, corn syrup, partially hydrogenated stuff. Urg. And they’re $5.49 for SIX! And the “healthier” they get, the more expensive they get. Guess this will be my next challenge!
I set out to create a granola bar that’s tasty, filling and wholesome. I wanted to make it from whole grains and include some sources of protein and fiber. Here we go.
Me: “I made homemade granola bars! Try them!”
Keith: “They’re missing something.”
Me: “I know. Taste.”
Keith: “Well, they’re perfect for dieters. No one will be tempted to eat two!”
OK then. I’m now on experiment recipe number four, and I’m happy to say that we have a winner! These granola bars taste just like banana bread – seriously! Here are the stats: 125 calories, 3 grams of fiber, 3.5 grams of protein and only 8.5 grams of sugar (and nearly 1/3 of that is from fruit and rolled oats). AND, they’re only $0.25 each -- roughly $2.00 for the whole batch of EIGHT!
I’ll be experimenting with these! I can’t wait to try pumpkin instead of banana, add some natural peanut butter or throw in some mini-chocolate chips or chopped nuts. The possibilities are endless, so I’ll let you know what I come up with. In the meantime, try these. So easy, so healthy, so affordable – so “grab-worthy!”
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| TSG Banana Bread Granola bars...grab this! |
“Banana Bread” Granola Bars
Makes 8 bars
1 ripe banana, mashed
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tbsp honey
1 egg white
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp + 1 tsp Splenda brown sugar blend (divided)
2 cups rolled oats
2 tbsp milled flax seed
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients through brown sugar, saving 1 tsp of brown sugar for the top. Mix oats and flax seed in a separate bowl, then add to liquids. Stir well to combine, then press into small baking pan with sides (misted with cooking spray) or simply form into a 1/2-inch thick rectangle on a cookie sheet (also misted with cooking spray) -- it will hold its shape. Sprinkle with remaining brown sugar and bake for 30 minutes. Invert onto a cooling rack and cool completely before slicing.
Give ‘em a whirl and let me know what you think! Also, if you have more ideas for healthy “grab food,” I’m all ears!
The Svelte Gourmet: A Month of Main Courses cookbook is available at www.thesveltegourmet.com/products.html. I challenge you to eat with me for a month – you’ll love the results!
