Thanks to the Eat to Live book, I found a super easy recipe to help get those all important oats into my daily diet, with a simple “bar” that can easily be eaten on the go as a healthful breakfast, snack or even dessert. Though I haven’t figured out the exact calorie count, I estimate a whole tray of the bars to be about 1500 calories, and you can cut it into as many bars as you like. I think I cut the last tray I made into 12 bars, making them each about 100 calories. While I don’t add anything to sweeten it, the recipe calls for the option of adding a tablespoon of dates sugar, I opted, instead, for a little squirt of agave nectar. Last time I made them, I also added a big spoonful of peanut butter, so you can certainly play around and make these “your own.” No, they are not nearly as good as say an oatmeal raisin cookie, but low in calories and super high in nutrition, they are, in my opinion, well worth having on hand. As I have been leaning heavily into the Eat to Live plan, I have found my blood pressure to have gotten super low and have lost a few pounds as well, without having to track my calories (even though my brain does that automatically!) These would also be a great breakfast or treat for kids on the go.
YUMMY BANANA-OAT BARS
2 cups quick-cooking oats (not instant)
1/2 cup raisins or chopped dates (I used raisins, but definitely am gonna try dates!)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (I used a mix of almonds, walnuts, pecans and pistachios )
1/2 shredded coconut (the one food I don’t like, so I didn’t use)
2 large ripe bananas mashed
you can also add a 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce (I did the first time, but found them to become too moist)
and 1 tablespoons of the date sugar (or agave nectar)
Mash the bananas and then add the rest of the ingredients. Press into a 9 X 9 baking pan and bake for about 30 minutes (tops) at 350 degrees. Cool on a wire rack (I didn’t, I just let the whole tray cool all the way) and cut into squares or bars.
Low in calories, high in nutrition, easy to make, easy to eat and vegan, too. That’s a recipe for a Vegan Feast Thursday. Whatever your day holds, I hope you will consider some awesome plant-based options, always remembering what’s good for your health and your waistline is also good for the animals and the environment. Thanks. Much love…..