Top 5 healthiest granola bars & how to make your own

December 14, 2012

On a long nature hike, you probably wouldn’t reach for a candy bar for an energy boost, but many granola bars pack a similar amount of fat and sugar. For a healthy snack, your best bet is making your own granola bars: It’s easy, cost-effective and customizable. Try out our recipe, below, with your favorite ingredients.

If you’re in a crunch for a bar, though, there are few grocery store picks that make the health cut with generous servings of fiber and protein without tons of sugar.

 

Planters NUTrition Digestive Health Bar
160 calories, 9 g fat, 5 g fiber, 9 g sugar, 4 g protein
This nutty pick offers 20% of your daily fiber intake.

 

 

Nature’s Path Organic Apple Pie Chia Seed Plus
190 calories, 8 g fat, 3 g fiber, 8 g sugar, 3 g protein
Get a sweet crunch without too much sugar in this tasty bar.

 

 

Cascadian Farms Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
80 calories, 3 g fat, 3 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 1 g protein
Choose these lighter bars for a quick, fiber-filled snack.

 

Kashi Trail Mix Bar
140 calories, 5 g fat, 4 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 6 g protein
Not too sweet and perfect for a hike.

 

 

Nature Valley Peanut, Almond &
Dark Chocolate Flavored Protein Bar

190 calories, 12 g fat, 5 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 10 g protein
For serious hunger, grab one of these protein-packed bars.

 

OR MAKE YOUR OWN!

  • 3 cups of rolled oats (not instant oats)
  • ½ cup of canola oil
  • ¼ cup of honey
  • ½ cup of unsweetened applesauce
  • 1½ cup of a combination of chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit and seeds

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine wet ingredients with oats and stir to coat well. Stir in your desired add-ins.

2. Lightly grease a 9-in. x 13-in. baking dish. Press the mixture into the dish, making sure it’s a uniform thickness. Bake for 15 to 25 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Allow it to cool completely before cutting out about 16 bars.

Estimated calorie count: 200


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Comments (8)
Marian
July 30th, 2012 at 2:23 pm

What is the approx calorie count for the Make Your Own?

Melissa Valliant
July 30th, 2012 at 3:25 pm

Marian, we estimate about 200 calories per bar. Thanks for asking! We added it to the story.

len torine
December 17th, 2012 at 11:34 am

make your own…good recipe…what’s the shelf life approx..?? refrigerate required???

Andrew
January 22nd, 2013 at 8:19 pm

I tried this recipe today, it taste great but one problem, it completely crumbles when I try to remove it from the baking dish. Any idea why?

Melissa Valliant
January 23rd, 2013 at 10:41 am

Andrew: Try adding a little more honey and applesauce. That should make it less dry so it won’t crumble. Thanks!

Jane
February 21st, 2013 at 9:44 am

I was disappointed, too: fabulous taste, EASY TO ASSEMBLE – followed directions exactly… But then crumbled completely.

Peter
April 6th, 2013 at 12:03 pm

Great taste … family loves it! But it crumbles apart completely.
Andrew, did you try it again with more honey and applesauce? How much more did you use to get it to work?

stephanie
April 18th, 2013 at 9:40 am

hello thank you for sharing

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