By: Jodie Shield, RD

Fuel up your family with these quick and healthy snack bars.  They taste yummy as an after-school snack and make a satisfying breakfast, too.  Just whip up a batch and cut them into squares.  I keep a stash handy in my freezer.  I think you will agree, these bars are perfect for active kids – they can just grab one and  go – to school, soccer practice or piano lessons.  And I must confess, these bars were such a hit at my house, they got a thumbs up for being a dessert!

Take-Along Snack Bars

makes 16 squares

Ingredients:

3/4 cup regular or quick-cooking oats

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup whole-wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup canola oil

1 cup fat-free milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 large eggs

1/2 cup of your child’s favorite jam

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8X8-inch square baking pan with canola oil. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking powder, and brown sugar.  Set aside the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk the peanut butter, oil, milk, vanilla, and eggs until well blended. Add the dry ingredients, and mix until the batter is moist. Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Then drop the jam tablespoon by tablespoon into the batter in the pan. With a knife, swirl the jam through the batter. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, then cool on a wire rack. Cut into 2-inch squares.

Nutrition Information:

182 calories

5 grams protein

22.5 grams carbohydrate

1.4 grams dieatry fiber

8.5 grams of fat

1.3 grams saturated fat

23.5 milligrams cholesterol

127 milligrams sodium