Back to blog

Go-to Granola

23 September 2019
granola

By: Susan Hickey

It’s that time of year again. The kids are excited to go back to school, but a few weeks in, the joy wears off and the kids are bored with their lunches.   

Here’s a healthy, easy option that will make your kids happy at snack time! They have zero cholesterol and 10g of whole grains. Best of all, my kids gobble them up. Compare the recipe ingredients below to some listed in a typical granola bar, including:
“Granola (Whole Grain Rolled Oats, Brown Sugar, Whole Grain Rolled Wheat, Soybean Oil, Dried Coconut, Whole Wheat Flour, Sodium Bicarbonate, Soy Lecithin, Caramel Color, Nonfat Dry Milk), Semisweet Chocolate Chips, Corn Syrup, Brown Rice, Invert Sugar, Sugar, Corn Syrup Solids, Glycerin, Soybean Oil. Contains 2% or Less of Sorbitol, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Water, Soy Lecithin, Molasses, Natural and Artificial Flavor, BHT (Preservative), Citric Acid.” 

Personally, I like to know what ingredients are in my food, and I’m not a huge fan of preservatives that require an acronym to be included in the listing! So I enjoy making these for my kids and I might just sneak in a few chocolate chips if I’m feeling extra kind. Give these nut-free little treats a try! 

Quaker Low Fat Chewy Fruit and Oatmeal Bars 

Ingredients:

• 3/4 Cup(s) firmly packed brown sugar 

• 1/2 Cup(s) granulated sugar 

• One 8-ounce container vanilla or plain low-fat yogurt 

• 2 egg whites, lightly beaten 

• 2 Teaspoon(s) vegetable oil 

• 2 Teaspoon(s) Skim Milk 

• 2 Teaspoon(s) vanilla 

• 1-1/2 Cup(s) all-purpose flour 

• 1 Teaspoon(s) Baking Soda 

• 1 Teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon 

• 1/2 Teaspoon(s) salt (optional) 

• 3 Cup(s) Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked) 

• 1 Cup(s) diced dried mixed fruit, raisins, or dried cranberries 

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, combine sugars, yogurt, egg whites, oil, milk, and vanilla; mix well. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; mix well. Add to yogurt mixture; mix well. Stir in oats and fruit. Spread dough onto bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into bars. Store tightly covered. 

Makes 2 dozen bars.  

Each bar : 130 Calories, 2 g fat (0g saturated), 3 g protein, and 1 g fiber.