ANGIE'S NO-BAKE CRANBERRY VANILLA OAT BARS
I highly believe in eating clean and healthy natural foods. Eating refined sugars, preservatives, and chemically charged foods leads to many health issues we see today. Each meal is an opportunity to provide your body with the most nutrient-rich and filling foods possible to allow your body to run smoothly. Why waste your meal with empty calories or empty fuel? Ever since I've been eating Clean I feel better, look, better, and my mood, energy, and perspective on life has completely changed for the better. These are my signature breakfast bars which are a complete healthy breakfast all rolled into a ready to go bar. Eat one every morning for breakfast and your body will love you for it!
YIELD: 9 Complete Breakfast Bars
PREPARATION TIME: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups OATMEAL
- 1 cup GROUND FLAX SEEDS
- 3/4 cup PROTEIN POWDER (non flavored or vanilla)
- 6oz DRIED CRANBERRIES
- 1 1/2 cup GREEK YOGURT (plain)
- 1 Tbl STEVIA
- 1 Tbl VANILLA EXTRACT
Instructions
1) Grease a 9x9 pan with clean cooking spray or coconut oil
1) Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl: Oatmeal, Flax, Protein Powder, Cranberries, and Stevia
2) Add vanilla into the yogurt and heat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes until hot, stirring occasionally
3) Add yogurt and vanilla mixture into the bowl that contains the dry ingredients
4) Stir everything together with your hands until evenly mixed
5) Add mixture to the 9x9 greased pan and flatten until even
6) Refrigerate for about an hour or so
7) Cut into 9 squares and wrap them up individually in plastic wrap
Extra Information
Each bar is a complete breakfast all rolled into a nice Breakfast Bar to go. In each bar you have 1 serving of oatmeal, 1 serving of fruit, 2 Tbl of Flax, with a couple Tablespoons of Greek yogurt mixed in to hold it together. Calories 343 Fat 8g Carbs 51 g Sugar 16g Protein 18g Fiber 9g
Optional: Add nuts or dark chocolate chips for added nutritional value. You may also substitute raisins for the cranberries and add cinnamon. I use dried cranberries because they contain less sugar than raisins. Play around with the recipe yourself. The possibilities are endless.
Flax Seeds: Flax contains Omega 3 Fatty Acids which is a healthy fat also found in Salmon which helps lower cholesterol and prevent possible heart attack. Flax also contains lignan which provides antioxidants and fiber. Studies show that lignan in flax seed may help fight disease, including breast cancer.
Oatmeal: Oatmeal contains cancer fighting fiber and helps lower cholesterol and slow the digestion of starch which so you avoid sharp rises in blood sugar levels which is beneficial to diabetics. Studies have shown that people that eat oatmeal are less likely to develop heart disease. The photochemicals in oats may have cancer fighting properties as well.
Cranberries: Cranberries are good for people who have Asthma, Urinary Tract Infections, high cholesterol, or ulcers. Cranberries also have anti-aging effects on the brain.
Greek yogurt: Greek Yogurt has less sugar than regular yogurt and zero fat. It is higher in protein and lower in sodium and contains less lactose. Since Greek Yogurt contains fewer carbohydrates it is easier to digest.
Stevia: Stevia is an herb which has been used as a natural sweetener for hundreds of years. It has zero calories and is natural unlike the artificial sweeteners we see today. It is safe to use for Diabetics.
