the SUPER FOODie: My Favorite Granola Bars

These granola bars make a delicious, healthy snack and they also work as a wonderful pre-, during-, or post-workout super food because they contain a great combination of protein and carbs, as well as other health foods like dates and flax. You HAVE to try these, even if you think the ingredient list is a little strange for granola bars!

I love No Meat Athlete. I got this recipe there. Check 'em out!

375 degrees F

Makes one 8 x 8 pan

1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

2 t cinnamon

2 t sugar (or Agave Nectar, follow instructions on container because it's sweeter)

1 1/2 c oatmeal (whole grain steel cut oats are best)

1 c whole grain cereal (I like to use puffed brown rice or puffed kamut, Arrowhead Mills is a good brand but there are certainly others!)

1 c dried fruit, chopped (like dates)

1/2 c natural peanut butter (Crazy Richard's is my favorite, Smuckers is good too!)

1/4 c honey (or Agave)

3 T canola oil

1 T ground flax seed

Mix flax and 1/4 c of water. Set aside to thicken.

Toss chickpeas, sugar, and 1 t cinnamon. Bake for 10 minutes.

Bake 10 more minutes. Add oatmeal and bake for 5 minutes, stirring once.

Stir together peanut butter, honey, oil, and flax paste.

Combine chickpeas, oatmeal, cereal, fruit, and the remaining 1 t cinnamon. Pour wet ingredients over the top and stir.

Press into a greased 8 x 8 pan. Really pack it in there. The harder you press the more likely your bars will stay formed for you instead of crumbling apart when you go to eat them!