CHEWY CHOCOLATE GRANOLA BITES

Photo by Lisa Fulsom


While packing my children's lunches each day, I also include a mid-day snack their teachers allow them to eat in class. Their teachers request a healthy, messy-free snack that is quick to eat while the child is doing their schoolwork. Well, for a mom who tries not to purchase processed, individually wrapped snacks, I usually include oranges, sliced apples, grapes, nuts, sliced carrots, or celery sticks. 

While researching new recipes, I found one by Green Living Expert and TV host, Sara Snow, in her book, Fresh Living. She named them Energy Sustaining Breakfast Bars, but I just call them chocolate granola bites because we don't eat them just for breakfast. These bars are very easy to make, packed with nutrition, and can be popped into a reusable container to have as a mid-day snack. 

Chocolate Granola Bites (aka Energy Sustaining Breakfast Bars) 
 
 2 ½ cups old fashioned organic quick oats
½ cup ground flax seed
¼ cup organic dark cocoa powder
½ cup natural peanut butter
½ cup honey (preferably local)
½ spirulina (blue green algae rich in antioxidants-found in a supplement section of any natural food store)
½ to 1 cup hot water

Stir ingredients together. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Add mixture into loaf pan and press it evenly into the pan. Place in freezer. Once frozen, cut into bite-sized squares. Keep in freezer or fridge.