$0.11 each 50% savings save $61.70 yearly
"If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."
Now THAT is some sound advice. We live in uncertain times with a troubled economy, and it can be easy to worry about what the future holds.
That uncertainty is a big reason my family has an extra storage of food supplies at home.
Stocking up months worth of basic food items might sound strange/fanatical to some, but it gives me peace of mind to know that if something bad ever happened and if, for whatever reason, it became difficult to obtain food, we'd be okay... or if we lost our income... or, if something happened to our friends or neighbors we'd be able to help them out. Everything we store is food that I use anyway, and when I use some of my food storage, I can simply buy a little more to replace what I used.
We store things like wheat (that I grind into flour at home), oats, dried beans, dried pasta, jarred pasta sauce, peanut butter, boxed cereal, canned fruits/veggies, extra baking supplies, etc.
The other day I was looking for new ways to use oats (besides cookies, oatmeal, and breads). I stumbled on an easy no-bake granola bar recipe from Rachel Ray that I adapted to meet my needs... okay, honestly I changed her recipe A LOT. I wanted to only use ingredients that I consistently have in my food storage supply, but her recipe was the take-off point for the recipe I'm going to share with you.
So, why make your own when there are already a ton of granola bars on the market covered in sweet chocolate and filled with gooey caramel or peanut butter?
Well, because those bars are more likecandy bars. In fact, there really aren't many truly healthy granola bars sitting on the store shelves right now. And the ones that are good for you cost an arm and a leg... and maybe an ear thrown in for good measure. But if you're looking for a yummy candy bar, then by all means, buy the candy covered/filled "granola" bars!
These "food storage" granola bars are quite healthy overall, with a sweet, nutty flavor, and are VERY inexpensive compared to their store-bought competitors. My three-year old downed 3 of them immediately after I made them. If that's not a kid-friendly seal of approval, I don't know what is!
"Food Storage" Granola Bars (No-Bake)
Printable Version
*Makes 28 bars
(NOTE: Try using a 13x9 pan instead. When I used to make these, back when I first posted the recipe, I pressed the mixture into one side of a jelly roll pan. Kinda silly, since I discovered after several go arounds that it fits PERFECTLY into a 13x9.)
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter (crunchy)
1/4 cup unsalted butter
4 cups Quick Oats (not rolled oats)
2 cups crispy rice cereal
3 teaspoons vanilla
DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, stir crispy rice cereal, quick oats together.
In a medium saucepan, combine honey, butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then bring the temperature down to low, and simmer till sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Pour in vanilla and stir.
Pour the hot mixture over dry ingredients. Stir until all ingredients are moistened. Press into a parchment-lined jelly roll pan. (OR a 13 x9 actually works PERFECTLY, and you don't have to press the mixture into side.)
Pack the granola bar mixture as closely and as tightly together as you possibly can into one end of the pan at about 1/2-3/4 inch thickness. Any thinner, and the bars will not hold together. Let cool on the counter till they reach room temperature.
Cut into bars (I did 4 X 7). Wrap in plastic or store in a ziplock bag.
*You may add chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, coconut, etc. if desired. If adding chocolate chip, press them into the top of the bars after you've packed the very warm granola mixture into the pan. Otherwise, you'll end up with a melted chocolate-swirled mess.
**My family loves this recipe as is, but if you find they don't hold their form as well as you'd like, you can store them in the refrigerator.
~ Savings ~
*Updated on 1/8/13 from $0.08 ea. to $0.11 ea.
Cost Breakdown:
16 oz. clover honey - $3.78 = 22 T = $0.172/T = $1.376
7 lb brown sugar - $5.05 = 264 T = $0.019/T = $0.114
40 oz. crunchy peanut butter - $5.24 = 70 T = $0.075/T = $0.299
4 lb unsalted butter - $7.99 = 128 T = $0.0625/T = $0.250
42 oz. quick oats - $3.18 = 15 C = $0.212/C = $0.848
36 oz. crispy rice cereal - $4.88 = 37.5 C = $0.130/C = $0.260
8 fl. oz. imitation vanilla - $0.98 = 48 tsp = $0.0204/tsp = $0.061
Total Recipe Cost: $3.21
Per Granola bar: $0.11
The Contender:
Nature Valley Oats and Honey Granola Bars (12 pk.) = $2.68
Per Granola Bar: $0.22
Savings: 50%
"Over a year" scenario:
Make "Food Storage" Granola Bars recipe 15 times = $47.55
Buyequivalent Nature Valley Oats and Honey Granola Bars = $93.80
*Money Saved: $46.25
FAQs
Often touted for their whole grain goodness, most granola bars are sticky-sweet junk food in disguise. Don't let a few oats fool you — especially when you also see marshmallows and chocolate chips. Instead: If granola bars are a must-have, choose one with 6 grams of sugar or less per bar, and hopefully some fibre.
Is 3 granola bars a day too much? ›
Consuming more than three bars could likely exceed the recommended sugar intake, contributing to increased caloric intake. Habitually choosing granola bars over nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins might lead to a nutrient imbalance.
Why do my no bake granola bars fall apart? ›
Using the right binding agent in your granola bar recipe is a crucial part of keeping your bars from falling apart. While there are several different sticky ingredients that you can use, we've found that the binding agent that works the best is honey!
Are granola bars healthy yes or no? ›
The bottom line. Granola bars can be a healthy food, but you have to dig deeper than surface level to uncover one that is the best fit for you. Look at the nutrition information to determine if your bar keeps added sugars in check and contains fiber and protein.
How many granola bars can I eat a day? ›
For most people, a granola bar in your lunch or for snack every day is not going to be an issue. If we're having 2-3 a day, maybe it's time to find some more variety in your snacks, but that could vary by the person based on their specific needs.
Is it OK to eat granola as a snack? ›
Yes. "Granola does contain important nutrients, and if you enjoy it, eating some every day is probably fine as part of a balanced diet," says Harris-Pincus.
Can I eat too much granola? ›
Granola contains dried fruit, which is high in sugar, and high-fat tree nuts like almonds or walnuts. If too much is eaten, you could develop health problems or take in too many calories. Read the label before you buy and check the overall calories, total sugar, and fat content.
Is granola or oatmeal healthier? ›
Which One Is Better for Breakfast? Both oatmeal and granola make for a healthy, nutritious breakfast, but the winner for us is granola—the added nuts, seeds, and dried fruits give you a source of fiber and healthy fats that oatmeal can't quite compete with.
Is oatmeal healthy? ›
Extensive studies have associated oats and oatmeal with plenty of heart-healthy benefits, such as lowering cholesterol (both total and "bad" LDL cholesterol) and helping with weight control. Oatmeal has a host of vitamins and minerals.
What is an alternative to granola bars? ›
10 Healthy Alternatives to Cereal Bars
- Homemade granola with oats, nuts, and seeds. ...
- Greek yogurt with mixed berries. ...
- Sliced apple with almond butter. ...
- Whole grain toast with avocado. ...
- Chia seed pudding made with almond milk. ...
- Raw nuts and dark chocolate chips. ...
- Cottage cheese with cinnamon and sliced peaches. ...
- Hard-boiled eggs.
A: Chances are if the no-bakes turned out dry and crumbly it was because you overcooked them.
Do granola bars fill you up? ›
Protein-rich granola bars can help limit hunger between meals and make for a great recovery snack after a grueling workout. Here are a few options that offer decent amounts of fiber and aren't loaded with added sugars or artificial flavors (4, 9 ).
Is peanut butter healthy? ›
Peanut butter provides healthy fats, protein, and fiber. It's also rich in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E, niacin, and magnesium. However, some brands have high amounts of sugar and other additives that can make them less healthy.
Is Cheez It healthy? ›
Cheez-It baked snack crackers have been a hit for over a century. Though they're "made with real cheese," ingredients like food preservative TBHQ, high levels of sodium, and enriched flour make them fairly unhealthy.
What are the unhealthiest granola bars? ›
12 Of The Unhealthiest Store-Bought Granola Bars
- atkins chocolate chip granola bar - Atkins.
- Special K Salted Pretzel Chocolate bar - Kellogg's.
- Fiber One Chewy Bars - Fiber One.
- madegood chocolate chip granola bars - MadeGood.
- kashi honey almond flax bars - Kashi.
- great value chocolate granola bars - Great Value.
Granola is a nutritious, filling cereal. However, many varieties are high in calories and packed with excess sugar, which can harm your health. Be sure to carefully read labels, choosing products with whole ingredients — like raisins, seeds, and nuts — that are high in protein and fiber.
What really qualifies as junk food? ›
'Junk food' is food that contains high levels of fats, salt or sugar, and lacks nutrients such as fibre, vitamins and minerals. Reading nutritional information labels and following the Health Star Ratings system can help you make healthy food choices.
What foods are considered junk food? ›
The most common unhealthy foods include highly-processed items such as fast foods and snack foods. That's because highly-processed foods tend to be low in nutrients (vitamins, minerals and antioxidants) and high in empty calories. This is because they contain high levels of unhealthy fats, sodium and sugar.
Is a granola bar considered food? ›
Granola Bars – Granola bars are a processed food product that has proportioned amounts of oats, nuts, seed, and dried fruit.
