I’m linking up with Flock Together Blog Hop and Inspiration Linky Party.

I mentioned a few months ago about my ever mounting paranoia general concern thoughts on how processed some most all of the garbage touted as ‘healthy’ and marketed to kids has become. Though to be fair, I don’t know if it’s right to say ‘has become’, it’s probably always been pretty negative and unhealthy but I didn’t know better as a kid and my hippie father did a pretty good job of sheltering me from stuff like that. I however? Do not do such a great job with the sheltering of my wee ones. They can ask for store those chewy granola bars all they want, I’m not caving, and this is why.

The granola bars I make have 14 ingredients, including the granola. They could only be healthier if I made the marshmallows myself and now that I type that, I will totally make the marshmallows myself next time!

The granola bars with the shiny commercials have 31 ingredients and while most of them are not so bad, too many of them are totally unnecessary. I know they need to be shelf stable, and that’s what they are loaded with preservatives, but man. Like, if I can make and eat them within a few days I don’t need to add any preservatives so while the additives are justifiable for shelf stable, pre packaged crap snacks, I don’t have any use for them – and if you have half an hour or so once a week, neither do you.

Granola via Amateur Gourmet (modified) 2 cups rolled oats 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bars via Back to the Cutting Board 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar 1/4 cup honey 2 cups plain granola 1 cup rice cereal (Rice Krispies, etc.) 1 cup mini marshmallows 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

First, preheat the oven to 325F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Mix the oats, cinnamon, and salt on a small bowl. Then in a separate bowl, mix the vegetable oil, honey, brown sugar and vanilla.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and make sure all of the oats are coated.
Bake for about 10 minutes, take out and mix it up, then another 10 minutes, take it out and mix it up again and then bake for another 5 minutes.
Now on to the actual granola bars! Melt the butter in a saucepan.
Add the brown sugar and the honey. Stir and heat till it’s melted.
Now add the rice cereal and the granola.
Marshmallows!!
When the marshmallows are partially melted, spread the mixture into a parchment lined brownie pan.
Then cover with chocolate chips!
Cut them into bars and voila!

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baking, granola bars, homemade granola, school lunches