Blissful Nut & Seed Bars

We all know how snarly we can get when a case of the "hangries" kicks in, and how easy it is to reach for and tear open a package of the junky snacks when we need something to eat NOW.  The reason for this is because our blood sugar has dropped too low and our brain is asking for its #1 source of energy....glucose...to bring things into balance (and to keep us from becoming homicidal in our quest for hunger satisfaction). 

As a busy entrepreneur, mom of two extra busy teenagers and two even EXTRA busy dogs, I am rarely in one spot for long which means that on-the-go snacking is just a part of my everyday life.  And to keep myself from getting to that "I'm need something NOW or I'm going to have to eat one of my children" state, making sure that I have good, clean and nutritious snacks on hand is a must.  Enter these beautiful, naturally sweet and chewy Blissful Nut & Seed Bars.

Now of course you could always take the easy route and head to the store and buy a box of pre-made bars right?.  There are literally hundreds to choose from...extra protein bars, fiber bars, dessert bars, raw bars, fermented bars, high calorie bars, bars to help you run faster, bars to help you gain more muscle, bars bars and more bars!  But do you really know what you're getting when you buy a quick and easy pre-packaged bar?  More often than not, you're looking at a lot of sugar and a lot of unnecessary and health inhibiting ingredients like sulphites, environmentally disastrous palm oil and BHT (as in the case of Special K's "Nourish Cranberries and Almond Bars") which has been classified to be a "reasonably anticipated human carcinogen".  Say what?!  I don't want to be eating that foolery!   Of course, there are better options on the market but you really need to be food label savvy to know exactly what's in them and, more often than not, they're a lot more expensive, often pushing over $3 per bar.  

My advice?  Make your own!  This way you'll feel good knowing exactly what's going into your bars and rest easy with the fact that both you and your family are actually getting a good dose of dense nutrition while snarfing down on a snack that is naturally sweet and blissfully satisfying. 

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The Recipe

I have to say, these are one of my favourite bars to make.  Not only are they delicious, they are chock full of wonderful, slow-release carbohydrates which provide the sustainable fuel that our bodies thrive off of without causing a rapid rise in blood sugar only to be followed a short time later by a massive crash.  The dried cherries and Medjool dates provide a lovely hint of sweetness and there is no lack of heart healthy, colon and gut bacteria-friendly fiber!  Oh, and did I mention these babies are loaded with protein, healthy fats (including omega 3's!) and antioxidants?  These are definitely bars that you can feel good about eating and all of the ingredients can be found at your trusty bulk food store making them easy on the budget...and who doesn't love that?!

Yield:  Approx. 24 bars depending on how big you make them

Prep Time:  15 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Cool Time:  50 mins

Ingredients:

• 2 cups gluten-free rolled oats
• 1 cup pitted Medjool dates, chopped
• 1 cup cashew butter
• 1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped raw almonds
• 1/2 cup shelled raw pumpkin seeds
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 cup brown rice syrup
• 1/4 cup unrefined coconut oil

Method:

• Preheat oven to 350F.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, combine the oats, dates, cashew butter, cherries, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, cinnamon and salt.
• In a small saucepan, heat the brown rice syrup and oil over low heat until melted, approximately 1 minute.  Pour over the oat mixture and mix well to combine.  Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and use either a spatula or your dampened fingers to flatten the mixture and give it a smooth surface.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until the edges start to turn a lovely golden brown.
• Let cool for about 20 minutes on the counter.  Then, transfer to the refrigerator to firm up for about 30 minutes.  Slice into bars and serve. 

Store these babies in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to one week.

Happy snacking!



If you would like to explore how working with a holistic nutritionist can help you achieve your best and most vibrant health, please feel free contact me at blissfulvitality@outlook.com or by phone at 519.404.9919 to schedule your free 15 minute discovery session to discuss how I can help you reach your goals.