FOOD & NUTRITION

Chocolate Banana Breakfast Bars

Parents don’t let the title fool you! These fun-filled breakfast bars are also filled with all the good stuff you want your kids to eat such as whole-wheat flour, ground flax, oats, yogurt and banana. The chocolate chips add the fun that kids want!

Makes 24 bars

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup (175 mL) packed brown sugar
• ½ cup (125 mL) sugar
• ¼ cup (50 mL) soft, non-hydrogenated margarine
• ½ cup (125 mL) mashed banana (1 medium)
• 1 cup (250 mL) plain non-fat yogurt
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla
• 1 ½ cup (375 mL) whole-wheat flour
• ¼ cup (50 mL) ground flax seed
• 1 tsp (5 mL) baking soda
• 1 tsp (5 mL) cinnamon
• 3 cups (750 mL) oats, uncooked
• 1 cup (250 mL) chocolate chips
• ½ tsp (2.5 mL) salt

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 F (180 C).
2. Beat sugars and margarine together.
3. Add banana, yogurt, egg and vanilla.
4. Combine flour, flax, baking soda, and cinnamon in a separate bowl.
5. Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix well.
6. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.
7. Spread dough onto an un-greased 13 x 19 inch baking pan.
8. Bake 25 to 30 minutes.
9. Once cooled, cut into 24 bars.

Tip: These bars even hold together well enough for lunch bags.

Nutritional information per serving (5 to 6 fries):

• Calories: 154
• Protein: 3 g
• Fat: 6 g
  • Saturated fat: 2 g
  • Dietary cholesterol: 16 mg
• Carbohydrate: 25 g
• Dietary fibre: 2 g
• Sodium: 92 mg
• Potassium: 150 mg
  

Developed by Nadine Day, RD. © The Heart and Stroke Foundation. Nadine is a registered dietitian, specializing in children’s menus.

Copyright © 2007 Heart and Stroke Foundation. Reprinted with permission.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation, a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living and advocacy. www.heartandstroke.ca