Simple Oatmeal Bars

These things are the best! Three simple ingredients and viola, they're done in 5 minutes. I like to add different things to my bars too. It makes them seem less plain, and you don't get sick of them that easily because there's always new flavors in them. Some things I like to add: chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, or other grains.

So, here's how to do it! For every 1 1/2 cups of oats, add 1/2 cup peanut butter, and 3 Tbsp. honey. You can definitely add more honey, up to 1/2 cup, but we like the peanut butter to give most of the flavoring. Melt the peanut butter and honey on the stove and once melted, add oats. Mix until combined very well, and then add other ingredients once they're cooled off just a couple minutes. Flatten on am 8x8 pan that has a tin foil lining(if you're making more, use a 9x13 or cookie sheer). Let set in fridge for about an hour.

I like to make these and keep them in the fridge throughout the week. After letting them sit for about an hour, I cut them up and leave the squares in the fridge. Then, we can grab them if we're in a rush for breakfast on the way out the door. Or, we can pack them for lunches or just snack on them throughout the day. 

One thing I love about these is that they're sweet. We're trying to limit our processed sugar intake (and doing pretty well at it, I might add haha) and these with fruit or nuts are the best! When my sweet tooth kicks in (you know, like every day) these are great to fill that sugar need and give us some great nutrients along the way! With my husband as a Nutrition Major in college, it's so nice to learn real nutrition from professionals that aren't trying to sell us a product haha. He comes home every day learning something new and his textbook is such an amazing source of information. So, I hope to be able to share some nutritious meals with you. Of course, I believe that you sometimes need a feel-good meal that has some extra butter in it and desserts loaded with sugar. So, there will be plenty of those too.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 Tbsp. honey
Additional add-ins (optional) chocolate chips, raisins, nuts

Directions

1. Melt peanut butter and honey in a saucepan
2. Once melted, add oats and mix well
3. Once fully mixed, add in other optional ingredients
4. Prepare an 8x8 baking dish with tin foil 
5. Spread oat mixture onto dish and set in fridge for at least 1 hour