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Go into any grocery store and you’ll find energy bars, protein bars, and cereal bars. I love the convenience, but they’re often high in added sugar, full of fats and chemicals, and, most notably, packing an expensive price tag. Tired of paying too much, I decided to create my own! My homemade bars are a great snack with a cup of tea, on the go, or in your handbag as a nutritious and delicious snack.

Loaded with healthy carbs, proteins, and fat, they can keep you fueled up for workouts. Cut them up, individually wrap in wax paper, and stick them in your freezer. You and your family can just grab and go!

PEANUT BUTTER CUP ENERGY BARS

1-1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

2-1/2 cup puffed wheat cereal

1/2 cup slivered or chopped almonds

1/4 cup ground flax seeds

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 cup light agave nectar*

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup natural peanut butter

2 Tbsp. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1. Combine oats, almonds, puffed cereal, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and chocolate chips in a large bowl.

2. In a small saucepan, combine butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, salt, and agave nectar. Bring mixture to a slight boil. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

3. Pour mixture quickly over the dry ingredients. Stir to combine — chocolate chips will melt.

4. With wet fingers, press mixture VERY FIRMLY into a 9 x 13 pan lined with wax paper. Let harden. (I put them in the freezer for 15 minutes.) Cut into approximately 24 pieces. If you want them thicker, make 1-1/2 of the recipe.

5. Store in the freezer — they’re best when thawed for a few minutes.

Servings: 24

*You can use honey, but I prefer agave nectar, a liquid sweetener extracted from Mexican agave plants. Agave nectar is very low glycemic, meaning that it will not raise your blood sugar as high as regular sugar. It has all the useful properties of real sugars when baking. It's available in the organic or sugar aisle of most grocery stores.

For some of my other great recipes check out my cookbook, CHOOSE THIS!