(NC)-Start your morning off right with a breakfast that will keep you charged for the day. Many of our favourite breakfast foods contain hidden sugars - whether it's baked into a muffin or added to toast with peanut butter and jam. Consuming too much sugar early in the day can lead to a drop in energy levels in the afternoon. By eating fibre-fueled, protein-rich foods for breakfast, you will feel fuller longer and avoid unnecessary afternoon snack attacks. Try a quick and easy smoothie in the morning or why not whip up a tasty breakfast the night before to avoid the morning meal rush? Check out www.splenda.ca for lots of quick and easy options.
Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 18-20 minutes
Makes: 16 bars
Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups (560mL) whole wheat flour
2 1/4 cups (560 mL) quick oats
3/4 cup (180 mL) raisins
3 tablespoons (45 mL) ground flax seed
1 1/2 teaspoons (7 mL) baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons (7 mL) ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon (5 mL) salt
3/4 cup (180 mL) butter, room temperature
1/2 cup (125 mL) Splenda Brown Sugar Blend
1 cup (250 mL) unsweetened apple sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons (7 mL) vanilla extract
2 eggs
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) and prepare a 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33 cm) cake pan with baking spray.
Tip: Line the pan with parchment paper leaving the ends sticking out to make the uncut product easier to remove from the pan once cooled.
Combine the whole wheat flour, quick oats, raisins, ground flax seed, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt in a mixing bowl.
Beat the butter and Splenda Brown Sugar Blend together in a separate bowl.
Add the apple sauce, vanilla extract and eggs to the butter and Splenda Brown Sugar Blend mixture. Continue beating until thoroughly combined.
Combine the mixtures in the two bowls together. It will be a very thick batter.
Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake for 18-20 minutes until firm.
Cool in the pan until room temperature.
Cut into 16 equal bars by removing the product from the pan first.
This recipe is great for breakfast on the run - microwave each bar from frozen for 30 seconds on high power.
- News Canada