Oats on the Go For Bike Month

An active lifestyle is a healthy lifestyle, and knowing what fuels will keep you going longer can be very important. At one time or another we all find ourselves fighting to balance the needs of work, our personal lives and our individual needs. When balancing a hectic life schedule it is important to keep some time for recreation and allow for physical activity to maintain a clear head: Why not participate in Bike Month! Started back in 1989 in Toronto as a way to encourage people to ride their bike to work on May 25th, it has since expanded into a month long event and now stretches from Hamilton to right here in the Durham region.

When keeping a busy schedule it is even more important to keep a healthy diet. Breakfast is important, especially for those of us who occasionally may be required to work through lunch. Having a quick and convenient pre-made meal or snack can be a life saver for those times when they are needed.

Oatmeal has been known for its ultra healthy, low fat, high fibre and slow release energy potential; but very few of us have time to make homemade oatmeal on the stove each morning. Now yes, there are those speedy, microwaveable oatmeal in a pouch things that can come in handy some mornings, however a homemade oatmeal bar, or granola bar, can be a lot easier in the mornings and can also be transported for times at the office or when out on an active weekend on the bike to keep those hunger pains away.

This week we will be looking at a super easy homemade oatmeal bar that even the kids can assist with. For this recipe you will require:

1 baking pan, or dish

Wax or parchment paper

2 cups mashed bananas – six to eight whole bananas

2 cups oatmeal

¼ cup each coconut oil, slivered almonds, sunflower seeds, unsalted peanuts and rasins

Mash six to eight bananas with the coconut oil in a mixing bowl, or if you have a mixer, the paddle is perfect for this.

Measure and add all other ingredients to the banana mixture until uniformly combined.

Line a baking dish or pan with parchment paper and spread mixture evenly atop.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for approximately 20 minutes depending on height.

Cool, cut and seal in plastic bags for convenient snacks on the go.

These bars are great on the go snacks for weekend warriors and work through lunch worriers alike. Portability is a key attribute of this particular style of snack. With all the things going through your mind, a few of these tucked away in a purse or backpack will no longer create an issue that will arise and potentially take you away from the task at hand for half an hour or more. Those of us who are continuously strapped for time know the value of efficiency. Taking some time on the weekend with a recipe you can make with your kids allows you to not only teach some basic life skills, but also take some quality time with those little ones and make less work for yourself through the workweek. So with all that in mind, when shopping this weekend add a few extra things to the shopping list and give these a try.