Oh-So-Good Granola Bars

Makes: 24 bars

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 35 minutes

Nonstick cooking spray

1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds

1/2 cup Grape-Nuts cereal

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 beaten egg

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 16-ounce package mixed dried-fruit bits

2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup dark-chocolate chips

1. 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line an 8-by-8-inch pan with aluminum foil and coat with cooking spray. Set pan aside.
2. 2. In a large bowl, combine oats, both flours, ground flaxseeds, Grape-Nuts, and ginger. Add egg, applesauce, honey, brown sugar, and oil; mix well. Stir in fruit bits, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and chocolate chips.
3. 3. Spread mixture evenly in prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Cool completely on a wire rack. Use edges of foil to lift cooked granola from pan, and cut into bars.

Nutrition facts per bar: 155 calories, 3g protein, 28g carbohydrate, 5g fat (1g saturated), 2g fiber

Too busy to bake bars? Throw these ingredients together for a super­quick kicked-up trail mix (stick to a 3/4-cup serving).

• Dark-chocolate chips
• Dried cherries
• Almonds
• Pumpkin seeds
• Any whole-grain cereal

Originally published in FITNESS magazine, March 2011.