5 Snack Bars to Energize Your Day

Pick a healthy, homemade snack bar to swap in for sugary store-bought varieties.
By: Emily Lee
ellie-energy-bars

Skip store-bought snack bars that are often loaded with sugar and look no further than your own pantry for some from-scratch recipes. Whether you prefer a crunchy, fiber-packed granola bar or a chewier rendition loaded with protein-rich nut butter, there's a healthy option you can make at home.

Energy Bars (pictured at top)

Kick-start your day with one of these invigorating breakfast bars. Ellie Krieger makes them by pulsing rolled oats, sunflower seeds and a variety of dried fruit in a food processor before adding eggs and maple syrup. Once baked, the hearty mixture turns into a crispy yet chewy energy bar.

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A chunky, chewy texture makes these energy bars extra satisfying. Not only are they packed with fiber, but they're also fragrant and spicy, thanks to cinnamon and ground ginger.

melissa-protein-bars

Melissa d'Arabian's homemade protein bars, studded with sunflower seeds and dried cranberries, are cheaper than any store-bought concoction. Her number one money-saving tip? Buy protein powder in the bulk aisle of your grocery store. "If you are using unflavored protein powder, feel free to add in a bit of cocoa or vanilla extract for extra flavor," she says.

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars in a cream colored dish

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars in a cream colored dish

These bars made with oatmeal, brown rice cereal and dried fruit are the perfect combination of salty, sweet and crunchy, and make a healthy on-the-go snack. The all-natural peanut butter is extremely satisfying, but you can substitute any nut butter of your choosing (such as almond butter or hazelnut butter).

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The Kitchen

A photo from the production of "The Kitchen" in Montclair, N.J., on July 9, 2014. Photo: Jeffrey Neira/Watershed Visuals ©2014 Watershed Visual Media. All Rights Reserved.,A photo from the production of "The Kitchen" in Montclair, N.J., on July 9, 2014. Photo: Jeffrey Neira/Watershed Visuals ©2014 Watershed Visual Media. All Rights Reserved.,A photo from the production of "The Kitchen" in Montclair, N.J., on July 9, 2014. Photo: Jeffrey Neira/Watershed Visuals ©2014 Watershed Visual Media. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by: Jeffrey Neira ©2014, Watershed Visual Media, All Rights Reserved.

Jeffrey Neira, 2014, Watershed Visual Media, All Rights Reserved.

Chewy dried fruits like apricots and figs add texture to these go-to snack bars, while brown sugar and honey promise welcome sweetness. Remember to line the pan with foil before baking the bars—that will make them easier to remove later on.

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