Lea Bars

My kids love to snack all day long—and truth be told, so do I—so I enjoy making homemade snacks that are nutrient-dense, delicious, and easy to pack along on all kinds of adventures. These bars were inspired by the yummy and oh-so-easy to eat LÄRABAR®.

The coolest thing about these bars is the endless flavor possibilities! My daughter, Lea, has some nut allergies, so I typically make these bars with coconut shreds, but you can mix it up and add in any kinds of nuts or seeds and any dried fruit you have on hand. Spice things up with a little orange or lemon zest, cinnamon, cocoa powder, berries or beet juice for color—create your own original flavor!

Not only are these bars tasty and quick to make, they are a fun art project for the kids. Chop them into bite-sized bars, roll them into balls, create fun shapes with cookie cutters, or decorate with chocolate chips—let your imagination and taste buds run wild.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups rolled oats
• 1 ½ cups coconut shreds (or nuts and seeds)
• ⅔ cup dates (lightly packed)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 5-7 Tablespoons water
• 3 Tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

1. Place the oats and coconut shreds in the food processor and process until finely ground.
2. Add the dates and vanilla and process again until finely ground.
3. Add 5 Tablespoons of water and process thoroughly. Add more water as needed until the mixture sticks together in a large ball.
4. On a cutting board, form the mixture into a rectangle and cut into bars, squares, or roll into balls.
5. Keep refrigerated and enjoy!

Tips/Variations:

• We also love making Chocolate Orange Lea Bars! Add in 3 Tablespoons of cocoa powder, 1 Tablespoon of orange zest, and a few extra dates to the ingredients above, and proceed with step 1.