Strawberry Banana Oatbars w/ Strawberry Reduction (no added sugar) Recipe

If you have frozen berries: just microwave them for a second with the vinegar and then mash, or simmer in a pan until soft and then mash.

We like to change up the oatbar ingredients over here, and this another healthy favorite.

These oatbars are bursting with Vitamin C, Potassium (from both bananas and strawberries), and a feast of other macro and micronutrients between the strawberries, bananas, oats, chia seeds, and almonds. They are great for heart health, packed with protein (12g in a slice), and full of minerals and vitamins.

Best part? There are absolutely no added sugars, just good ol’ fiber-filled fruits. If you still need sweeteners as a bridge to edibility, throw in some honey or maple; otherwise, you should be set with the strawberry reduction.

(*All those highlighted words are leading to health-benefiting articles*)

All the ingredients for getting started. Frozen strawberries were what was best on hand at our closest market.
If you have fresh berries you can simply chop them. If they are frozen, microwave them or simmer them in a pan until soft and then mash a little.

While the bars are baking, start the reduction, but keep close. You may be tempted to wander away for a sec, but these guys bubble up quickly when left to their own devices (see the high rim of pink from stepping away to water some plants). I highly recommend sticking around and stirring them occasionally so they do not boil over.
While hovering, maybe pull out your phone and read up on this tasty berry’s benefits:
”Strawberries provide us with a rich variety of phytonutrients, including dozens of polyphenolic antioxidants belonging to the following nutrient groups: flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, tannins, and stilbenes. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C (and our 5th best source of vitamin C at WHFoods); an excellent source of the mineral manganese; a very good source of fiber, iodine, and folate; and a good source of copper, potassium, biotin, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin B6, and omega-3 fats (in the form of alpha-linolenic acid).”

Serve Oatbar with Strawberry Reduction

These are tasty, environmentally sustainable, body-healthy for your kiddos (or yourself), and good to the last lick.