This week we have been talking about how it is that time of year again – Back to School time. We talked about packing lunches and how it seems that some parents just popped right out of Pinterest and have more lunch box ideas than the rest of us. Then we talked about how there is the rest of us. We shop and pack and do our best. We try hard to make lunches our kids will love. A couple of the things my kids love to take in their lunches are granola bars and fruit snacks. These always seem like a waste of money and they don’t seem very healthy. I love it when I find healthier alternatives to these things. There are so many different things you can do instead so recipes are a must. How about recipes for fruit leather and granola bars? Here you go!

Healthy fruit leather and granola bars are great items for lunches! They are filling and can be made with healthy ingredients. Fruit leather and granola bars can contain fruits, vegetables and more. Pair one or both of them with a couple other items and get a super yummy and healthy lunch. Having good and varied recipes can help make this an easy lunch box choice. Here are a few of our favorite recipes. If you try one, let us know how you liked it.

Apple Pear Fruit Leather

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

4 cups peeled, cored and chopped apple

4 cups peeled, cored and chopped pears

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 150 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with a layer of plastic wrap or parchment paper.
2. In the container of a blender, combine the sugar, lemon juice, apple and pear. Cover and puree until smooth.
3. Spread evenly on the prepared pan. Place the pan on the top rack of the oven.
4. Bake for 5 to 6 hours, leaving the door to the oven partway open. Fruit is dry when the surface is no longer tacky and you can tear it like leather. Roll up on the plastic wrap and store in an airtight jar.

Peanut Butter Snack Bars

Ingredients:

Parchment paper

Cooking spray

3/4 cup chopped dark chocolate

2 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup wheat germ

1/4 cup flax seeds

1 cup crispy rice cereal

1 cup cornflake crumbs

3/4 cup chopped smoke-flavored almonds

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons agave nectar

1 tablespoon canola oil

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Spread chocolate evenly over prepared baking dish.
2. Toast oats, wheat germ, and flax seed in a non-stick skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently until oats are lightly golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Transfer oat mixture to a large bowl and stir in crispy rice cereal, cornflake crumbs, almonds, and salt.
3. Heat honey, peanut butter, brown sugar, agave nectar, canola oil, and cinnamon in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir until mixture begins to bubble, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
4. Pour peanut butter mixture over cereal mixture; gently stir until well mixed.
5. Spread peanut butter-cereal mixture into the baking dish. Place another sheet of parchment over the mixture and firmly press into the dish until even. Allow to completely cool before removing from baking dish and slicing.