I’ve always enjoyed oatmeal and oatmeal raisin cookies.  I also enjoyed scooping up a huge bag of these whole grains yesterday for less than $2.00.  But even more than this, I thoroughly enjoyed taking the time learn some of the many health benefits to oats.

Three reasons oats are so good for you:
1. Fiber.  They contain a specific type called beta-glucan, which helps keep cholesterol low.  In fact, studies show that when a diet includes the amount of fiber found in one bowl of oatmeal, cholesterol is typically lowered 8%-23%!  This also means dramatically reduced risk for heart disease!
2. Manganese.  Oats have lots of it and it plays lots of healthy roles!  It helps our bodies metabolize  fats and carbohydrates, absorb calcium, maintain healthy blood sugar levels and promote normal nerve function. (just to name a few)
3. Iron.  Of course there are many other great food sources of iron, but there are also many people that are iron deficient and anemic.  It is estimated that around 30% of people do not get enough iron and that number is higher in kids and pregnant women.  Iron is important because our bodies need it to make the protein hemoglobin, which is used to carry oxygen in our blood cells around our body.  So, yeah, pretty important.

PEANUT BUTTER BANANA OATMEAL BARS

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups oats (original recipe calls for quick…I used old fashioned)
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1-2 large mashed banana
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°
2. Mix together the oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and ground cinnamon.
3. Add in the vanilla extract, milk and egg.  Stir together.
4. Add the mashed banana and peanut butter. Combine all of the ingredients.
5. Pour the mixture into a lightly greased 8 by 8 inch metal baking pan.  Bake for 20 minutes.

Cool Completely.  Cut into squares and enjoy!

These things are great!  They taste like some sort of wonderful lovechild of a peanut butter dipped banana, baked oatmeal, and banana bread.  And for how delicious they taste with no butter or oil, only a small amount of sugar and several healthy ingredients in the mix, it is hard to go wrong! I will definitely make these again.  (next time I will use the metal pan, though.  I used glass and had to bake them much longer)

Recipe source: Rumbly in my Tumbly