Thanks Sprouts for sponsoring this post. February was American heart month and Sprouts gave me lots of tips to keep my ticker ticking. These banana oat date bars are guilt free and perfect for satisfying my sweet craving, while also helping keep my heart healthy!
After last week's calorie filled Irish nachos, it seems fitting that I supply you with something a bit healthier. February was American heart month and Sprouts supplied plenty of information on ways to keep our heart healthy. Heart disease runs in my family so it is never too late to learn or review new tips to stay fit. My father had a wake up call at the age of 42 when he collapsed on the tennis court with a heart attack. I was 16. He never smoked, was not a drinker, just a tad overweight, and jogged at the time, though I'm sure he ate too much red meat. He's continued to stay fit and even at the age of 85 he ran/walked a 5k. He has had two open heart surgeries to replace arteries, but thank goodness for modern medicine. Turns out in our case heart disease is genetic, though that doesn't mean we should give up on trying to stay healthy.
Exercise is not something I really enjoy, but I do try to walk on regular basis. Eating is something I really enjoy and though I received a minor in nutrition way back when (when no one cared about nutrition) I know what I'm supposed to eat. However, I'm just not very good at following what I know. Well, at least I admit it. So far I've been pretty lucky and though I am overweight, I've avoided health related diseases. I'm getting older and know the odds of staying healthy are decreasing each day, therefore it's best to err on the side of health.
Heart Healthy Tips
Following a heart healthy diet like the Mediterranean diet is one way to do things. Another way is to eat lots of fruits, veggies and fiber. Suzanne Farrell, a dietician and nutrition coach, gave us lots of tips to point us in the right direction. One thing I'm trying to do is to follow the rule of ¼, ¼, ½. No this isn't a math test; that's the way one's dinner plate should be designed. In other words, (much to Manservant's chagrin) vegetables and fruit should fill half of our plate, grain and starches should fill ¼ and the other ¼ is for your protein.
Some foods that help our heart include fish, such as salmon. Get your omega 3's in. Walnuts and flax seeds, chia seeds or fish oil capsules also contain omega 3's. Decrease your risk factors by getting lots of fiber in your diet. Most of us only get about 15g daily when we should get 25-35. Think lots of whole grains and oatmeal. Oatmeal is so good for you. Oats not only help lower your bad cholesterol, they also absorb it from your GI tract. Think beans. Beans are loaded with fiber. Think fruit; berries, apples and citrus are all great choices. Bananas are also great because they contain potassium and potassium is known for lowering blood pressure.
So today's lesson is what to eat for a healthy heart. You figured that out, right? I decided to combine some ingredients that Sprout sent us home with and came up with banana oat date bars, something that Manservant could munch without feeling guilty-well, me too! I used bananas-check! I used flax seed-check! And I used oats! Add in some dark chocolate, which is also linked to reducing heart disease, (thank God!) some dates, which also contain lots of fiber and no need for sugar. We all know sugar is the new bad boy, not fat-right? Well, that is if you are eating healthy fats!
So check these banana oat date bars out. They aren't crunchy like granola bars but they are chewy. No, they aren't a chocolate chip cookie, but I don't feel guilty eating them. They aren't sugary sweet; they taste like bananas and I love bananas. They are easy to make and perfect for those brown bananas that I usually throw away. It's just a mind set, right? I mean if my mom had started me on these, maybe my heart would be healthier. So save those yucky bananas and help save your heart!
Need a new snack? Give these a try. They pack well, are easy to make and just might cure that sugar urge while also providing lots of fiber and heart healthy goodness!
More heart healthy recipes:
Banana Baked Oatmeal
Simple Salmon
Moroccan Fish with Chickpeas
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Recipe
Banana Oat Date Bars #LoveMyHealthyHeart
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 30 Minutes
- Total Time: 45 Minutes
- Yield: 1 9" Pan
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These banana oat date bars are guilt free and perfect for satisfying my sweet craving, while also helping keep my heart healthy! Gluten free, sugar free and egg free-what's not to like?
Ingredients
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350. Grease or line with parchment a 9" square pan.
- In a medium sized bowl, mash your bananas until they are almost liquid. I used an immersion blender. Stir in all ingredients, except the chocolate chips.
- Pat mixture into pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and then pat them into mixture so that they are resting on top.
- Bake for abut 30 minutes or until the edges begin to crisp up. You can also bake these longer if you want them crisper. Remove from oven and cool. Slice into bars and serve. Leftovers keep a good week, if they last that long.
Pamela @BrooklynFarmGirl says
This is a perfect breakfast idea!
Sippity Sup says
Just looking at these makes my heart smile and that a good thing. GREG
tania| my kitchen stories says
They look so good. Its incredible what you can make with a banana or two
All That I'm Eating says
Banana, oats and dates in one. Sounds delicious and great for a quick breakfast!
Chris Scheuer says
These look like a great way to avoid that mid afternoon slump! I love Sprouts!
SavoringTime in the Kitchen says
All of my favorites rolled up into one scrumptious bar!
Liz Berg says
Mmmmm....I don't think I'd feel like I was sacrificing anything when noshing on these lovely bars!!
Kitchen Riffs says
Well, one does exercise jaw muscles while eating, right? Isn't that enough? 🙂 Guess not. 🙂 Anyway, terrific looking bars! We do eat things like your nacho dish. But then eat healthy things like this. So we have a balanced diet, right? 🙂
Angie Schneider says
Deliciously chewy, not overly sweet and loaded with good stuff..definitely my kind of snack, Abbe.
Lorinda - The Rowdy Baker says
They look fantastic, and since I'm trying to change my ways (don't hold your breath) this is a good place to start. I have a very insistent sweet tooth, and these sound like just the thing to try and retrain it.
Tricia Buice says
These bars look like the perfect way to snack and take care of your heart at the same time. Very nice recipe Abbe!
Sylvia says
Did you forget to post how much I ats?
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Sylvia! You saved me!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
SO DELICIOUS! These bars look great. I love bananas and dates. Isn't it funny how we can know what we're supposed to eat but ignore that completely? I love that I can satisfy my sweet tooth but still be healthy with these 🙂