HEALTHY NO-BAKE GRANOLA BARS

When I'm not busy eating the things I love, like cakes and other treats, I actually try to eat pretty healthy. I try to at least do the obvious things, you know: eat lots of fruit and veggies, drink lots of water, force myself to exercise regularly...then treat myself to a cookie or 5 :) 

Lately, I've been on a bit of a cleanse. I decided that for one month, I would not have any dairy or wheat and only eat clean, alkaline and organic meals. I actually feel really great and have grown to love things like almond milk and green juices. I started buying those yummy health bars you always see in Whole Foods, like those Active Greens bars and Larabars (the coconut cream pie one is seriously amazing). That's when I thought, why am I not making these myself?

I've always loved granola bars; with all that butter and sugar that's usually in them, who wouldn't love them? So I attempted these unbaked, semi-raw health bars with no refined sugars or anything and they really turned out lovely! They are sticky and chewy with lot's of bite and nuttiness. These are some serious super powered bars that will give you a huge boost of energy and all the omega 3's you will ever need. I hope to make these more often, post cleanse.

Healthy No-Bake Granola Bars:

(makes 8-10 large slabs)

• 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup flax seeds
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup millet puffs
• 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• 10 unsweetened medjool dates (pitted, chopped and mashed)
• 1/3 cup raw almond butter
• 1/4 cup organic, extra virgin coconut oil
• 1/4 cup agave nectar

In a large bowl, add the oats, flax seeds, chia seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, millet puffs and coconut flakes.

Then add the mashed dates, almond butter, agave nectar and coconut oil.

Scrunch the mixture with your hands until evenly and well combined. The mixture should easily stick together when you press it with your hands.

Line a baking dish or something similar with plastic wrap and then press the mixture into the dish firmly until even.

Cover tightly with more plastic wrap and then place the baking dish in the freezer for a few hours.

Remove slate of granola from the pan by flipping it upside down on a work surface, it should slip out easily because of the plastic wrap.

Cut the granola bars into slices and wrap each one individually in plastic wrap or wax paper and store in the refrigerator.