Smart Snacking at Work: Sweets

by Molly Niendorf — August 28, 2008

Nutrition bars can serve as easy on-the-go snacks, but most are substantial enough to serve as meal replacements. Balance bars contain 210 calories, 8g of fat, and 13g of protein. Zone Perfect bars pack 200 calories, 6g of fat, and 14g of protein. If you're looking for a sweet snack at work that's a little lighter, check out this recipe for gluten-free fruit'n' nut bars. You'll save money by preparing these at home and have enough bars to last a few weeks - you can even keep the extra bars in the freezer at work. I found these bars at yummysmells.blogspot.com. They're made with dried apples, apricots, and Craisins. If you'd like to test another combination, substitute dried pineapples and cherries.

Gluten-Free Fruit'n'Nut Bars
32 servings

1 cup dried apples
½ cup dried chopped apricots
2 cups apple cider
1 cup water
½ cup dried kasha
1 cup Craisins
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup apple butter
1 cup sultana raisins
1 ½ cups buckwheat flour
2 cups sliced almonds
2 cups sweetened coconut
1 egg replacer
½ cup applesauce
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 350F.
Put dried apples, apricots, and Craisins in a pot with kasha, water, apple cider, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Bring contents of pot to boil and stir until mixture is creamy.
Add the apple butter and stir until well blended. Remove from heat.
Blend in raisins, flour, almonds, coconut, egg replacer, baking powder, applesauce, brown sugar, and maple syrup to pot, stir until well combined.
Place mix in two well-greased 9 x 13 inch pans.
Bake 25 minutes.
Cut immediately, place bars on cooling rack.

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 158.2
Fat: 5.1 g
Carbs: 28.1 g
Dietary Fiber: 3.1 g
Protein: 2.8 g