Raising the Bar
I put the call out for recipe makeover requests last week, and many of you did not disappoint. For the rest of you, I expected more. Wait until I tell your father.
One of my first requests came from reader/blogger Mandy A. who said:
I’d love to see a cereal bar of some kind. Not the granola type bar… but like the strawberry in the chewy center type bars? I can buy the Kashi ones, of course… but would still love to be able to feel better about giving them to my daughter if they were home made – AND taste good, since she’s so darn picky
And of course, I thought of these:
I haven’t had a lot of Nutrigrain bars in my life. My mom shunned any breakfast items with more than 5 grams of sugar. Except Trix (her favorite) and the occasional Dunkin’ Donut. That’s the fun part about being the mom, you can simultaneously make up the rules and the exceptions. For example, “no yelling”…unless you catch Lulu putting your tube of cherry Chapstick on her toes and licking it off.
I was familiar, however, with the TV ad claiming that eating a Nutrigrain bar for breakfast can help you make “healthier” decisions all day.
Hmm. Apparently the key to solving our county’s obesity epidemic, preventing dehydration, ending sleep deprivation and ultimately finding inner peace is really just found in a cereal bar. This will change my life. Look for my new memoir called Eat Nutrigrain Bars, Pray, Love.
One minor detail, though. Here is the ingredient list for a blueberry Nutrigrain bar:
Ingredients
CRUST: WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED OATS, ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2], FOLIC ACID), WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, SUNFLOWER AND/OR SOYBEAN OIL WITH TBHQ FOR FRESHNESS, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, HONEY, DEXTROSE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, SOLUBLE CORN FIBER, NONFAT DRY MILK, WHEAT BRAN, SALT, CELLULOSE, POTASSIUM BICARBONATE (LEAVENING), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, PROPYLENE GLYCOL ESTERS OF FATTY ACIDS, SOY LECITHIN, WHEAT GLUTEN, NIACINAMIDE, SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, CARRAGEENAN, ZINC OXIDE, REDUCED IRON, GUAR GUM, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID. FILLING: HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORN SYRUP, BLUEBERRY PUREE CONCENTRATE, GLYCERIN, SUGAR, WATER, SODIUM ALGINATE, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CITRIC ACID, METHYLCELLULOSE, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, MALIC ACID, RED #40, BLUE #1.
I’m pretty sure if I, or my girls, started out the day with a Nutrigrain bar, one BAD decision would lead to another. Much like if I allowed the girls to have an after-lunch piece of pinata candy.
No chapstick or drawerful of pajamas would be safe.
She was looking for her princess nighty in the middle of the afternoon. She found it.
Oh, did she find it.
So Mandy A., I feel your pain. And I answered your call.
Better Berry Nutrigrain Bars
Makes 12-16 bars
- 1 1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
- 2 1/2 c. oats
- 2 t. baking powder
- 1/2 t. salt
- 1/4 c. organic sugar
- 1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 c. vegan margarine (i.e. Earth Balance), melted
- One 10 0z. jar 100% fruit blueberry preserves, or your choice of flavor
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients.
In a smaller bowl, combine melted margarine and applesauce (I used a naturally flavored berry unsweetened applesauce).
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until fully moistened.
Press 1/2 of mixture into the bottom of an 8×8 pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
Top the layer with the entire jar of berry preserves.
Place the remaining crust mixture on top of the preserves and press down to form the top bar crust.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until crust is golden brown. Allow bars to cool completely before cutting.
Strikingly similar, but with eight ingredients instead of forty-eight. I was tempted to add that propylene glycol esters of fatty acids, but darn if we weren’t out.
I’m optimistic that if we start out the day with one of these better bars in the morning, maybe, just maybe, tomorrow my lips will taste like berries instead of toddler feet.
Pucker up, Pea Daddy.
These look awesome! I may try these and just skip the flour, or grind oats into flour, and then use that as the flour + whole oats. And also add a crap load more of sugar to them b/c unlike your mom, 5 g’s of sugar is nothing to me. Kidding!
Seriously these look great and remind me of alot of the crumbles my mom used to make growing up. She never wrote anything down and also was winging it, but butter, oats, sugar, fruit…all made their way in.
I love being able to make up the rules now that I am the mom. I mean, after all, finally we get to utter that phrase, “while you’re living in my house you play by my rules.” Ok, I actually will probably never tell Skylar that but it’s still fun to make the rules. Like having bedtime be at 2am and not 8p. What can I say, we’re night owls!
Ok random comment
Yeah, I think I’d rather eat these over Nutrigrains any day. Although I was never much of a nutrigrain eater to begin with.
So you want some more food makeovers? How about Pop Tarts. Not so much because I eat them, but it just popped (groan) into my head.
Ooh, Bless you Mama Pea! My boyfriend and I are trying to eat healthier and while he is (for the moment) happily going along with no ice cream for dessert, I’m sure he will be thrilled if I show up with a yummy dessert full of whole oat goodness! That’s right, we’re going to eat this for dessert. Maybe breakfast too though!
Hello from China!
My blog doesn’t work here, but yours does! Just figured that out now. So here I am. And I miss you.
I’m so glad that propylene glycol esters of fatty acids were left out of this recipe, my local Chinese grocery is fresh out too! Darn those suckers are hard to track down!
Hope you’re well! Give those little princesses a big hug and kiss from me.
Xo,
Erin
That looks amazing! Is the “pastry” flour a key ingredient or could I just get away with regular whole wheat flour?
You can always use “whole wheat flour” rather than “whole wheat pastry,” but whole wheat pastry is not nearly as dense as just regular whole wheat. I like to use it because it mimics the texture of the plain old refined flour that we all know in love in traditional baked goods. You could try the regular whole wheat, but just expect a heavier, denser bar. In this case, it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing, but in cupcakes, cookies or muffins, I would ALWAYS use the whole wheat pastry flour. Hope that helps!
wowsers well done! they look deeeelish!!
These look amazing and even better are nut free! I’m going to try these for my boys asap as I know they will love them! They have loved all your recipes I have made. Thanks!
I know my mom MADE up the most redculous rules, but I rolled with them. Heheh I can’t wait till it’s my turn. Ahhh baby toes+ chapstick, is it ok if i awww?
Those bars look delicious! LIke a healthier peanut butter and jelly bar.
yummy — love your photos too! I can’t believe the amount of ingredients in what is supposed to be healthy. Sheesh. xo Sally
You delivered once again! Is there anything you can’t turn into a delicious vegan treat? Cupcakes, Cinnamon Rolls, Milkshakes…..no, I really don’t think there is one thing that I can think of that you wouldn’t be able to transform into an incredible vegan version.
It really does amaze me how much junk is in what people think are ‘healthy bars’ !!!!!!!
I love the bars you made, these look delish and 8 ingredients that are all good!
Have a great day Mama Pea!
Yum! This looks absolutely delicious. My dad (who thinks he’s really healthy) loved to dole out Nutrigrain bars as breakfast when we were kids because it was easier that making a simple bowl of cereal. I’m definitely going to make these and show him that you can have the same (better!) taste without all of the nasty ingredients.
Nutrigrain bars were one kind I always liked but rarely ate for the same reasons you mentioned above. I’d love to try this recipe!!
I was a total nutrigrain bar eater back in my day – now, i wouldn’t touch one with a 10 foot pole! Nice job!
Those bars look DELICIOUS!!! Thanks for the post!
I will look for that memoir ;
Nice recipe. Reminds me of date squares kind of (which are nice).
Thanks for posting this recipe! I’ll definitely be trying it out. My husband is addicted to Nutri Grain bars, and I’d love to offer him a healthier alternative.
Those look great!
That first pic of the girls – in the skirts – we have both of those. We should all go to Carter’s together
I will definitely be trying these soon….I think my kids will love them…well all except for my 10 year old- she has a jelly phobia for some reason…lol.
I would love to see you do a cheesecake makeover, I realize that would be difficult to veganize, but if anyone can do it you can:) I’ve tried some recipes out there and haven’t been happy with the results.
I did a raw cheesecake here: http://peasandthankyou.com/2010/07/05/red-white-and-blah/ It was delicious but more of a “lemon bar” flavor than a cheesecake. I’ll see what I can come up with.
use tofu and cashew, sunflower seeds as a base! soak nuts than pure with tofu and lemon juice, sugar etc!
I must make these for M. She loves bars and I do try to get the higher quality than Nutrigrain ones, but still they have more ingredients than necessary. These are perfect!
delicious…i love every single one of your bar recipes (i’ve tried them all
) this one is going to be made and likely completely consumed on Saturday 
Those look awesome and very kid friendly. Thanks!
Yummy! My “to make list from Mama Pea” is growing daily! Love it
What about some type of “meatball” for spaghetti? I have no idea what to do for that!
Ahh…I hate to be a tease, but I actually have a “meatball” recipe in the book!
Awesome!
What a great recipe! I am going to make these for taking to the lake this weekend! My cousins have kids (a 1, 2, and 3 y.o) so I am sure they will be a huge hit! I’m always so impressed with your recipes!
I have a gmail label that is Mama Pea recipes for when Anna can eat real food. It just keeps growing!
Thanks so much!
Love the bars! It’s so funny how I when I was a kid, the Nutrigrain bars were considered a healthy choice. Or not so funny;)
I love that bottom picture of the girls…so cute!
I loved nutrigrain bars growing up!! I’ll definitely have to give this recipe a try, looks really similar. In looks of course, not ingredients! Thanks, Mama Pea.
oh i had a friedn who had nutrigrain bars every day after school.
gross. hated going home with her.
(plus, my mom made cookies. tasted better + made, not bought at costco = clearly my mommy loved me more than her mommy loved her. i won)
umm somehow I missed your call for recipe makeover requests!!
Am I too late?!
And, this might be a tough one…but can you healthify tortilla chips?! Or some kind of jalapeno chip? I am pretty sure my boyfriend eats at least 3 servings of either one of those every day and I’d like to have an alternative around for him.
And- I’m not sure if you’d be interested in this, but I recently healthified cocoa krispies on my blog!! I used some Splenda in mine…but regular sugar works, too! and they had pretty good stats. I bet the girls would love them! http://masterofherromaine.blogspot.com/2010/08/faux-coa-krispies.html
Thanks for the link, Sonia! Yes, I’m thinking veganized Doritos may be in order.
Hi,
It makes me smile every morning I see pictures of your happy family – thanks.
Thank YOU, Caitlin’s Daddy!
Love the recipe recreate, really disturbed by the original Nutrigrain ingredient list. I am brainstorming a recipe for you to veganize but I want to make to make it a good one. Something for the fall perhaps…
Those look delicious. I need some portable breakfast foods to eat on my way to work!
Yum- those look wonderful!
Maybe your recipe page already has it…but how about oatmeal choc chip cookies??
There are these soft baked oatmeal raisin cookies, which you could swap chocolate chips into? http://peasandthankyou.com/2010/06/10/one-fine-day/ I’ve also gotten a request to make over those ghastly Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pie cookies, so look for those soon!
My son used to call those hamburgers with icing when he was small.
You are a genius Mama Pea! I used to LOVE Nutri-Grain bars but wouldn’t consider them today. Thanks for this recipe makeover. My sister will love it, too for her kiddos.
OMG…you are a lifesaver. Is it bad that my boys ate one of these very horrible Nutrigrain bars this morning before their daycare breakfast? Apple cinnamon though…not blueberry, so I guess that just added one more ingredient. I can’t wait to try these! Why is making healthy decisions so stinkin’ time consuming?
hahahaha toddler feet. I’ve seen kids put chapstick on their toes…seriously.
These bars look great. I should make them for Andy to take with him to work in the morning.
SO excited to see these when I logged on this morning!
Thank you SO much for making them! I am going to make them this weekend! I can’t wait! 
love this recipe!
Yum! Ave is starting to eat cooked fruit a little so this really excites me. I think I might even have all the ingredients???
Nice makeover!
That ingredient list is full of crazy. Even though honey is natural, it’s in there too making the sugar content of that sucker through the roof. Dang!
I’ve been reading your blog for a few weeks now. You crack me up with your writing style and your daughters are cutie patooties! My partner and I have started eating healthier and one of our self-imposed “rules” is if you don’t know what the ingredient is, you probably shouldn’t be eating it. Case in point…we’ve both been craving ice cream and thought going “somewhat local” was the way to go. Who knew that Tillamook ice cream has: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gum, Mono- and Diglycerides, Polysorbate 80, Carrageenan, & Vanillin. What the heck is Vanillin? I’m not sure I want to know but I may have to google it. Looking forward to many more posts!
Hi Elizabeth! It sounds like you are local? Love those Oregonians. Yes, Tillamook Ice Cream…I know it well. Peanut Butter Chocolate is Pea Daddy’s favorite. Perhaps that shall be my next vegan makeover? Thanks for all the blog love!
Hi Again!
Yes, I’m a born, raised, and still here Oregonian. I’m a suburbanite on the westside of PDX. Peanut Butter/Chocolate would be delish!
Great recipe, but can you share tips for getting the filling off the sofa? Is it sad that I won’t make too many blueberry things right now because I know my juggernaut 2 year old will have some on his hands/face/any other body part and go running to the living room before I can clean him off?
GAHHH…that is hilarious and sad. I can totally relate. You could use apricot preserves? Or buy a blue couch?
Can I be friends with G + L?? They have WAY too much fun!! I’m not sure if they’d let me play though b/c I just donated my princess nighty to Goodwill
Those bars look amaaaaaaazing!! Can’t wait to finish packing + unpacking and get back into the kitchen!! The girls always have the cutest hairdos!!
You are killing these recipe makeovers!! I just wanted to say thanks. There’s nothing better than a good healthy version of something I’ve always enjoyed. I made the vegan lasagna last night (but vegetarianized it with non-vegan cheese) and it was so good. I hope you’re enjoying yourself with these, because I am fully in love with these!!
It is a lot of fun to turn somebody’s favorite recipe into something healthy and delicious. I’m excited to share more with you all!
I just printed this – making it stat. Loved “nutri”grain bars as a kid, there look way better.
Laura
These look awesome and I love how few ingredients there are in it!
O.M.G. that is SHEER SHEER BRILLIANCE! Sadly – Nutrigrain bars were TOTALLY go my go-to during high school and college! I can’t wait to try this recipe out!
These look so yummy!! I can’t wait to try them out. Your girls are so adorable
Can I just say thank you, Mandy A, for requesting this recipe?
Aaaand I’m bookmarking this to try out next weekend
I must admit Mamma P, these bars looks really, REALLY good. I never really like nutri grain bars growning up, but sometimes they were packed in our lunches (because NG bars are healthier than Kudos… I always wanted Kudos HAHA). Your bars however… BLOW the store bars (and Kudos) out of the water. FO. SHO. I love that the ingredients are all things I already have in my pantry also. Double score!
I was a huge nutrigrain gal in high school. I am sure I feel for the ads. Back then low-fat was the thing. thanks for the vegan convert.
is there nothing you can’t convert into a healthy, delicious version? i am impressed.
i need to think of a hard project!
Yum! I’d definitely make those.
Lulu and Gigi are ADORABLE! And I’m really trying to think of a recipe that I would like you to re-create. Monkey Bread? I would love to find a recipe that tastes as wonderful without having to use the store biscuits
Love the pajamas! Cereal bars have never appealed to me, but these look delicious!
Another amazing recipe- I made your zucchini lasagna last night! I do agree with you that the ingredient list in Nutrigrain bars is atrocious but I work in Advertising and I do LOVE that commercial. I think its really well done. Yes, Nutrigrain bars aren’t the best- but it beats a bacon egg and cheese sandwich and the message is really less about the bar and more about if you eat healthy and take care of your body you will feel better throughout the day and make smarter decisions!
How awesome! I have never understood why these types of cereal breakfast bars are promoted as a ‘great way to start your day.’ I will have to try these out!
Yum! I remember eating these over at my friend Niki’s house after school before we went to “extra math.” Yeah, we were nerds. You’re already 3-for-3 (bar-wise) in my book, and I’m making the quinoa lasagna tonight! These will be next.
I ate way too many of those when I was a kid. But yours look delicious! Plus I’ll pretty much eat anything with jam on it. Definitely making some of these soon!
I might have to try these. I often need an afternoon snack to tide me over…
I love the texture of nutrigrain bars, but definitely not the flavor. Thank you for making such a wonderful snack. Could you attempt a healthy nanaimo bar? My mom makes them. They are so good, but so bad for you.
You are amazing! I love everything on your blog. Thanks so much for the awesome recipe. I can’t wait to try it.
Thank you, Katie! I love the name of your blog
I can’t wait to try these out. There is a nurse that I work with that always has some sort of granola bar in his bag to snack on, he’s big into organics, (he shops at TJ’s just like me) and we always compare. I gave him one of my home made granola bars, and I did not disappoint him. I cant wait to try this one out for something new and different because I love nutragrain bars as a treat sometimes
omg love love love! that commercial is crazy! I mean sure its promoting eating healthier, but nutrigrain bars, really?? they always had a funny taste too…probably that 1 mile long ingredient list is has attached!
that last pic of the girls is AMAZING!! frame that
You crack me up in almost every post you write. Love it.
I would love to be as ingenious in the kitchen as you seem to be! I will definitely have to try these nutrigrain bars.
Yummy! My “to make from Mama Pea’s blog” list is getting really long! Hmm…how about a “meatball” for pasta dishes? Thanks for the post!
In addition, those look way tastier than nutigrain bars which are IMO nasty. I guess there’s something to be said for freshness, right? The shot of those berry preserves squishing out from under the oat crust is making my mouth water!
Ah man, I WISH I hadn’t had many Nutrigrain bars in my life–it’s what I had for breakfast every morning in my ED days. Ick.
Nonetheless, THESE bars look delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
Also, lovin’ those damask curtains.
I actually never liked nutrigrain bars (maybe even as I child I could sense their million ingredients) but these look awesome. I am always looking for new things to throw into our brown bag lunches. Thanks for another great recipe. By the way, I was fed those Little Debbie Oatmeal pies growing up, I always loved the scene in “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” where they found the oatmeal pie in the lawn and ate tons of it–awesome then, gross now.
I was drooling the second that picture loaded at the top of the page!!!!!!!!!
MUST. MAKE. NOW!!!!!!!!
oooh, I wonder what you could do to the nutritional black hole that is the Pop Tart
That ingredient list is scary, haha! Too many things!
I love your version MUCH BETTER!!! YUM
My first graders are totally baffled by the way I eat and always interested in what I do. They are also constantly bringing Nutrigrain bars for snack! This may have to be one of my special treats I make and share with them (Courtesy of Mama Pea!). Of course, I’d eat bluberry preserves on a stick. Maybe this is why my kiddos are baffled by they way I eat…
I ate many a-NutriGrain bar in my school days and, admittedly, enjoyed the taste. Thank you for providing that frightening ingredient list to remind us why those are definitely NOT a “health” ‘food,’ despite advertising/marketing claims. And thank you for this recipe! Your version truly looks scrumptious (even though using that word makes me sound uncharacteristically proper and pretentious) — like blueberry cobbler. Really enjoying your product healthifing/veganizing; please keep it up.
You’ll be proud to know I have a plan to make these today. I even talked my husband out of his sugarless preserves. So I’m all set. I just love coming here every day!
You are epic! These sounds so good!
Propylene glycol is so gross – it’s in donuts (like Krispy Kreme!) and anti-freeze and deodorant… and we EAT IT?!? My mom used to work for a donut company and I grew up eating them, but haven’t had the fast-food glazed junk in years – eck!
Your bars look awesome – now I have a use for those jumbo jars of Polaner!
I don’t know how I went a day without reading your posts
you are so clever and your recipes never fail to make me want to try every single one of them. Enjoy that chapstick!!
hahahaha LOVE. IT.
Have these in the oven now and I am hoping they turn out great! Here is a little something I did that I think made it easier to get the top layer on without making a big mess. I put 1/2 the dough and then pan, spread it around, then flipped it out on my cutting board! Then I put in the other half of the dough and spread it out, put in the jelly and slid in the pre-squished other layer!
These are in the oven as I type
Thanks Mama Pea
Yum – these look so good. I have always loooved Nutrigrain bars, but thankfully was never allowed to have them much growing up….but it’s definitely hard to say no to if offered one now. These really seem like a perfect alternative.
I’ve been following your blog for some time and have always loved looking at the recipes but have not had a chance to try any. After some thought I have decided to try going vegan for a month (been a vegetarian since i was 11) and what better recipe to try than this one. Thanks!! It was delicious, i’ll definitely be trying more!
Great! I’m so glad you liked them, Emily!
I just found this recipe and immediately jumped up to make it. My kids love cereal bars, and they are just so darn easy in the mornings, but I would only buy the Kashi, and they are not cheap! We have been experimenting with some home-made goodies for breakfast lately, and these look like they will be perfect. I will probably have to put this in my next post! Thanks!!!
New to your site and cant wait to make these for my little man. Do you know if these freeze well? Thanks!!
They do! Welcome to our site!
I just found your recipe, and I can’t wait to try it!! My kids love the cereal bars, but with three kids and only 6 bars in a Kashi box, we go through them in two days (or faster). At $3.50 a box, that’s a lot of money! We’re not vegan, so I’m going to try them with butter. Thanks for the recipe!
Great! Best of luck!