Healthy Homemade Granola Bars

Granola bars are one of my very favorite snacks.

They are satisfying, delicious, healthy, and easy to grab when you're in a rush. Granola bars can be extremely basic and quick, or they can be sweet and flavorful. There is so much you can do with a granola bar. You can eat them just as they are, or crumble them over your yogurt or ice cream. They are the perfect complement to a steaming cup of cocoa, coffee, or tea. Granola bars are also fabulous snacks for the road because they aren't too messy, and are really filling. Overall, I love granola bars.

However, I must clarify that I am not a fan of all granola bars. I have found that many granola bars contain high fructose corn syrup or other harmful ingredients. Besides that, why spend money buying granola bars, when you can enjoy the experience of making your own healthy bars at home?

Not only will you be saving money, but you will also be sparing your body of all those unhealthy ingredients. I have an awesome granola recipe for you to try today. I have tried a variety of granola bar recipes in the past, but this one is by far my favorite.

Have some fun with this recipe and experiment with your favorite flavors. You can really get creative and customize this recipe to your preference. As a peanut butter lover, I would recommend adding that heavenly goodness to this recipe. If you are a choco-holic, you can add chocolate chips/chunks, or you could even try adding cocoa powder. I'm sure you could even make these into pumpkin granola bars if you like.

Granola Bars

• 1/4 c. canola oil
• 1/4 c. applesauce
• 1/2 c. packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 c. all-purpose flour (or whole wheat)
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 c. old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/4 c. crispy rice cereal
• 1 c. mixed nuts
• 1 c. raisins

In a bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, vanilla, and egg. Next add in your dry ingredients.

When they are thoroughly combined, add in your raisins and nuts. If you are adding chocolate chips, now would be the time to add those in. Next press the granola mixture into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned.

This recipe should yield about 24 granola bars. When your granola is done baking, let it cool for about 5 minutes, and enjoy!

I hope that you love this recipe as much as I do - or more! Please let me know how you liked it once you tried it. If you have any questions or suggestions, please comment and let me know. I am so eager to hear how you guys liked it, so once you make these granola bars, please remember to tell me how they turned out. Thanks!

These granola bars would make a lovely gift. You could make them a bit sweeter - maybe add some chocolate chips - and wrap them up beautifully and tie them with a ribbon perhaps. These are great for packing in your school lunch-box, or as an after-school snack. When and where do you like to eat your granola bars?

Question of the Day:

What is your favorite granola bar? 

(I like Nature Valley peanut butter crunch.)

Zucchini Muffins

Today I have one of my favorite muffin recipes to share with you!

When the weather gets cool and fall begins to arrive, I love sipping on chai tea and eating warm muffins. My favorite types of muffins are corn, pumpkin, and zucchini. I thought I'd share my delicious zucchini muffin recipe today, so let's get baking!

You will need:

3 c. all purpose flour (or whole wheat)

1 1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. oil

1/2 c. applesauce

1 c. water

3 eggs

1 tbsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. cloves

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. shredded zucchini

1/2 c. chopped walnuts

1 c. raisins

Gather your ingredients and preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 

In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, water, eggs, and spices. Mix together thoroughly. 

Next you will add in your raisins, walnuts, and zucchini. Stir till everything is equally combined. Using a large spoon, scoop your batter into your muffin tins. Be sure to spray them! This recipe makes about 18 muffins. When the oven is ready, just pop them in and let them bake for 20 minutes or until done. I usually touch them to feel their firmness and test them with a knife or toothpick.

Let them cool and then enjoy!

I hope that you like this recipe. I absolutely love it! The walnuts make these extra delicious. You can have fun with this recipe and add some chocolate chips, maybe replace walnuts with pecans or do a mixture. I've heard of zucchini carrot muffins before. Perhaps you could use 1 cup of zucchini and 1 cup of carrots.

Please let me know how you liked these muffins, and if you made any adjustments.

I bet they would taste fabulous with some semi-sweet chocolate chips! If you add those please tell me how you liked them.

Thanks! Have a fabulous day and may God bless you exceedingly and abundantly.

Lots of Love,

Mariah

Greek Pasta Salad

Pasta salads are so easy and so delicious. My favorites are tuna pasta salad, tuscan pasta salad, and macaroni salad. Yum! If you love pasta salads, then you will definitely love this delicious and refreshing Greek Pasta Salad. It tastes amazing, and is perfect for a quick healthy lunch.

GREEK PASTA SALAD

• 12 oz. uncooked whole wheat pasta
• 1 medium onion (thinly sliced)
• 1 cucumber
• 3 to 4 tomatoes
• 1/2 can olives (15 oz.)
• 2-3 oz. crumbled feta cheese
• 3 c. cooked chickpeas (drained)
• 1/2 c. olive oil
• 4 tbsp. lemon juice
• 6 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tbsp. dijon mustard
• 1 tsp. salt (or to taste)
• pepper (to taste)

First you will need to cook your pasta.  I recommend using bow-ties, rotini, or penne. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. Rinse with cool water and drain well.

While your pasta is cooking, you can prepare the vegetables you will be using. Thinly slice your onion, but cut the cucumber and tomato into chunks. If you want to add more veggies into this salad, feel free to do so. You could add some bell pepper, parsley, and maybe even some spinach. Next you will need to toss together the pasta, vegetables, olives, feta, and chickpeas.

Now you will need to make the dressing. In a separate bowl, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, sugar, mustard, and seasonings. Stir well and drizzle over the pasta salad. Toss the salad again until the dressing is evenly distributed throughout. Keep chilled until ready to serve. (It tastes best cold.)

When your pasta is nicely chilled, enjoy this delicious healthy meal!

This recipe is super simple, and takes less than 30 minutes to make. I hope you enjoy this Greek Pasta Salad. Please let me know if you try this. Did you add more veggies? What are your favorite pasta salads?

If you have any questions or suggestions, please comment below. Also, don't forget to subscribe to the Fit2Be Blog to stay updated on all the recipes, workouts, articles, and more.

Have an awesome day and may God bless you always!

Lots of Love,

Mariah

Tank-Top Arms Workout (PART 2)

Happy Monday! :)

I hope you are having a fabulous day. Did you do the Tank-Top Arms Workout yet?
How was it? Intense, right? Well, I have PART 2 to share with you today. I hope you like it!

(This image is from Lean Clean Girlie Machine)

Tank-Top Arms PART 2 (Back & Shoulders)

• Assisted Pullup x 12
• Wide Grip Lat Pulldown x 12
• Jump Rope x 50

Repeat 2 – 4 Times

• T-Bar Row x 12
• Dumbbell Incline Rear Delt Fly x 12
• Jump Rope x 50

Repeat 2 – 4 Times

• One Arm Lateral Dumbbell Raise – Right x 12
• One Arm Lateral Dumbbell Raise – Left x 12
• Dumbbell Front Raise x 12
• Jump Rope x 50

Repeat 2 – 4 Times

• Reverse Grip Bent Over Barbell Row x 12
• Dumbbell Lateral Raise x 12
• Jump Rope x 50

Repeat 2 – 4 Times

• One Arm Dumbbell Row – Right x 12
• One Arm Dumbbell Row – Left x 12
• Jump Rope x 50

Repeat 2 – 4 Times

• Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press x 12
• Jump Rope x 50

Repeat 2 – 4 Times

• Cable Standing One Arm Rear Delt Pull – Right x 12
• Cable Standing One Arm Rear Delt Pull – Left x 12
• Cable Face Pull x 12
• Jump Rope x 50

Repeat 2 – 4 Times

Well, I hope that you love this workout and that it gives you amazing results.

Please let me know how you liked it. Do you have a favorite upper-body exercise?

I love working my shoulders. My least favorite muscles to work are my biceps, but I love how they look when I do work them.

Well, I'm going to get myself a snack now. Have an awesome day! May God bless you more than you can possibly imagine! :)

Lots of Love,

Mariah

Tank-Top Arms Workout

Today I have an awesome workout to help you get those toned and sculpted tank-top arms! I got this fabulous workout from The Lean Clean Girlie Machine. I recently discovered her blog, and love it! Check out more of her workouts when you get a chance. She also has some awesome recipes. Okay, this is an intense workout, so grab your water bottle and let's pump some iron!

(This is only part 1 of the Tank-Top Arms Workout. To view part 2, check out the Lean Clean Girlie Machine Blog.)

This photo is from the blog Lean Clean Girlie Machine

Tank Top Arms – Chest / Tri / Bi

• Machine Fly x 15
• Tricep Pushdown x 15
• Dumbbell Bicep Curls x 15
• Jump Rope x 50

Repeat 2 – 4 times

• Push Ups x 12
• Assisted Dip x 12
• Jump Rope x 50

Repeat 2 – 4 times

• Barbell Bicep Curl x 15
• Incline Bench Press x 12
• Jump Rope x 50

Repeat 2 – 4 times

• Dumbbell Hammer Curls x 15
• Dumbbell Tricep Kickbacks x 15
• Jump Rope x 50

Repeat 2 – 4 times

• Incline Dumbbell Fly x 12
• Kettlebell Tricep Overhead Extension x 15
• Incline Bench Dumbbell Curls x 12
• Jump Rope x 50

Repeat 2 - 4 times

To view this complete workout post, check out the "Sun's Out Guns Out" post at The Lean Clean Girlie Machine. I have just posted Part 1 of the Tank-top arms workout. I will be posting Part 2 on Sunday, but if you just can't wait, you can visit her blog to get the workout.

Please let me know how you liked this workout? Intense, right? Well, you gotta train hard if you want to see results. Keep checking back for more awesome workouts. I will be posting one of my personal exercise routines for upper-body sometime next week. Any suggestions for what I should call it? If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them! Please comment and let me know what you think my upper-body workout should be called. Thanks!

Well, have an awesome weekend! I hope you have a marvelous Friday night full of fun! I'm off to relax and watch a movie with my family. What are you doing tonight?

Have an enjoyable night and a lovely weekend! May God bless you always! :)

Lots of Love,

Mariah

Perfect Snaque for Breakfast

Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but that doesn't mean it has to be huge! Sometimes I am not very hungry in the morning, and a I prefer to have a light breakfast that will satisfy but not stuff me. It is on such morning that I like to have a refreshing bowl of fruit and yogurt. Parfaits are absolutely incredible, and in my opinion are one of the best breakfast options. Yum!

Besides the fruit you can add to your yogurt, you can also enjoy some crunchy granola.

My sister makes fabulous granola. She just throws it together and broils it in the oven, so it's hard to say what she does. She really doesn't have a recipe, but it always tastes amazing. I'll have to see if I can get her to write down what she does so I can share it with you. It is soooo delicious! I love it so much, that once she made me my very own jar of it. (She's super sweet!)

Today I wanted to share with you a breakfast from a while back. I've been meaning to post this forever, so I don't have the granola anymore, but I thought I would share with you a yummy breakfast or snack idea. Try the Perfect Snaque with some vanilla flavored or plain yogurt. I really like it.

About a month ago, I was introduced to the Perfect Snaque by one of my favorite healthy living bloggers, Anna Stocker. She has great recipes, and her blog is very inspirational, so definitely check her out: http://healthylivingmaintenance.tumblr.com/

She loves the Perfect Snaque products, and thanks to her, I was able to try one. I received the Almond Quinoa Crunch from the Perfect Snaque, and it was really good.

I had it over my yogurt once, and another time I had it just as cereal with some 1% milk.

I really liked it as a cereal, but the yogurt was delicious too. I'm sure this would be great in a parfait. It's very crunchy and has a nice flavor. It is a mixture of toasted coconut, almonds, sprouted lentils, and quinoa. I was surprised that their were lentils in this mix, but they were surprisingly good. 

Besides being all natural and super healthy, it also cured my sweet tooth. I had 1/4 cup of the Almond Quinoa Crunch with 1/2 cup of yogurt, 1 tbsp. chocolate chips, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. It was really delicious!

Well, that's all for now! Check back tomorrow for an upper-body workout I'll be posting.

Have an awesome day and may God bless you! :)

Love & Grace,

Mariah