Granola? Candy?

This morning I did a nutrition class for a group of middle schoolers. Sounds scary, but it was not. During the class we did some label comparisions and discovered that candy could be healthier than a granola bar. Sounds crazy, but may be true. Granola bars and cereals bars are often no more than a glorified candy bar, full of sugar and fat.
Store brand granola bar: this is a yogurt-drizzled raspberry fruit and oat bar. Sounds yummy and nutritious. The name has yogurt, berries and oats all together how could this not be healthy.
1 bar (40 grams) + 160 calories, 4 grams fat, 1 gram fiber, 2 grams protein and 18 grams of sugar.
Total carb is 30 grams or 2 Carbohydrate servings.
Peanut M and M's = 220 calories for 42 grams (1/4 cup) 12 grams of fat, 20 grams of added sugar, 25 total carbohydrate (1 bit less than 2 carb servings), 2 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein. Hmm, I can get a bit more fiber, about the same amount of sugar and more protein from candy. It does have a few more calories and more fat, but hey it's chocolate.
Another comparison: Thin Mint Cookies:4 cookies (32 grams) 160 calories, 8 grams of fat, 22 total carbohydrates (1 12 carb servings), 10 grams of added sugar, 1 gram protein and 1 gram fiber. The granola bar seems to win in the fat category only.

A friend gave me a recipe that I make often for Crispy Health Bars" a healthier alternative to a cereal bar, granola bar, cookie or rice krispie treat. Another plus is that by making it at home, it can be made gluten free. You can also choose your ingredients and leave out additives and preservatives.

Sarah's Kids - Crispy Health Bars

2 cups crisp rice cereal (gluten free) Regular rice krispies contain malt, which means gluten.
can use rice chex.
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (gluten free)
2 cups total, your choice of dried fruits and nuts.
try dried cranberries, raisins, walnuts, unsalted sunflower seeds, soy nuts, chopped almonds.
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup - can use mixture of corn syrup and honey or just honey
1/2 cup peanut butter or any nut butter (increase amount if mixture seems dry)
1 tsp vanilla

1. Spray 13x9 inch pan with non- stick cooking spray. In a large bowl stir together cereal, oats, fruit and nuts.(chocolate chips are good too)
2. In medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, corn syrup and peanut butter. Cook over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes or until bubbly. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla. Pour over cereal mixture, stir to combine. Press into pan and cool completely. (hand covered with plastic bag works well to press into pan without too much sticking)
Makes 24 bars. 155 calories, 6 grams fat, 21 grams total carbohydrate, 2.5 grams fiber.
To increase fiber a bit try adding 1-2 tbsp of ground flax seed.