homemade granola bars

I think it’s safe to say that school has officially started across the country.  Where I live, it has been in session exactly one month.  Which, unfortunately means my kids are already  already tired of their lunchbox contents. Sure, I will rotate from finger foods to wraps and sandwiches, thermoses of hot soup and noodles… but, let’s face it: there are days I can’t think of what  to pack.

That’s where my magazines come in handy. Sure, there is the internet to cruise though for ideas, but sometimes it’s nice to curl up on the couch and thumb through actual pages. Call me old fashioned- or, better yet a fuddy-duddy. A fuddy duddy sounds like an old lady I’d want to hang out with.  I’m going to be a very hip fuddy duddy when I grow up.  😉

In my quest for exciting lunchbox ideas, I came across two things: a MUST make granola bar recipe; and a back to school special issue of All You. ( You know, the magazine that pays for itself because of all the coupons in it?)  Yep, that one. the magazine totally inspired me, so I got permission to share some of it with y’all. Oh yes, they also want three of y’all to recieve a FREE issue. Woo-hoo! Keep reading….

When I saw that granola bars cost over $3 for a box of six, I realized that making my own was sure to be way more cost effective, and healthy… since I added in flax seeds, raw homey and whole grain oat cereal.  And, look how many it made:

It lasted close to two weeks. If my hubby didn’t eat em every day,  they would have lasted longer. The honey kept them nice & chewy and it acted as a natural preservative, as well.

Now, for some other ideas that I snagged from the back to school issue of All you:

Weekday morning inspiration!  Smoothie recipes; like “Green Monster” and “Mango Peach” …. creative ways to top toast… Morning Glory muffins with a photo that makes me drool,along with twists on oatmeal, and not to mention tons of daily strategy tips on saving time. For instance, building an extra 15 minutes into your morning, so you’re prepared in advance for days your kids may not wake up as quickly as you’d like them to.

Lunchbox inspiration!!!  Mini tortilla quiches, pasta and veggies on a toothpick, stuffed pancakes, a banana with assorted “dips”, hummus..and of course granola bars.

In addition, there’s easy weeknight suppers, a laptop vs tablet buying guide and pages of really inspiring and insightful topics. No, they are not paying me to say this. It was just a really good issue that had a ton of stuff. Have you ever gotten a magazine and then feel like you got cheated because it was 90% ads? Ugh I loathe that. I love it when I get my paws on an issue that is so full of “stuff” that I save it like a cookbook.

Now, if you’d like to get your “paws” on an issue; it’s simple! Just leave a comment in the section below and answer this question:

What’s you favorite magazine?

I will choose three winners at random to each receive a free issue of All You magazine! Winners will be chosen on Oct 5th, 2012

Here’s those granola bars:

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