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Healthy Rice Krispy Treats
| July 28, 2010 | |
| Phyllis McCarthy : Head Mommy Ego |
Smile if you like Rice Krispy Treats; kids love them, heck adults seems to fancy them too. Nutritionally speaking they are loaded with a whole lot of nothing good for you, but then I’m not sure anyone eats them for their nutritional value. The truth is, I really don’t care for healthier versions of treats that don’t measure up. I’d rather do without. So, I was excited to find a healthier version that is just as good, if not better than the original version endorsed by Snap, Crackle and Pop. I couldn’t wait to share:
Healthy Rice Krispy Treats
6 cups brown rice crisps (or if you have the rice krispies, go ahead and use it)
2/3 cup almond butter (if you don’t have it, try peanut butter)
2/3 cup raw honey (again, you can use brown rice syrup or agave but you might not use as much)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
Melt the almond butter and raw honey in a sauce pan
Add vanilla and cinnamon
Combine with crispy rice
Press into 11 X 7 pan or dish lined with parchment paper (or lightly sprayed with oil)
They are that easy and delicious.
Feel free to add chocolate chips, nuts, seeds or dried fruit to customize your bars. Of course the better quality your ingredients, the better they are for you. Just by making them yourself, you are aware of what’s in them.
For inspiration to make your treats healthier and to consider the trade offs, here are some of the facts around the nutrition:
Using brown rice crisps over the traditional white ones up the fiber, potassium and magnesium. This of course will vary depending on the brand you choose, so read your labels.
Almond butter adds quite a bit of protein (yeah) along with fiber, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and iron.
Raw honey is loaded with antioxidants and is a powerful boost to the immune system.
My kids are going to be so happy to find these in their lunchbox every once in a while.
[11 Comments] [11 Comments]
Do you have any idea what the ballpark calorie intake on these might be? for a 2x2x1 (about standard) piece per say?
They do sound delicious…
No, I do not count or even look at calories but if I had to guess I’d guess close to 200. Definately not a low calorie snack so I use them as more a once in a while treat vs my usual mantra when my kids ask for a snack which is “would you like a fruit or a vegetable.”
I will say these did not last a day in my home and while I did share with neighbors, my husband and I ate more than our share which is why I employ the strategy of not having boxed snacks in the house:)
Thank you
I would like to know the nutrition values also
What specific nutritional value are you interested in? What I like about home-made treats is that I control the ingredients. So the nutritional values are going to vary depending on what specific ingredients you use each of which would have their own nutritional label to look at. I bet there is even a tool on the internet we could use to plug it into, thought I have not looked for it.
While I am very conscious of reading food labels to avoid certain unnecessary preservatives, trans fats and added artificial ingredients and I might look at the protein and fiber content, I really do not spend much time with other nutritional components for a once in a while treat like this. This is not a low fat or low calorie treat and nor is the original though it does have more protein and fiber than the original version and depending on the quality of your raw honey some good antioxidants.
Phyllis, you’re right about being able to go to the Internet to obtain the nutrition information in this peanut butter treat. Here is the link.
http://sparkrecipes.com/
As for myself, I can’t wait to try them. I don’t get caught up in all of the calories with food either. I just try to watch my portions, and eat the best that I can, and I enjoy treats every now and then too. I think it’s great when you make your own. Plus, you get to sprinkle them with love.
Thanks again for the recipe.
Dear Jo,
Due to food allergies, i’ve eliminated rice, (corn, wheat, gluten, etc) from my kids diet. Do you know of something I can substitute for the brown rice cereal? I’d love to add something like this to school lunches.
Thanks,
Amy
Hi Amy,
I don’t (off the top of my head) know a substitute for the rice cereal but can you give me an idea of crunchy grains you do still include in your childs diet, if any?
I would imagine you can substitute anything that is crunchy, you may just have to experiment and please do let us know if you come up with one. I’ll also keep my eyes/ears open.
Phyllis
I made these and they are great!! When I want a sweet snack, I will reach for one of these, I used brown rice syrup and crunchy peanut butter. I know they probably have a few calories, but then again, so does any sweet snack, so why not eat one that is on the healthier side. I used Nature’s Path Crispy Rice cereal.
Okay, I’m just a tad confused! Are these supposed to be baked, or are they finished once pressed into the pan? Also, are brown rice crisps raw? I’m looking to a 100% raw alternative to rice crispy treats!
No baking required; I apologize if that was not clear. If all of the ingredients are raw food diet friendly (I’m not sure about the cereal either –and there may be differing opinions on this one) then you are good to go; ENJOY!