Healthy snacks for your summer road trip

School is right around the corner, and families are planning final summer road trips before the semester begins. Registered Dietitian and President of Hispanic Food Communications, Inc. Sylvia Klinger, MS, RD, LDN, CPT, joined ABC 7 to give parents ideas for packing the perfect, healthy snacks for their kids.

No Bake Granola Bars

If you're anything like me, you appreciate a healthy and deliciously tasting granola bar. If you're also anything like me, you prefer the chewy granola bars instead of the crunchy ones that crumble all over your clothes and not in your mouth.

I used to purchase granola bars because, as many of you will agree with me they:

Ingredients:

Yield: 8-12 (depending on how they are cut)

1/4 cup peanut butter (I used chunky)

2 to 4 tablespoons agave (or a combination with honey or maple syrup)

1/4 cup pitted dates

1/8 cup raisins

cup whole raw almonds

cup raw cashews

2 tablespoons raw sunflower seeds

1/4 cup old fashioned oats

2 tablespoons goji berries, dried

2 tablespoons chia seeds

2 tablespoons shredded coconut, unsweetened

Other Ingredient Suggestions:

Chocolate chips

Pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

Cooked quinoa

Dried cranberries

Preparation:

1. In a food processor or a blender, process dates until they turn into tiny pieces and they begin to thicken together.

2. In a medium bowl, place all the ingredients, except the peanut butter and the agave; mix together.

3. In a small saucepan on low-medium heat, place the peanut butter and the agave and stir for about 3 minutes or until warm (do not let it boil).

4. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly until all the ingredients have been well combined and the mixture has thickened together.

5. In a 913 glass dish, place parchment paper on the bottom (this will help when serving them). Pour the thickened mixture; spread and press down (I used the bottom of a bowl to press down in the middle part and a spoon to press down on the sides).

6. Once firmly pressed and even on all sides, freeze for about 25 minutes or refrigerate for 35 minutes to set the mixture. If mixture is still a bit unsettled, freeze for another 10-15 minutes.

7. Once set, remove from the freezer (or fridge) and cut into bars, squares, triangles, or break them apart into abstract shapes!

For more information, visit www.hispanicnutrition.com.