{"id":4954,"date":"2025-10-30T23:11:53","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T06:11:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/30\/peanut-butter-banana-oat-bars-with-chocolate-chips\/"},"modified":"2025-10-30T23:12:06","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T06:12:06","slug":"peanut-butter-banana-oat-bars-with-chocolate-chips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/30\/peanut-butter-banana-oat-bars-with-chocolate-chips\/","title":{"rendered":"Peanut Butter Banana Oat Bars with Chocolate Chips"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ready in just 30 minutes, these peanut butter banana oat bars studded with chocolate chips are soft, chewy, and full of flavor. Kid-friendly, gluten-free, and easy to make, they are the perfect healthy grab-n-go or bedtime snack!<\/em><\/p>\n

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This blog post is sponsored by Terry Naturally\u00ae<\/em><\/em>. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible. As always, opinions are my own.<\/em><\/p>\n

This recipe is a family fav. Here\u2019s Why!<\/h2>\n

I don\u2019t know about you but in my household with two wild little boys, we need grab-n-go nourishing snacks<\/a> that are quick and easy to make.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m definitely not opposed to buying bars from the grocery store but IMO they taste so much better when we make them at home (like my gingerbread granola bars<\/a>!). And my four year old is much more likely to try a new food if he helps make it!<\/p>\n

This healthy snack recipe can be made in just 30 minutes and only 5 minutes of hands-on prep time<\/strong>. It\u2019s packed with kid-friendly flavo<\/strong>r (who doesn\u2019t love a peanut butter, banana and chocolate combo?!) and is easy to pack<\/strong> to bring with you for a car ride \/ trip to the playground, etc (kinda like my almond butter protein balls<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The registered dietitian <\/a>in me loves that this snack is full of plant-based protein, healthy fat, fiber, and carbs<\/strong>. When combined together, all of these nutrients help with satiety,<\/a> blood sugar control, and long-lasting energy.<\/a><\/p>\n

These delicious homemade bars always help hold me over until my next meal, and if eaten before bedtime, help me get a good night sleep (keep reading for more on the science behind that<\/em>)!<\/p>\n

I hope you and your family enjoy these bars (that double as breakfast or dessert!) as much as we do!<\/p>\n

Ingredients You\u2019ll Need<\/h2>\n
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Notes on Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n

rolled oats<\/strong>: oats are naturally gluten-free but can be processed in a facility that manufactures gluten. If you have Celiac disease (gluten allergy, not sensitivity), be sure to look for certified gluten-free oats if you want these bars to be gluten-free!<\/p>\n

bananas:<\/strong> use ripe \/ browned bananas \u2013 this will help add sweetness and softness to the bars!<\/p>\n

peanut butter:<\/strong> I use creamy, unsalted peanut butter but if you\u2019re a crunchy PB girlie, go for it!<\/p>\n

maple syrup:<\/strong> adds sweetness; can substitute with your sweetener of choice!<\/p>\n

Greek yogurt: <\/strong>helps add moisture and protein to the bars<\/p>\n

vanilla<\/strong>: adds warm, sweet flavor<\/p>\n

baking powder<\/strong>: gives bars a lighter, less dense texture<\/p>\n

chia seeds<\/strong>: adds nutritional punch of omega 3s, fiber, protein and fat<\/p>\n

salt:<\/strong> enhances flavor<\/p>\n

chocolate chips<\/strong>: adds sweetness (and fun!); easy to omit if you prefer, but WHY would you :). Choose dark chocolate chips for extra antioxidants!<\/p>\n

The perfect nutrition for a bedtime snack<\/h2>\n

I\u2019m obsessed with these bars as an evening snack \u2013 I swear they help me fall asleep<\/strong>. And this is not just a random anecdote. Let this registered dietitian <\/a>geek out on some nutritional science with ya\u2019ll.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure you\u2019re familiar with melatonin, the hormone your body produces at nighttime to help regulate your circadian rhythm (or sleep cycle), helping you fall asleep and stay asleep<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But DYK that there are certain foods that naturally contain melatonin and even more foods that contain the precursors to melatonin<\/a>?!<\/p>\n

Ever heard of tryptophan? You know, that word you only hear on Thanksgiving when people explain why you\u2019re passed out on the couch after eating a bunch of turkey. What about serotonin? The neurotransmitter that helps keep you happy.<\/p>\n

Well, both of these are precursors to melatonin. Tryptophan, an amino acid found in the diet, helps make serotonin in the body, and serotonin helps make melatonin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And you guessed it, these bars contain ingredients that provide tryptophan, serotonin, as well as minerals that support relaxation like potassium, magnesium and calcium.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s break it down!<\/strong><\/p>\n