This Calls for Some Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Date Bars

”The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” – Oprah

It’s officially been 5 months since my marine deployed, and as with the other monthly marks, I’ve taken it as a chance to acknowledge my being an awesome military wife. In other words, I reward myself for getting through another month without having a complete emotional breakdown!

When he’s gone, I try to just take it day by day and not think too much of how much more we have to go. But, once we get to this point, I envision the deployment as a mountain we’ve been climbing up, and feel good in thinking that it’s all a downhill slope from here. Before I know it (or something like that…) my hubby will be home and we will have survived another deployment. To celebrate getting through 5 months, I’ve decided I’m going to treat myself to some new sneakers. I didn’t actually have the chance to pick them out today, but am very excited to get some new workout kicks sometime this week!

What I did do this afternoon was attend a coffee (military speak for get together of wives) at my friend’s house, where all of us ladies chatted and had lunch while the kiddies made welcome home signs for their dads, which was cute. I also had a yoga sess and went on an uneventful hike with Harley – no snakes, no dog attacks, no problem! And tonight I felt like having dessert and came up with these tasty bars:

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Date Bars

Makes 6 bars 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c whole wheat flour
• 1/2 c old fashioned oats
• 1/2 c chopped dates
• 1/4 c brown sugar
• 1 TBSP flaxseed meal + 2 TBSP water, mixed together
• 1/2 TSP baking powder
• 1/4 TSP salt
• 2 TBSP melted butter
• 1/4 c dark chocolate chips
• 1/2 c unsweetened almond milk
• 1/4 c chopped nuts, like pecans, walnuts, or almonds, optional

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine flour, sugar, oats, salt and baking powder in a bowl.
3. In another bowl, mix melted butter, flax egg, and almond milk together.
4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mix bowl. Stir in chocolate chips, dates, and nuts, and mix together well.
5. Pour into a small greased baking pan. (Mine was 6×9)
6. Bake until lightly browned, around 20 minutes. Let cool before cutting into 6 squares.

Nutrition stats per bar: 240 calories, 10 g fat, 4 g protein, 38 g carbs