Healthy Eats: Banana Chocolate Oatmeal Chewies

By Trish Coffman

These flourless, sugarless morsels are a cross between banana bread and chocolate chip cookies — all the flavor, but without any ingredients that will hold you back on the trail. They make great training snacks, and even stow well in a jersey pocket (inside a plastic bag, of course).

You will need:

• 2 ripe bananas, peeled and smashed
• 1 C oats (not the quick-cooking kind)
• 8 oz dark chocolate chips
• ½ C chopped nuts, such as walnuts, pecans or peanuts (optional)

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the bananas and oats. The mixture will resemble a wet batter. Fold in the chocolate chips and nuts. Drop dough by tablespoons onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper, and bake for 12–15 minutes, until set.

These keep best when stored in the refrigerator.