During October everyone is busy talking about pumpkins and Halloween but do you know what else happens every October? Breast Cancer Awareness! I have teamed up with Aflac to tell you about their partnership with the American Association for Cancer Research Foundation and share a healthy No Bake Granola Bar recipe with you. These bars are packed with protein and are perfect if you are on the go and need a pick me up. They also are a great energy boosting snack to give to someone you know who is going through cancer treatment or a special nurse, doctor, or caregiver.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease, offer information, and support to those affected by breast cancer and raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.

Most of us know someone who has had cancer. My grandmother and grandfather passed away from it and my father had to have a transplant but is now thankfully cancer free. This is why Cancer Awareness means so much to me.

Approximately 231,340 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.

Breast cancer patients with employer-sponsored health insurance spend $6,553 out-of-pocket.

It is a good idea to consider insurance policies that can help ease worries about the financial cost of breast cancer if it were to occur.

When caught early, the survival rate for breast cancer is as high as 99 percent, but the diagnosis can be accompanied by an expensive treatment regimen. Aflac’s cash benefits can help policyholders pay the out-of-pocket costs associated with costly cancer treatments.

A cancer insurance policy can be used not only for treatment expenses not covered by major medical insurance, but also for extra child care that may be needed, transportation to and from the doctor or treatments, and even everyday living expenses, such as mortgage payments or groceries.

If you or a family member does end up being diagnosed with breast cancer, or any cancer, you want to be able to focus on recovery not finances, and a cancer insurance policy can help you do just that.

Plus, Aflac just introduced their One Day PaySM initiative, which allows Aflac to process, approve Learn more about Aflac’s cancer insurance policy here.

Aflac goes pink!

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Aflac will be partnering with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) again for its second annual This Duck Wears Pink campaign.

Aflac is selling campaign-related products including the plush duck (above), hats and a breast cancer ribbon pin, with all the net proceeds going to the AACR for the specific purpose of funding research aimed at finding a cure for breast cancer.

Visit the Duck Wears Pink website for more information about Aflac’s partnership with the American Association for Cancer Research Foundation here.

Print Recipe

No Bake Granola Bars

Makes 14-16 bars

Ingredients

4 cups rolled oats
1 cup honey
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 cup banana chips broken into pieces
1 tsp cinnamon
optional: melted semi-sweet or white chocolate for drizzling

Instructions

Line a 9X13 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large bowl mix together peanut butter, honey, and cinnamon.
Add 4 cups rolled oats and using a large spoon or rubber spatula mix well.
Finally, stir in crushed banana chips.
Spread mixture into the lined baking dish and smooth and press down.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Remove from fridge, lift parchment with granola out of the dish and place on a cutting board.
Cut into bars. I was able to cut 14 bars.
If you would like, you can drizzle chocolate on top {I added pink food coloring to my white chocolate, or you can use icing, to add Breast Cancer Awareness ribbons to my bars}.
Eat them now or store covered or wrapped in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

In a large bowl add peanut butter, honey, and

cinnamon.

Stir together until well combined and smooth.

I use old fashioned rolled oats not quick oats for this recipe.

They seem to hold together better and not get too soft.

Add 4 cups rolled oats and using a large spoon or rubber spatula mix well.

Finally, stir in crushed banana chips.

Spread mixture into the lined baking dish and smooth and press down.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours {I chilled mine overnight}.

Remove from fridge and lift parchment with granola from dish and

place on the counter or a cutting board.

Cut in half in the middle then cut into bars. I was able to get 14 bars.

I wanted to decorate mine for Breast Cancer Awareness so I melted white chocolate, added 2 drops of pink food coloring, and scooped into a baggie. Snip off the corner to make a piping bag!

I piped on pink cancer awareness ribbons to the front of each granola bar.

Ava loved to help {and eat them}!

Be sure to let the chocolate cool before packaging or holding.

Wrapped these bars up and give them to someone you know who could use a healthy, protein packed treat like a hardworking caregiver or nurse. They will appreciate it!