National Granola Bar Day is celebrated either on January 20th or 21st of each year. Like many other Food Holidays, National Granola Bar Day's origins are unclear.http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/national_food_holiday_directory.html The day is also observed as one of National Cookie Days.http://www.best-ever-cookie-collection.com/national-cookie-days.html Granola bars themselves are compressed baked portion of loose granola. The longer the bars are baked, the less chewy they are. Some very chewy granola bars are not baked at all, being held together with a honey or syrup. http://www.professorshouse.com/food-beverage/food/history-of-granola.aspx Granola is made primarily of rolled oats. http://www.professorshouse.com/food-beverage/food/history-of-granola.aspx

Granola bars are an over $3 billion dollar a year industry. http://www.thenibble.com/REVIEWS/main/snacks/granola-bars.asp#history Granola bar recipes were developed in the 1970s, and have evolved to include such extras as fruit, grains, nuts, yogurt, breakfast cereal, candy, chocolate, and icing. Being recognized with their own day is indicative of the bars popularity.

While the he history of national Granola Bar Day is unclear, granola has been eaten regularly since the late nineteenth century. Its popularity waned until the 1960s when it became a regularly associated with the hippie culture. http://www.thenibble.com/REVIEWS/main/snacks/granola-bars.asp#history It wasn't until the mid-seventies until granola was shaped and baked into bar form.

The idea for the granola bar is credited to Stanley Mason, an inventor known for such everyday items as the squeezable ketchup bottle, dental floss dispensers, and disposable diapers. http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/mason.html By pressing the granola into bar shapes and baking it, the once loose cereal is made easily portable. Chewy style granola is achieved by baking the bar for less time or not at all. http://www.professorshouse.com/food-beverage/food/history-of-granola.aspx

National Granola Bar Day can be celebrated by making homemade granola bars.http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/chewy-granola-bars/Detail.aspx Many markets also have pre-packaged granola bars ready to be taken on a day's hike or bike ride to celebrate the day.