In a small saucepan, combine butter, peanut butter and honey and heat over low heat. Stir and heat just long enough for the ingredients to melt together. Remove from heat and add vanilla and salt (if desired).
In a large bowl, mix the oats and rice cereal and stir to combine.
Pour the peanut butter mixture over the cereal mixture and stir to combine. Add most of the chocolate chips, but reserve about 1 Tablespoon. Stir to fully combine.
Pour/scoop mixture into prepared pan and press firmly into the pan. Sprinkle reserved chocolate chips on top and press onto the surface.
Cover and refrigerate the bars for 30 minutes before cutting. Remove from pan and cut into squares or bars.
Store the bars in the fridge (in a sealed container), although they are fine at room temperature a few hours (long enough to send in school lunches).
Notes
Feel free to add some additional healthful ingredients, such as chopped nuts, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, coconut etc. I would suggest you could add 1/2- 3/4 cup dry ingredients (such as those just listed) without needing to adjust any other ingredients.If you only have rolled oats (vs. quick cook oats) on hand, simply pulse the oats in a food processor a few times to break them up a bit, then you may use them in place of the quick oats listed.