Real food is best; we all know that. But in a pinch, we sometimes need to grab a protein bar, especially us aerobics instructors who are constantly on the go from one club to the next. There are a few decent bar companies out there, but if you’re a stickler on what goes into your body, and you don’t what to eat stuff you cannot pronounce, try making your own bars with this quick and easy recipe. My version tastes a lot like a Snickers bar. Be sure to portion them out properly or you’re going to end up with way too many calories. They’re not huge, but they are chewy and satisfying, especially for a nighttime snack. The mixture is quite sticky, but if you spray the back of a spoon with cooking spray, it’s quite easy to flatten the dough down into your baking dish. I use a bread pan because it’s the perfect size to get 6 even portions of the bars. Alternatively, you could spoon and flatten even amounts of dough into silicone muffin cups. They pop right out and have a nice circular on-the-go shape.
INGREDIENTS:
6 scoops protein powder (chocolate, vanilla or PB flavor with at least 25 g protein per scoop. Little fat and carbs)
1/2 c whole rolled oats
2 T ground flax seeds
1 T coconut flour
1 tsp cocoa powder
2-3 scoops concentrated Stevia
2 T peanut butter
1 T agave or honey
1/4 c coconut-almond milk OR water (more if needed)
1 ounce chopped peanuts
DIRECTIONS:
Mix all dry ingredients together. Add peanut butter and agave and stir well, creating a bit of a crumble. Slowly add your liquid. Mixture should be sticky and form a dough. Add more liquid by the tablespoon, if needed, though let it remain thick. Stir in chopped peanuts. Spray the back of a spoon with cooking spray and spoon dough into a pan approx 8.5 X 4.5, or use individual muffin tins. Freeze for 2 hours. Cut into 6 rectangles. They keep well in the freezer, so just thaw slightly before biting in or your teeth will get angry.
Yield: 6
Calories: 240. Protein: 31, Fat: 8.5, Carbs: 12