Homemade Bars
Protein Bar Recipes for Simple Meals
Ideally, we’d all sit down to five perfectly balanced healthy meals everyday to maintain our health and keep our metabolism burning. Time doesn’t always allow for that luxury, though.
I’m always running one place or another. Between working full time form home, homeschooling my four kids, training twice a day, and social obligations, sit-down meals aren’t always an option. So, I keep a supply of homemade bars in my fridge, freezer, and car. That way, there’s never an excuse to eat out or run by a drive-thru.
Be prepared. Avoid diet catastrophe.
Are bars 100 percent optimal meals? Well, of course not. But they are still made with natural ingredients and offer us some solid nutrition when we need it. Plus, they’re almost like a treat, and are much appreciated on the days when you feel tired and hungry.
These bar recipes can be easily changed to suit your tastes. Use any cereal in place of the puffed rice and flakes. I usually use puffed kamut; it’s a little higher in protein than the rice or wheat. Use your favorite nuts or seeds, too. Peanuts, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds are all tasty choices.
cc liscense by anne.oeldorfhirsch
Play around with the recipes until you find some that become your staples. In my rant on not eating out and always being prepared, I talked about keeping some kind of emergency food with you at all times. Keep a bar or two in your glove box, purse, or cooler. It’ll get you through to the next meal and help you stay on the right path to your weight loss goals.
Homemade Clif Bars
Clif bars are so freakin’ yummy. They’re natural and vegan and I love their philosophy. But, they’re a tad on the expensive side, so I always whip up some of my own. My kids love them, and I use them as a dessert for them.
Ingredients:
1 cup oats
¾ cup puffed rice
½ cup flake cereal
2 Tb flaxseed meal
2 Tb. sunflower seeds
1 Tb. sesame seeds
1 Tb. nuts of choice
¼ cup healthy chocolate chips
1/3 cup honey or agave
½ cup natty peanut butter
1-2 scoops of protein powder (optional)
Directions:
Mix it all together and spread into a greased 8 inch square pan. Refrigerate and then cut into pieces and wrap individually. Store in the fridge. Cut into 9 pieces, each bar has about 240 calories, without the protein.
These bars are great for energy. I use them during long runs or as an emergency snack when I haven’t had time to make a real meal. Yes, they’ve got natural sugar and healthy fats. Eat them in moderation and use them as a tasty treat.
No Bake Protein Bars
These super simple protein bars are better for you than chemical-laden store-bought bars. Of course, always opt for real foods, but these no bake protein bars can be a lifesaver when you’ve got to fill the tank. I always keep some in the freezer.
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups oats
½ cup bran flakes
4 scoops protein powder
2 Tb. ground flax
1/3 – ½ cup water
Directions:
Mix all the ingredients until they’re thoroughly combined. Spread into an 8 inch baking pan and freeze or refrigerate. Cut into bars and store in the freezer. Mix up the protein powder flavors for different bars. You can throw in a handful of dried fruit for extra fuel. Vanilla bars with dried blueberries is one of my favorites.
Stay healthy. Stay motivated. Strive for your peak potential!
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- Homemade Bars, Protein bars, Clif Bars
- By Sunny
