I get asked about bars a lot, specially protein bars. There are a bazillion on the shelves and knowing which one is good or not is a daunting task! Well, reading the labels is always a good starting place, but it can still be tricky. Unfortunately there are more bad ones than good, with a lot of added sugars and unnecessary ingredients. While there are some very good bars out there like RxBar, Lara Bar or GoMacro Bar, they are still bars and should only be eaten when you’re in a crunch. Getting your nutrition from whole food that is fresh is always your best bet. But let’s be honest, we don’t always have time for that. They can also get pricy buying them all the time, so I like to make my own and store them for those last minute grab-and-go situations. They require very little cooking if any, they freeze well and are squeaky clean w/ a shit ton of nutrition! Below are two simple protein bar recipes. One, made with gluten free oats, the other with almond flour, making those paleo friendly and grain-free. Hope you enjoy!

Gluten Free

Serving size: 12-14 bars

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 2 minutes

Total time: 7 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups gluten free oats
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/4 cup chia seed
1/2 cup collagen peptides
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup cashew butter
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup raw honey
handful or cacao nibs for topping

Instructions⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

1. Take 1 1/2 cup of oats and blend until flour is created, leave 1/2 cup oats as is. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl
2. In a small sauce pan mix wet ingredients, melt on low heat until all softened and blended
3. Dump mixed, wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until dough like texture is formed. You can use left over coconut milk if it is too dry
4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, spray with oil (avocado or coconut) and pour dough onto it
5. Use your hands or spatula to spread mixture until even and sprinkle with cacao nibs for some extra sweetness and crunch
6. Pop in the freezer for about 1 hour until hardened. Pull out, lift parchment paper and place on cutting board. Cut bars into desired pieces, store in fridge OR freezer for 2 weeks!

Paleo Grain Free

IMG_1520.JPG-homemade-collagen-protein-bars-grain-free-paleo

Serving size: 12-14 bars

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 2 minutes

Total time: 7 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 cup raw almonds, blended
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/4 cup chia seed
1/2 cup collagen peptides
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup cashew butter
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup raw honey
handful of cacao nibs & pumpkin seeds for topping

Instructions⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

1. Take 1/2 cup of raw almonds and blended until roughly “chopped:. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl
2. In a small sauce pan mix wet ingredients, melt on low heat until all softened and blended
3. Dump mixed, wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until dough like texture is formed. You can use left over coconut milk if it is too dry
4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, spray with oil (avocado or coconut) and pour dough onto it
5. Use your hands or spatula to spread mixture until even and sprinkle with cacao nibs & pumpkin seeds for some extra sweetness, crunch & nutritional punch
6. Pop in the freezer for about 1 hour until hardened. Pull out, lift parchment paper and place on cutting board. Cut bars into desired pieces, store in fridge OR freezer for 2 weeks!

Peace & Clean Eats,

Kaylee