How to Make Your Own Protein Bars

Protein bars are super convenient, but they’re not always the best option for fueling up after a workout or snacking during the day. For one thing they can get kind of pricy, and also some of them are full of ingredients that you don’t need. Have you ever noticed how much sugar is in some of those bad boys? Don’t even get us started on preservatives.  But no worries, you can just make your own!

You’re in total control when it comes to ingredients, which should be fun not daunting. Generally you’ll want to pick some ingredients from a few different categories, including a grain, proteins, and any flavors you’re interested in.

When it comes to grains, keep them whole and unprocessed. Good options are whole grain oats, quinoa, amaranth, wheat germ, and millet. Quinoa is actually a great source of protein as for as vegetarian sources go. Millet is fun because when it’s toasted it gets crunchy. No soggy bars here.

As for protein, using your favorite protein powder is an easy move. (Plus this generally adds in some flavor.) Nuts and seeds are also good additions and will beef up the fat profile a bit to keep you feeling fuller longer.

When you’re looking for more flavor, always try to go with options that aren’t going to increase the calorie count too much. Cacao nibs are a good alternative to chocolate since they don’t have any sugar added but still give a chocolatey taste and a boost of antioxidants as an extra. Baking spices can also add a lot of flavor to your protein bars, or even fruit zests for a fresher taste.

Here’s one recipe to try out, and then you can get as creative as you want. This recipe should make around 16 bars, and it doesn’t require any baking so it’s pretty easy. Of course you can substitute in any of the other grain options, or the type of nut butter, or some other sweetener besides honey.

Ingredients

2 cups dry old fashioned oatmeal

1 cup natural unsweetened peanut butter

1 1/2 cups whey protein powder

1/2 cup low fat milk

1 tablespoon honey

Directions

1. Take a pot and combine together the peanut butter, honey and milk.

2.  Heat this up over a low heat, then add in the protein powder and mix everything up real good.

3. Next you will add in the oats. The goal is not to cook everything through but to heat it up enough so that you can stir it to mix it evenly. If it’s too hard to stir you can always add in a little more milk.

4. Then you’re ready to transfer everything into a baking pan, where you will press everything down evenly. When the bars cool you can slice them and wrap them individually. Toss them in the refrigerator to last you the whole week.