Pressed for time in the morning? Looking for a quick pre-run boost? Energy bars cater to a busy schedule and can provide the necessary nutrients for sustained energy. However, store-bought energy bars often come with (hidden) sugars and artificial additives. So why not make your own, using nothing but healthy ingredients?
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This nutty recipe is healthy, fast and easy. And what’s more: it requires no baking at all.
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup mixed nuts and seeds (almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, …)
- 1/2 cup dried fruits (dates, apricots, …)
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup protein powder
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- A pinch of sea salt
Rolled oats are whole oat groats which are steamed and then flattened to make them easy to digest. Oats have a high nutritional content, including fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making them a healthy addition to a balanced diet.
7 steps
- Pulse the rolled oats into a crumble with a food processor.
- Add the mixed nuts and seeds, dried fruits, nut butter, protein powder, honey, vanilla extract, and sea salt to the food processor.
- Blend until the mixture forms a sticky, uniform dough.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper and press the mixture evenly into it.
- Let set in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Cut into bars and store them in an airtight container.
Create your own energy bar recipe
Packed with fiber, protein, and natural sugars, these homemade energy bars make for a satisfying and nutritious snack that you can grab throughout the day. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients to tailor the recipe to your liking.
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- Pumpkin and chia seeds, wheatgrass and matcha powder, and coconut are great energy bar ingredients too. Their antioxidants especially work wonders for your immuunsysteem.
- If you want a pick-me-up that’s also hunger-busting, then almond butter, ripe bananas and flax meal are your go-to ingredients.
- A bar that is beneficial for your heart-health, in turn, could contain cacao powder, cacao nibs, dried cherries, cinnamon and coconut oil. Enjoy!
Did you know?
The world’s first energy bar was created by a Canadian long-distance runner named Brian Maxwell and his nutritionist wife Jennifer in their very own kitchen in 1983.