protein

DIY Protein Bar make your own:Video

Have you ever considered making your own protein bars? I used to buy them and eventually stopped because of the costs and because many of the ones I tried just didn’t taste very good. Then I started reading the labels and thought WOW that’s a lot of sugar! Then I saw this youtube video last year:

There are several advantages to making them yourself:

* No preservatives
* Lower in sugar
* You can add your favorite ingredients (protein powder, nuts, dried fruit, etc.)
* High fiber
* Lower in fat
* Costs much less than store brands

Looking for something to take with you on the road, or a snack to munch at your desk? Forget about those awful Powerbars and other various “healthy protein” bars. Granola bars are OK, but they don’t have much protein. High quality protein bars are available at the store, but for $5 a pop! We are looking for something cheap and easy, and here it is. Do-it-yourself, homemade protein bars.

Homemade Protein Bars
The Recipe

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 scoops protein powder

1 egg whites or 1 egg

2 tablespoon orange juice and water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup raisins, dried fruit (cranberries) or dieters trail mix (almonds,flax seed or sunflower seeds)

2 tablespoon wheat germ and fiber

Sugar free syrup (this gets the mix to a sticky consistency about 2-3 tablespoons)

Start by preheating the oven to 325 degrees. Line baking dish with non-stick butter flavored Pam spray. In a large metal bowl, mix all the ingredients until the oats are well coated (sticky). Spread the mix onto the pan and press down to make it flat so you can separate them into 10 protein bars later. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. While still warm, cut them apart and allow to cool before wrapping.

The bars can be stored airtight at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Use these as a afternoon snack, they are a good protein/carb/fat balanced meal!

Snack of the Week: Hard Boiled Eggs

Eggs are one of my all time favorite foods, are often completely misunderstood, and have a special place in my heart. In their entirety (meaning the whole egg) they are one of nature’s most perfect foods. Eggs are not only for breakfast. They are a great source of protein, They’re a good bang for your buck and pound for pound do more for you than any other food. They can go well with your snack preparations. You can easily prepare a hard-boiled egg with a piece of toast. Just be sure to choose the flax or wheat bread so you are completely low carb. After boling them I dump them in ice water to stop the cooking process. (this prevents that ugly gray color around the yolk). You can also prepare hard-boiled egg halves. Put it in a container and store it in the refrigerator. You can easily grab some when you feel like munching on something good.

Personally I’m an egg white freak. I feel like I can eat these guilt free with spinach, parsley or some other veggie. But thats another story. Facts below…