Recipes : 2 Protein Packed Bars

Good Mornin' everyone!  It is *Fall* today in Minnesota and I couldn't be happier!  I love the crisp, cool air that comes with the season.  It's so refreshing!

Today I want to share two of my recipes for protein bars.  One is a chewy granola bar (similar to a Cliff bar with TONS more flavor!) and the other is a bar that tastes like cake but contains SPINACH!   I know- craziness, right?!

I don't know about the rest of you- but some days I get a serious sweet tooth.  I think it's really important to have healthy options around the house to fulfill those cravings.  Added bonus- Not only are you satisfied- but your body gets the nutrients it needs!

I prefer to make my bars at home rather than buying them in the store.  Have you looked at some of the ingredients on your favorite bars?  Half of them I can't pronounce!  Why would I want to put something into my body if I don't know what it is?  Making my bars at home gives me total control- plus it is FUN!

These chewy granola bars are *no bake* and super easy to make!

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Honey

1/2 Cup Natural Peanut Butter (or your favorite nut butter)

1/4 Cup Organic Maple Syrup

1/4 Cup Original Almond Milk

2 Scoops Vanilla Protein (Syntha-6 is my favorite!)

2 TBSP Ground Flax

1 TBSP Cinnamon

1 1/4 Cup Rolled Oats

1/4 Cup Grapenuts (Or any crunchy cereal)

2 TBSP Craisins (Or any dried fruit!)

2 TBSP Sliced Almonds

2 TBSP Chia Seeds

Directions:

Add the wet ingredients to your bowl first.  Mix thoroughly.

Next add your protein, flax and cinnamon.  Mix again.

Lastly, add the oats, cereal, dried fruit, sliced almonds and chia seeds.  Mix well.

Press mixture into an 8x8 pan, cover and refrigerate for 4-6 hours.

Slice bars.

Depending on how many bars you cut- I cut 8- will depend on how much protein is in each bar.  You are looking at around 6-7 grams of lean protein!  Awesome!

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This next bar is something I've wanted to do for awhile. 

Ingredients:

2 Cups Spinach

1 Banana (sliced)

1/4 Cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce

1/2 Cup Almond Milk

3 Scoops Vanilla Protein (I prefer Syntha-6)

1/3 Cup Whole Wheat Flour

1 TBSP Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Stevia

1 Cup Slivered Almonds

Directions:

To a blender or food processor, add spinach, banana, applesauce and almond milk.  Blend until smooth.  

Add to a mixing bowl.

Mix in protein, flour, cinnamon and Stevia.

Lastly, add slivered almonds.

(Coconut would also be a great addition or substitution)

In  a 350 degree oven, bake for 25 minutes. 

I used a 9x11 pan- but this recipe is to your discretion- something smaller will give you thicker bars.

These bars taste like cake!  But, they are packed with tons of healthy stuff!  You are adding 66 grams of lean protein to the batter when mixing in the 3 scoops of protein.

This takes healthy snacking to a new level!

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I hope you guys enjoy these recipes!  I plan on sharing more in the future!  If you have a recipe that you think I would like- I would LOVE to hear about it!  Shoot me an email at:

azia (dot) archer (at) gmail (dot) com

Reminder- Mama's Got A Big Belly is hosting it's first *Giveaway* Yay!  You can enter until Sunday night.  If you'd like to try Advocare Spark-  head over here and enter to win!