Print Story Homemade Protein Bars
Health
By alprazolam (Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 12:05:23 AM EST) (all tags)
I started regularly lifting weights regularly about 14 months ago. Having lost over 60 pounds in the previous 9 or so months, I wanted to add on some muscle mass.  I found that since I was lifting at 6 at night, I needed something to eat around 4 in the afternoon to give me some energy. I bought a couple of cheap boxes of protein bars and ate them 3 days a week (days I worked out).  After a while I became aware that these were filled with empty carbohydrates, which while not sugars, weren't at all beneficial to my diet. I didn't want to give up the protein, though. My end decision was to make my own protein bars.


The following recipe makes 6 bars.  This works well if you work out 2 or 3 times a week and need a good pre-workout snack.  Otherwise they'd be a convenient meal replacement.

Ingredients:

7 scoops whey protein powder (I use 6 chocolate and 1 vanilla)
2 cups oats (old fashioned oatmeal)
4 medium bananas
1/4 cup chunky natural peanut butter
1 cup splenda
1 tsp salt
~6 almonds
cinnamon and nutmeg to taste
cooking spray

Start by grinding up 1 cup of the oatmeal in a blender.  Blend for about a minute until you have "oat flour".

Add the oat flour to a large bowl along with the remaining oats, the splenda, salt, and protein powder.  Add in a little cinnamon and nutmeg if so inclined (don't overdo it here). Mix.

Slice the bananas into the blender and puree. Add the almonds (optional) and blend just enough to break them up.  Add the peanut butter and blend just enough to mix. 

Add the banana/peanut butter puree to the dry ingredients and mix well.

Cut 6 pieces of aluminum foil no more than 10 inches wide. Lightly coat the insides with cooking spray. Spoon out the mixture evenly.  Fold each into a bar and put on a cooking sheet.

Bake in a preheated oven at 350 deg F for exactly 16 minutes, 30 seconds. It's absolutely key that you don't cook them longer than this, at least if you're cooking them in my oven. You may have to adjust slightly but the easiest way to ruin this recipe is to overcook the bars and turn them in to dry, hard bricks.  Undercooking will produce an unsatisfyingly gooey bar that doesn't keep. If you are going to keep these bars around for much longer than 10 days, I recommend refrigerating.

Each bar has roughly the following macronutrient profile:

370 calories
 9 grams fat
  2 grams saturated fat
 30 grams carbohydrates
  3.5 grams fiber
 34 grams protein

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Homemade Protein Bars | 23 comments (23 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback
mmmmmmm splenda by dr k (4.00 / 2) #1 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 02:08:39 AM EST
So what's the difference between these neurotic energy bars and simply eating a peanut butter sandwich and a banana for lunch? That is what a normal person would do.

:| :| :| :| :|



34 grams protein by lm (4.00 / 1) #6 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 07:47:21 AM EST
If memory serves me correctly, that's the equivalent of half a jar of peanut butter. (Half of 1 US imperial jar of peanut butter is about 250 grams.)

That's a rather thick sandwich. Not to mention, half a bar of peanut butter would have a lot more fat than these neurotic bars.


There is no more degenerate kind of state than that in which the richest are supposed to be the best.
Cicero, The Republic
[ Parent ]

what makes them neurotic? by alprazolam (4.00 / 1) #9 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 10:48:22 AM EST
Yes the main difference between these and a peanut butter and banana sandwich would be the protein. These are also more portable and will keep at your desk all day, where the sandwich would get gross, quickly. Plus, you can make all six at once, instead of having to do it every day. Basically this isn't supposed to take the place of lunch, it's a "convenient snack" that's really healthy, way healthier than the protein bars people buy from stores.

[ Parent ]

neurotic by tps12 (2.00 / 0) #12 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 12:40:11 PM EST
"Bake for exactly 16:30" is a bit...crazy.

[ Parent ]

I'm opposed to "convenience" by dr k (2.00 / 0) #13 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 03:31:20 PM EST
particularly when it requires me to eat a shit-colored "energy bar" full of artificial sweetener. And you're telling me that sandwiches are gross?

:| :| :| :| :|

[ Parent ]

if you let them sit at your desk for 8 hours by alprazolam (4.00 / 1) #14 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 03:49:35 PM EST
yes, they would get gross. imo. i don't like when the stuff soaks through the bread.

[ Parent ]

do you find it stressful by dr k (2.00 / 0) #15 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 03:53:27 PM EST
when the peas roll a little too close to the mashed potatoes?

:| :| :| :| :|

[ Parent ]

i don't eat mashed potatos by alprazolam (4.00 / 1) #16 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 04:04:35 PM EST
that's pure junk food.

as lm previously mentioned, my bars have way more protein than your sandwiches, way less saturated fat, better carbs and less junk carbs (all bread is junk, even whole wheat bread is only junk with fiber). not to mention the fact that it's impossible for me to keep fresh bananas at home at all times, whereas buying 4 at once and using them the next day is perfectly convenient.

let me guess: being under 10% bodyfat is not one of your top goals.

[ Parent ]

take the splenda out of your recipe by dr k (4.00 / 1) #17 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 04:22:45 PM EST
and we'll have a real conversation about "better" this and "junk" that.

:| :| :| :| :|

[ Parent ]

splenda by alprazolam (2.00 / 0) #18 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 05:07:28 PM EST
zero calories.

[ Parent ]

i don't think that's his point by tps12 (2.00 / 0) #19 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 05:37:24 PM EST
There is a danger of confusing "low calories/fat/carbs" with "healthy" analogous to that of confusing "high IQ" with "intelligent." You're turning your guts into a MENSA meeting!

[ Parent ]

I'm not sure you're right about what's good + bad. by ambrosen (2.00 / 0) #20 Fri Sep 23, 2005 at 06:51:53 AM EST
Also, being under 10% bodyfat is not a goal for me, more of something I can't imagine not being. Getting sufficient energy in me to get through the day is a very important goal in my life, and difficult to attain.

So not everyone's looking at it from the same point of view.

Also, soy. Mmmm.

[ Parent ]

there's nothing wrong with splenda by alprazolam (2.00 / 0) #21 Fri Sep 23, 2005 at 08:52:21 AM EST
if you believe otherwise, you've probably been brainwashed by the sugar industry. what negative effects can 0 calorie foods have on you?

also, you have a point, i am trying to lose fat, not gain weight. although my protein bars provide quite a bit of energy.

[ Parent ]

I wouldn't call 0 calorie things foods, by ambrosen (2.00 / 0) #22 Fri Sep 23, 2005 at 11:50:56 AM EST
more filler.

I didn't actually comment on the splenda, although I presume it is actually in posession of several calories by virtue of the fact that it undoubtedly contains maltodextrin.

Also, carbohydrates are good, as long as they're sufficiently complex and sufficiently low GI, i.e. intermingled with enough fibre.

[ Parent ]

bananas and oatmeal are full of carbs by alprazolam (2.00 / 0) #23 Fri Sep 23, 2005 at 01:43:06 PM EST
non refined carbs, which is a lot better than bread. of course, i am processing 1 cup of the oats anyway, which isn't great. a cup of splenda might have one or two calories. nothing that will impact the overall calorie count though.

carbohydrates maybe "good" for you, but you're not a former fat ass. carbohydrates are an enemy to people like me though.  they must come exclusively from fruits, veggies, and whole grains if i am to lose weight. i have verified this experimentally.

[ Parent ]

WIPO. by black symposium (4.00 / 2) #2 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 03:08:06 AM EST
STEAK!



Seconded by Phage (4.00 / 1) #5 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 04:24:18 AM EST
Dead Cow !

Founder member Golgafrinchan 'B' Ark
[ Parent ]

Any idea on cost per bar? by chuckles (2.00 / 0) #3 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 03:16:11 AM EST
I'd like to know how they compare to the Myoplex bars I currently buy for a bit more than $1 per.

<crazy>I wonder if you could make this in a waffle iron, then cut into strips?</crazy>


Skateboarding is a crime.




pretty cheap by alprazolam (2.00 / 0) #10 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 10:51:48 AM EST
not sure about cost per bar. bananas and oatmeal are cheap, splenda and the peanut butter wouldn't be bad.  the protein powder is gonna be relatively cheap on a per bar level (about a scoop per bar), i get 5lb tubs of whey for about $25 each. so it's probably about a dollar or so, very roughly.

i wouldn't try to cook them any way other than baking them myself, but i'm lazy and hate wasted effort. it could turn out i suppose, but i think they'd get too dry to taste good.

[ Parent ]

WIPO by chuckles (2.00 / 0) #4 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 03:20:32 AM EST
Spirulina

Skateboarding is a crime.




Right On by Bob Abooey (2.00 / 0) #7 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 10:05:23 AM EST
It looks like I may have to buy a blender though. Cause, you know, I don't have a blender. I need one anyways, now that I'm officially a chef and whatnot.

Anyways, I think I'll give them a shot this weekend. I need to order up some more whey protein too.

Warmest regards,
--Your best pal Bob


cool by alprazolam (2.00 / 0) #8 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 10:46:15 AM EST
and yea with a blender you could also make smoothies, and also it's a fairly useful chef tool. hope it goes well.

[ Parent ]

WIPO: Quinoa & Quorn by Gully Foyle (2.00 / 0) #11 Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 11:11:41 AM EST
No meaT



Homemade Protein Bars | 23 comments (23 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback