Granola bars, snack bars, protein bars… there are so many to choose from at the grocery store - but that doesn’t mean that they’re all made equal.
Many bars advertise “More Fiber!” or “1/3 Less Fat!” But you have to ask yourself what these claims are comparing against. More fiber than what? Less sugar than what?
The thing I notice that irks me so much is the fact that many of these bars, when you turn them over and read the nutrition label, don’t even contain a significant amount of protein! To me, don’t call it a protein bar if there’s less than 10g of protein in it!
So, to make sure you know what you’re eating and getting a significant amount of protein, fiber, and healthy carbs and fats - try making your own bars. Check out this week’s Made Fit TV episode where I show you how to make a cheap, quick recipe of Peanut Butter Protein Granola Bars!
Ingredients: 4 egg whites, 1/4 cup natural peanut butter, 2 cups oats, 1/2 cup baking splenda, 3 scoop protein powder (whey, soy, or egg white protein)
1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2.) Add in all the ingredients in a mixing bowl, stirring until evenly mixed
3.) Dump the entire batter onto a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet
4.) Place a peice of wax paper over the batter and with your hands or a rolling pin, flatten the batter out to about a half-inch thick (it doesn’t have to be a perfect rectangle - any shape will do)
5.) Place in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the big granola bar is golden brown and hard
6.) Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes, cutting up into 10 equal peices
7.) Store leftovers in refrigerator
Nutrition facts:
10 servings
1 serving = 1 bar
145 calories, 5g fat, 13g carbs, .5g sugar, 12g protein
