Delicious & Nutritious Protein Bars!

Is protein powder all it's built up to be?
Recently I have been following a set of workouts on a website called bodyrock.tv (they are VERY intense!) and stumbled upon a delicious recipe for protein bars that i tried out last night. It is very simple and takes no time at all to prepare so I decided to share it with you guys! Studies have shown that an individual does not require the large amount of protein that is in protein powder, and that majority of it is excreted by your body and not used. However, there are benefits to consuming protein right after you have an intensive workout that relate to helping repair and build your muscles. After taking many courses that have covered this topic, I personally do not believe that there are extensive benefits to using protein powder unless you are a professional athlete, or short on time after your workout and unable to make a meal that is high in protein. Since majority of people these days are short on time, these protein bars may actually be a great idea as they are loaded with carbohydrates and protein, perfect for a post-workout meal! By re-fueling with one of these bars you are also less likely to over-eat later on in the day. Many people either feel like they want to "reward" themselves after a hard workout with sweets or fatty foods, or experience a "crash" a few hours after working out, feel very hungry and end up eating more then they normally would. This said, unless your goal is to gain weight, only eat these bars after a workout as they are high in carbohydrates. Enjoy!


Protein Bar Recipe

1 and 1/2 cups of nut meal (about 60g) [I used ground almonds]

 3 cups of oats (about 120 grams)

 2 table spoons of honey

 1 small cup of coconut milk 

 1/2 cup of shredded coconut

 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

 3 scoops of vanilla flavoured protein powder [I used chocolate flavoured protein powder and they tasted amazing]

I also added 2 tablespoons of natural peanut butter 

Spread the mixture into a non-stick baking sheet (small) and bake it in the oven for about 15 – 20 minutes until the top is nicely brown.

Note: Nut meal is basically blended nuts. Just take two cups of mixed nuts and blend them in your food processor into a powder.

Be sure to check out some of the intense workouts posted on the site as well as other recipe ideas. Just a note for people who have not worked out in a long time or are new to working out: start with modified beginner versions of these workouts as they can be quite strenuous on your joints if you are not used to them, and ALWAYS begin with a warm-up and end with a cool-down!

The Bodyrock fitness guru herself!