Sweet, too. Did I mention we need something sweet?
I originally wanted to have a quick snack that I could pack for Georgia in her diaper bag, as I'm trying to avoid the sugar-coated, highly refined foods that are all too often considered snack food. I've had a few people ask me about whole-foods snacks for kiddos, and thus far (I'm only a year in remember...) we've found that these snack options work great for G-baby on the go:
- Dried fruit (homemade) cut into little pieces
- Raw cheese, cut into little bite-size squares
- Cucumber, skin removed, cut into bite-size pieces
- Cherry tomatoes, quartered
- Grapes, quartered
- Soaked whole wheat bread or soaked waffles, torn into little pieces
- Soaked & cooked beans (she loves these!)
- Bananas, cut into pieces
- ...and introducing....homemade protein bars!
I made these last week and we've all been enjoying them for the past few days (especially G baby...it's like dessert!). They also serve as a perfect snack in Stuart's lunches - quick, easy, & full of goodness. These took me approximately ten minutes to make - next time, I may even double it so we can enjoy them for even longer! Plus, it would save me dishes. Aren't I efficient?!
Homemade Protein Bars
You will need:
- 2 cups raw almonds (soaked & dehydrated is best)
- 1/2 cup ground flax seed
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
- 1/2 cup almond butter or peanut butter (watch those added ingredients!)
- 1/2 cup coconut oil or a melted high-quality butter
- 1/4 cup raw honey or rapadura
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2-4 tablespoons cocoa powder or carob powder OR 1 cup dark chocolate chips, melted
Step One: In your food processor, mix together the almonds, salt, ground flax seed, coconut, and peanut butter or almond butter. Pulse, pulse, pulse until just combined.
Step Two: Mix together the coconut oil or butter and vanilla together in a saucepan and gently melt. Then, pour this into the almond mixture...Pulse, pulse, pulse a few times to get it all mixed.
Step Three: Add in your honey or rapadura. If you use honey, the bars will be a little more gooey - though you could increase the amount of almonds & flax slightly to compensate for this. Feel free to decrease the amount of sweetener to your personal taste preferences. Pulse a few more times.
Step Four: Pour the almond mixture into a greased baking pan, smooshing it down with the back of a spoon.
Step Five: After the mixture is spread evenly, sprinkle the top of the bars with either cocoa powder, carob powder, or smear the top with melted dark chocolate chips. Mmmm.
Step Six: Refrigerate the bars for thirty minutes or so to help them set up. Then, cut them to the desired size and enjoy!
Next time I make these, I might even try shaping them into little individual bars on a cookie sheet! Or maybe I'll use a cookie cutter and shape them into hearts! Or clovers! Or rainbows!
Ok.
I probably won't do that.
But what I will do is gladly eat these bars. They are rich in healthy fats and downright delicious. Just my style.
Give 'em a try and let me know what you think! As usual, that's an order, not an option.
And Amen.
This post part of Fat Tuesday!
