Protein bars are bad for you sorta - Alternatives

I was channel surfing when i saw Alton Brown making protein bars on Food Network. He talked about what is actually in a protein bar and how they really are not that healthy for you.

Many protein bars contain Palm Oil, which keeps them wet and moist. Palm Oil also happens to be the only 100% saturated fat oil that remains a liquid at room temperature. wow. He also showed the nutritional information for health bars and compared them to his homemade ones (which completely owned the factory ones).

suprisingly, they are really easy to make (and they actually taste good!)

here they are:
protein bar
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_31336,00.html?rsrc=search
Rice crispy bar
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_31334,00.html
granola bar
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_31335,00.html

enjoy!

I wasn't a fan of alton's protein bars. The rice crispy and the protein weren't that good for me, but the granola was okay.

I'm more partial to the recipe that I've gone with for a while now:


5 tbsp natural peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
1/2 cup dry oat meal or whole grain hot cereal (uncooked)
1/2 cup oat flour (double the dry oats if you do not have oat flour)
6 scoops chocolate whey protein (approximately 132 grams worth of low-carb protein powder)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons flax seeds (optional)
1 cup non-fat dry milk
1/2 cup water (depending on what type of protein you use, you may need to add more)
Modifications: Use vanilla protein and replace ~1/4 cup of the oatflour with a variety of nuts, seeds, or dried berries.
PREPARATION:

Spray an 8x8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Combine dry ingredients in a medium size bowl and mix well. Add peanut butter and mix - the mixture will be crumbly and dry. Add water & vanilla. Sponsored Links

Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, everything until a dough forms. The dough will be sticky. Spread dough into pan using a clean wooden spoon or spatula that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Refrigerate a few hours (or freeze for an hour) and cut into 9 squares. Wrap bars individually (use sandwich bags or plastic wrap) or store in covered container between sheets of wax paper. Keep refrigerated.
Nutritional Information Per Serving:

197 calories, 21 g protein, 7.2 g fat (8% saturated), 13.7 g carbohydrate, 1.6 g fiber

why not just have protein shakes instead?

tennis_nerd22 said:

why not just have protein shakes instead?

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taking a protein shake with you on the court can be a little hard, especially in hot weather

Bodacious DVT said:

taking a protein shake with you on the court can be a little hard, especially in hot weather

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Just stick it in the freezer for an hour or so before playing. It's certainly easier than baking protein bars from scratch-why go to all the trouble? Eat some chicken, drink a glass of milk, but I don't see the point of making protein bars...

i never eat protein bars...but cool receipes.

xtremerunnerars said:

Spray an 8x8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Combine dry ingredients in a medium size bowl and mix well. Add peanut butter and mix - the mixture will be crumbly and dry. Add water & vanilla. Sponsored Links

Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, everything until a dough forms. The dough will be sticky. Spread dough into pan using a clean wooden spoon or spatula that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Refrigerate a few hours (or freeze for an hour) and cut into 9 squares. Wrap bars individually (use sandwich bags or plastic wrap) or store in covered container between sheets of wax paper. Keep refrigerated.

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Wait a minute, you went from dough phase to the fridge without baking. How long do I bake? Temp?

Bodacious DVT said:

taking a protein shake with you on the court can be a little hard, especially in hot weather

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oh ok so this is for matches... i thought it was just for body-building in general.

Phil said:

Just stick it in the freezer for an hour or so before playing. It's certainly easier than baking protein bars from scratch-why go to all the trouble? Eat some chicken, drink a glass of milk, but I don't see the point of making protein bars...

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i'd still do that though, sounds easier than making my own bars.. but maybe the bars would taste good, lol

Phil said:

Just stick it in the freezer for an hour or so before playing. It's certainly easier than baking protein bars from scratch-why go to all the trouble? Eat some chicken, drink a glass of milk, but I don't see the point of making protein bars...

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I have yet to see a tennis player eating chicken and milk courtside, but hey whatever works for you:smile:

You can save yourself effort and time by buying a vacuum flask(keeps food hot or cold) then filling it with a protein shake or Phil's chicken bits.

johnny ballgame said:

Wait a minute, you went from dough phase to the fridge without baking. How long do I bake? Temp?

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you don't bake em.