One of the first things you probably do after a workout is grab a protein bar or smoothie. Sometimes our gyms don't have juice bars available to us which makes the former an easier choice. It is important to feed your body during that two hour gap post-workout as you recover. However, my problem with protein bars is that many of them are deceivingly unhealthy.
Our first thought when we see a protein bar is that it will help us lose weight, gain muscle, and not break our diet. The truth is: many of them can do quite the opposite and sabotage your weight loss or fitness goals. The great news is I came up with an EASY recipe that won't have you worrying about these problems at all.
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The other issue with protein bars is that some just taste gross. No one likes feeling like they are chewing on cardboard especially when they're looking to lose some pounds. While researching and experimenting I found a great way to get your protein fill post workouts, without the worry of too many fats, sugars, questionable sugar alcohols or not enough fiber.
I came up with a twist on protein bars and created no-bake protein cookies that are perfect to snack on or have after a workout! And yes, there is lots of CHOCOLATE!
Check out my go-to recipe below:
Ingredients:
5 tablespoons of almond butter (or peanut butter)
1 tablespoon of chia seeds
1/2 a tablespoon of flax seeds
2 tablespoons of shredded coconut
2 tablespoons of cacao nibs
1/2 a tablespoon of cacao powder
1 scoop of protein powder of your choice
1 tablespoon of rolled oats
2 tablespoons of coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon (or your favorite spice)
Directions:
Mix all of the ingredients together until the consistency is thick and blended well. If it is too watery add more of the dry ingredients such as the oats to thicken the consistency. If it is too thick and could use more moisture add a little more coconut oil. Once you've done that, prepare trays with wax paper and scoop a spoonful of the mix and pour it onto the paper. Do the same for the rest of the mixture and make sure to space them out to prevent them from sticking together. Finally, place them in the fridge and let set for a few hours or overnight. Store in a container in the fridge afterwards to keep the cookies solid.
Image via Giselle Castro
