Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Protein Bars

Why not try making your own protein bars? Not only do they taste amazingly, but they’re simple to make and give you the protein you want. Plus, the recipe is easy to customize, so you can make your bars to your taste preferences; leave out the ingredients you don’t like, avoid allergens, substitute sugar with Splenda or Truvia, use whole grains, or add real nuts or dried fruit to your bars (I’m thinking about adding a bit of Nutella next time)! Making your own power bars lets you decide what goes in the bar you’re eating and what doesn’t. You can cut all those long-named chemical ingredients that you can’t even pronounce! Here’s a great recipe to make your own protein bars:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Protein Bars

• Cooking oil spray
• ½ cup plain oatmeal (quick oats, not instant)
• ½ cup unsweetened soymilk
• ¼ cup egg whites (2 whites)
• ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 scoop chocolate whey protein powder (1/3 cup)
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ cup milled flaxseed
• 2 tablespoons white whole wheat flour or whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• ³/₄ teaspoons baking powder
• ¹/₈ teaspoon salt 
• 6 tablespoons natural peanut butter

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8×8″ pan with cooking oil spray.
2. In a microwave safe bowl, combine oats and milk; cook in microwave for 60 seconds. Stir and allow to cool; mix in egg whites and vanilla.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the whey protein, sugar, flaxseed, flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
4. Add oatmeal mixture to dry ingredients; mix just until everything is moist. Spread batter in pan.
5. Place peanut butter in microwave safe bowl and heat for 45 seconds or until melted. Spoon peanut butter over batter in pan and swirl with knife tip.
6. Bake for 10 minutes; allow to cool completely before cutting into 6 bars. Wrap each individually in plastic wrap and store in the freezer or refrigerator. Unwrap and microwave 30 seconds to warm.

Makes 6 servings
Per serving: 195 calories, 11 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 14 g total carbohydrate, 4 g dietary fiber, 12 g protein, 218 mg sodium.