I get really hungry 2 times a day: Mid-morning, and late-afternoon. I've also recently taken up running...and if I don't eat a snack during these two times of the day, I'm going to be pretty slow during my workout.
I also recently found it much cheaper and not difficult to make my own Lara Bars. My favorite is the Cashew Cookie. So I decided to try making something with a bit more fiber and protein.
Mir's Energy Bars
2 cups rolled oats
4 Tbsp. Hemp Seeds
4 Tbsp. Chia Seeds
2 Packets (30g) unflavored Rice Protein Powder (or your favorite protein powder)
1 cup Raw Cashews
1 & 3/4 cups pitted Medjool Dates
1/2 cup Rice Milk, any flavor (or your favorite non-dairy milk)
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/4 Sun Flower Seeds (optional)
Line a brownie pan with parchment paper. Put Oats, Hemp Seeds, Chia Seeds, Rice Protein, and Cashews into blender. Pulse on high until oats are not quite a powder and cashews are broken down. Place half of mixture into bowl and set aside. Add half of pitted dates, half of rice milk, and vanilla extract. Pulse until dates and dry mixture mix into a dough-isn like consistency. Add remaining dry ingredients from bowl, dates, and rice milk. Pulse again until everything forms into a sticky, dough consistency. (If you need to add more liquid, add 1-2 Tbsp. rice milk at a time). Remove mixture from blender, and firmly press into parchment-lined brownie pan until evenly spread. Sprinkle Sun Flower seeds on top and pushed firmly into the brownie pan mixture. Place in fridge until set. Cut into bars and wrap in wax paper. Store in fridge until ready to eat.
