9 Homemade Protein Bars That’ll Actually Keep You Full – For Long
Snacking can easily and quickly become a slippery slope. While snacks to stave off hunger and offer major weight-loss benefits, constantly reaching for fillers in between meals could be detrimental to your diet. We know! At this point, it may feel like nothing you ever do on the nutrition side of life is right. Here’s a solution that will only require you to prep well in advance: a snack so packed with nutrients and satiating protein that you only need one. The protein bars below – packed with seeds, superfoods and nuts – promise to stop mindless eating in its tracks. Also, check out the unique benefits of each bar at the end of each recipe. We dare you to whip up a batch of these babies and you’ll literally be set for days.
READ MORE: The Grab-N-Go Muffins That Make Breakfast A Breeze
Healthy Fats Keep Hunger At Bay
Hunger-Busting Butter Bar
Course Snack
Servings 10Calories 187 kcal
1 Food processorParchment
140 g Rolled oats115 g Almond butter8 Medjool dates, pitted2 Tbsp Flaxseed flour60 ml Water2 Tbsp Chia seeds
Grind the oats in a food processor. Add the remaining ingredients and mix to form a dough. Line a 20x20cm pan with parchment, place the mixture in and press down. Chill in the fridge for about an hour, then cut.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS: 782kJ | 0.7g sat fat | 13.6g sugar
BONUS: Scoffing one of these could make you eat more healthily for the rest of the day: fact. A study published in the European Journal of Nutrition found that a mid-morning snack of almonds increases satiety and, in turn, lets you make healthier food choices. Magic.
Keyword bars, high-protein, snacks
Slow-Release Carbs To The Rescue
Let’s Make A Date Bar
Course Snack
Servings 10Calories 228 kcal
1 Food processor1 Mixing Bowl
200 g Chia seeds1 tsp Raw cacao powder2 tsp Cacao nibs4 Tbsp Coconut oil
Pulse the dates in a processor until they form a paste. Mix in a bowl with the chia seeds, cacao, nibs and oil to form a thick dough. Press into the bottom of a 20x20cm baking tray and cut into squares. Eat right away for a more doughy treat or place in the freezer for one hour for a chewier texture.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS: 957kJ | 5g sat fat | 20g sugar
BONUS: The dates pack a slow-release carb punch to fuel you through your weights session. Plus, they contain vitamin B6, which helps regulate mood, so you’ll sweat happy.
Keyword high-protein, snacks
READ MORE: Here’s Why You Should Eat More Avo – Starting With This Breakfast
Glow Incoming…
You-Look-Soy-Good Bar
Course Snack
Servings 10Calories 335 kcal
1 Mixing Bowl1 Baking tray
100 g Sesame seeds200 g, each Sunflower and pumpkin seeds50 g 50g Flaxseeds3 Tbsp Dark soy or tamari2 Tbsp Olive oil2 Tbsp Honey1 Tbsp Wheatgerm
Preheat oven to 200℃.Place the seeds in a bowl and stir in the soy and oil. Then spread on a tray and toast in the oven at 200°C for five minutes, until the pumpkin seeds are puffed. Leave to cool. Add honey and wheatgerm to the seed mixture. Line a 20x20cm baking tray, put the mixture in and smooth down. Freeze, slice… You know the drill.
NUTRIONAL FACTS: 1 400kJ | 4.1g sat fat | 2g sugar
BONUS: Wheatgerm is a good source of vitamin E, which can boost immunity and keep skin and eyes healthy. Essentially: eat and glow.
Keyword high-protein, snacks
A Nutty Affair
Sunflower Power Bar
Course Snack
Servings 24Calories 188 kcal
1 Food processor1 Mixing Bowl1 Baking tray
135 g Almonds50 g Sunflower seeds70 g Rolled oats5 Medjool dates, pitted and soaked70 g Brazil nuts55 g Pumpkin seeds55 g Sesame seeds2 Tbsp Tahini2 Tbsp Quinoa3 Tbsp Coconut oil3 Tbsp Honey2 Tbsp Maca powder90 g Goji berries
Set your oven to 100°C and dust off your food processor. Put the hazelnuts and almonds in the oven for two minutes, adding the sunflower seeds midway. Blitz the oats, dates, nuts and seeds. Add to a bowl with the rest of the ingredients. Mix by hand then press onto a tray. Freeze for one hour.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS: 786kJ | 3g sat fat | 6g sugar
BONUS: Research found goji berries speed up recovery from sunburn by reducing inflammation. They’re also antioxidant-rich!
Keyword high-protein, snacks
Seeds At Your Service
Hearty Breakfast Bar
PS: This seed bar takes the longest to make as it requires baking time.
Course Snack
Servings 6Calories 349 kcal
140 g Rolled oats50 g Sunflower seed100 g Pumpkin seeds30 g each Almonds and walnuts, chopped50 g Dried cherries, chopped3 ripe Bananas1 tsp Vanilla extract½ tsp Salt½ tsp Cinnamon
Preheat the oven to 180℃ and grease a 20x20cm baking tray.In a large bowl, mix the oats, seeds, nuts and dried fruit. Blend the bananas, vanilla, salt and cinnamon until smooth. Pour the purée into the oat mixture, stir and press into the tray. Bake for 30 minutes, until lightly browned on the edges. Cool, then slice.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS: 1 463kJ| 4g sat fat | 8g sugar
BONUS: A study found that the oil in walnuts reduces risk of heart disease.
Keyword high-protein
Prepare To Be Energised
Chocs-Away Energy Bar
Course Snack
Servings 14Calories 416 kcal
400 g Sesame seeds 175 g Raisins50 g Dried, shredded coconut 65 g Flaxseed flour115 g Tahini115 g Coconut oil120 ml Maple syrup1 tsp Vanilla extract¾ tsp Sea saltFor The Topping2 Tbsp Coconut oil2 Tbsp Maple syrup 2 Tbsp Raw cacao
Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl, then fold in the rest.Press all that into a rectangular tray. Cover and freeze for 1 hour, cut into slices. For the topping, melt the oil and syrup in a pan, add the cacao and mix until a thick liquid forms. Dip half of each bar in the chocolate. Cool then refrigerate for one hour.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS: 1 739kJ | 14.7g sat fat | 15.5g sugar
BONUS: Epicatechin, a compound in cacao, can up energy levels as much as exercise. The possibilities!
Keyword high-protein, snacks
READ MORE: This High-Protein Pizza Has 19 Grams Of Protein (And 9 Grams Of Fibre!)
A Muscle Booster
Flex-Your-Muscles Bar
Course Snack
Servings 15Calories 149 kcal
1 Food processor1 Mixing Bowl
65 g Flaxseed flour65 g Hemp powder140 g Rolled oats 175 g Cranberries115 ml Coconut milk115 g Unsalted peanut butter175 ml Maple syrup (or agave) 1 tsp Vanilla extract
Mix the dry stuff and chuck in a food processor. Stir the wet stuff in a bowl. Now combine wet and dry to become one happy family. Line a 20x30cm baking dish with baking paper and spread the mixture evenly. Leave in the fridge overnight to set, then slice.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS: 627kJ | 4g sat fat | 8g sugar
BONUS: Both flax and hemp seeds are bursting with omega-3, which a Clinical Science UK study found increased muscle- protein levels. Hello, guns.
Inflammation Be Gone
Chia Up, Coconut Bar
Course Snack
Servings 16Calories 229 kcal
1 Food processor1 Mixing Bowl1 Baking tray
160 g Medjool dates, pitted150 g Desiccated coconut175 g Blanched almonds60 g Macadamia nuts60 g Walnuts2 Tbsp Pumpkin seeds 1 Tbsp Chia seeds1 Tbsp Wheatgrass powder½ tsp Vanilla extract½ tsp Matcha powder
Place all the ingredients in a food processor and mix until they form a dough. Line a tray, press the mixture in, smoothing over the surface. Then sprinkle on the coconut. Freeze for an hour, cut into squares, store in mouth, erm, fridge.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS: 957kJ | 6.4g sat fat | 8g sugar
BONUS: Compared with regular green tea, matcha has as much as 137 times the concentration of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) – a powerful antioxidant that exists naturally in several plant-based foods but is also available as a dietary supplement, usually sold as an extract. It is known to help prevent or reduce the risk of various joint diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and bursitis.
Keyword high-protein, snacks
READ MORE: THIS Is The Best Chicken Soup Recipe To Cure A Winter Cold
Behold Your Aphrodisiac
Mac-My-Night Bar
Course Snack
Servings 10Calories 369 kcal
1 Mixing BowlBaking Paper1 Pan
100 g Ground almonds100 g Sunflower seeds100 g Flaxseed flour100 g Pumpkin seeds2 Tbsp Chia seeds2 Tbsp Maca powder90 ml Maple syrup60 ml Coconut oil75 g Almond butter½ tsp Sea salt
Place the dry ingredients in a bowl. Put the wet ones in a pan on a low heat until melted, mixing well. Add to the dry mix. Line a 20x20cm pan with baking paper. Spread in the mixture and pack down tight. Place in the fridge for an hour to set.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS: 1 547kJ | 7.5g sat fat | 7.2g sugar
BONUS: Research from Northumbria University has shown that maca can up male sex drive. Oh, yeah! At worst, he’ll at least have the energy to clean the dishes…
Keyword high-protein, snacks More