By: Gunsmith Fitness
Protein...you got to have it as far as body building goes, and usually a lot of it! First of all, what is protein and how does it function inside of our bodies? This is important to understand so you have a rudimentary understanding of why and how body building works. Protein is a product of amino acids, and one of the vital building blocks to muscle. It is mostly comprised of nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Without protein in your body, you would not be able to repair broken down muscle tissue and become stronger. The right balance of protein in the body puts you into an anabolic state which allows you to build that muscle that you are looking for. In fact, you couldn't survive as a functioning human being without protein!
It can be hard to reach your daily goal of protein which varies wildly form one person to the next based on your current stats, diet, goals, and activity level. For those who are vegans and vegetarians, it can be even harder since meat is the usual protein source at restaurants and events. It's not uncommon to fall short of your ideal protein intake, especially if you're busy with things like work, chores at home, or taking care of a family. Protein bars are a great option to consider when trying to supplement your protein intake. They're extremely convenient because not only are they delicious, but they're also stable through out a wide range of temperatures, and they're super easy to eat while you're on the go.
Making your own protein bars at home
Did you know that it is super easy to make your own protein bars at home? This is an ideal way to save some money and also exercise some creativity in the kitchen. It's great to be able to make a protein bar that you know you're going to love instead of buying a bunch of different ones to try at the store, some of which you might end up tossing in the trash bin. Not to mention, you can cut out a lot of processed ingredients and preservatives that aren't super beneficial to your body. Once you find a recipe you really love, you can either stick to that or choose to try out a bunch of different flavors, it's up to you. Here is some information brought to you by Gunsmith Fitness on how to make a basic protein bar and then some ideas for flavor profiles so that you can mix it up if you feel so inclined!
Step 1
The first step is to mix equal parts protein powder and flour together. You want to choose a flour that is safe to eat raw! You can't go wrong with coconut, almond, quinoa, or oat flour. However, the options are limitless. You could also use something like banana or buckwheat flour as well! It might take some experimentation to find a texture of flour that works for you.
Step 2
The second thing you're going to want to do is bind the flour and protein powder mixture with a liquid. Milk is the best choice as far as flavor goes! If you're vegan or lactose intolerant, it is perfectly fine to use milk like coconut, almond, or soy. You can try out different types and see what tastes the best! You can also add in a nut butter at this point to help with the binding process if you're looking for that type of flavor profile, or whatever other ingredients you want to add in. The consistency should resemble cookie dough at this point, it's important to be able to shape it into bars that do not fall apart. If you find the batter is too dry to work with, add more liquid or nut butter. If it's too wet, you can add in more of the chosen flour that you're using.
Step 3
The last step is to coat your bars in chocolate! You'll do this by melting down chips in a double boiler on the stove. You'll enjoy benefits of antioxidants if you go with a dark chocolate, but it's completely up to you. After that, it's time for the bars to cool in the fridge or freezer for half an hour. Then you can enjoy your protein bars whenever!
Here are some awesome flavor profile ideas for some amazing protein bars!
- Toasted coconut and vanilla extract
- Orange and dark chocolate
- Pumpkin with pumpkin seeds and white chocolate
- Peppermint and chocolate
- Cinnamon oatmeal and white chocolate
- Pretzel and chocolate chips
- Cherry chocolate chip
- S'mores style with graham cracker and chocolate