How to Make Homemade Protein Bars: The Nutrition Bar Formula that Ended my PowerBar Addiction

My name is Susan, and I’m an nutrition bar addict.
I can’t help it! They’re just so quick. And convenient. And tasty.
But, like most things that come in a shiny foil wrapper, they’re not the healthiest. Though many boast a mega-punch of protein, added vitamins/minerals and antioxidants, it’s hard to find a protein bar that doesn’t have added sweeteners, preservatives or even trans fats. If you’re allergic to nuts, sensitive to gluten or a vegan who doesn’t eat dairy products, the list of nutrition bars to choose from grows even shorter!
Here’s the secret the manufacturers don’t want you to know: It’s not that hard to make your own homemade protein bars. It’s much healthier, too! My friend Christine, who writes many of the baked-goods recipes for No Meat Athlete, has a knack for creating unique and ahhh-mazing vegan treats. You’d be surprised what she can do with a can of beans—and no, I’m not exaggerating. She’s got a talent for incorporating weird-but-healthy ingredients into tasty morsels: Beans into brownies, avocado into chocolate mousse and cauliflower into cookies.
The secret to homemade-protein-bar greatness, she says, is to have a formula. Using a base formula allows you to add your own little flair to your nutrition bar recipe depending on your mood, the season, and the ingredients you have on hand. The result is a tasty, protein-packed energy bar you can feel good about eating.
Next: The Recipe.