Okay, I am in that postpartum stage where I need to prioritize protein and make sure my calories are up while I nurse my son! These totally hit the spot. I have been working with Just Ingredients this year because I love what they stand for. Before the founder started just ingredients, her entire platform on social media was discussing ingredients in food and how to make better swaps on the shelf for more meaningful nutrition or lower toxins in personal products. Her social media still does this and it really has helped me shop my groceries. She started Just Ingredients and everything that I have tried as been truly so delicious. There isn't any sugar and no weird after taste with the stevia. I have tried so many protein powders and I am telling you, this is one my entire family loves. The ingredients are so simple, so clean, and very tasty. In the evenings, my son has made a habit of making himself a protein shake before bed with some raw milk almost every night. It has been a great option that he can make himself and not dirty up the kitchen after I have cleaned it after dinner.
And my kids are obsessed with these protein bars. Every variety I have made, they have just gone nuts over. And what is nice is that each little square has around 13 grams of protein. I have been using these cellophane bags and individually bagging them and keeping in my fridge for them to grab and go!
I have put them in their lunchboxes for their treat. I have brought them for a pre-workout or post-workout snack. They are solid and I know you will love them.
And I want to go into all the benefits of fresh flaked groats but I have already broken my one paragraph rule in this blog post. So I'll make an instagram reel about it instead.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Protein Bars
makes 12 squares
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh rolled oats (see note)
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup hemp hearts
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
3/4 cup milk chocolate
Note:
*I have used the chocolate protein, chocolate peanut butter, and the vanilla bean flavors by Just Ingredients for this recipe and all have been wonderful. I have a discount code " Michal10" if you decide to try any of them!
*If you don't have an oat flaker, you can absolutely use rolled oats in place of the fresh rolled oats.
Directions:
Roll the oat groats. 1 cup of oat groats will give you 2 cups of oats. Add the oats, salt, hemp hearts, protein powder in a large bowl and stir together. Add the peanut butter, honey, and vanilla bean paste. Mix together with a fork or spoon and then I mix by hand. I can get it incorporated very well with my hand.
Line an 8X8 square pan with parchment paper, this pan is my favorite. Press the protein dough into the pan evenly. You can use your hands or a pie tamper. I use a tamper.
Melt the milk chocolate in a small bowl and spread it out evenly on top of the dough. Chill the protein bars for 30 minutes in the refrigerator for the chocolate to set. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Cut into 12 bars and enjoy!
-Michal