Author: JD

by Vanessa Simmons Nothing refreshes or energizes me more than a good workout! On busy days when I’m zooming from the gym to somewhere else without time to stop and cook a meal, I like to snack on things that replenish my body and aren’t loaded with sugars or artificial ingredients. I stumbled across this recipe for High Protein Oatmeal Bars onVegWeb.com and just had to share – they’re loaded with protein and seem so easy to make. I can’t wait to try them! High Protein Oatmeal Bars Ingredients: 3 1/2 cups oats (quick or old fashioned) 1 1/2 cups powdered soy milk 4 scoops vanilla soy protein vegan equivalent of two eggs 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/4 cup water 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup sugar-free maple syrup (any sweetener will do) Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a large bowl, mixtogether oats, soymilk and soy protein. In a medium bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients. Pour wet ingredients over dry and mix with a wooden spoon until uniformly moist. The batter will be very thick like stiff cookie dough. 2. Dump into a 9X12 baking pan that has been greased with non-stick cooking spray (or marg, whatever you have) and spread into an even layer. The dough will be stiff and hard to work with but effort will pay off 🙂 3. Bake in oven for 15 minutes or so, or until lightly brown around the edges. The dough will not change shape at all during the baking process. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before cutting into 10 individual bars. Wrap each bar individually and store in the refrigerator for a quick snack anytime. *Note: This is a basic recipe that can easily be altered. They are not sweet so dried fruit and nuts will turn these into a sweet treat. If you wish to increase the protein content, just replace some of the soymilk with equal amounts of soy protein. Additional water may be needed. The finished product should be very chewy and thick like a dense brownie. They are very satisfying and very healthy. Great for athletes. Enjoy! What are some other healthy snacks you like to eat after working out? Share them in the comments below! XOXO, Vanessa