Vegan Protein Bar with Peanut Butter and Chocolate

You can be bummed about returning to routine until Hanukkah, but I'm absolutely loving this period.

Finally, I can get back to my favorite nutrition routine, set new goals, and actually start doing everything I postponed for "after the holidays."

That's it, no more procrastinating.

So this morning, right after my coffee, I sat down and made a long list of all the tasks waiting for me.

One of those tasks was to prepare a vegan protein bar that I can take to classes or the office, instead of carrying a shaker and protein powder in a bag.

This bar also hits the spot when I'm craving something sweet (hello, 4 PM cravings) with my coffee.

Now, you're probably asking: is it mandatory to consume protein bars or protein powders if I work out?

My answer is always: absolutely not mandatory and not always necessary. It highly depends on your goals, needs, and nutritional routine.

I always, always recommend that it's better for all daily protein to come from whole foods (because we also get a wide range of essential nutrients, besides protein), but there’s no harm in supplementing occasionally with a vegan protein powder or protein bar.

A Bit About the Vegan Protein Bar

So this crazy bar is based on 2 gluten-free flours with wonderful nutritional values: almond flour and soy flour. Both contain a high amount of protein and a relatively low amount of carbohydrates.

Almond flour has a delicate flavor and blends perfectly into baked goods, while soy flour has a strong, dominant flavor, which is why I usually combine it with other flours.

Take note (so you don't say I didn't warn you): soy flour has a characteristic taste that not everyone likes, but in my opinion, the peanut butter and chocolate mask it very well.

If you absolutely love soy flour, you can increase its ratio relative to the almond flour. This will also save you a few shekels, as almond flour is more expensive.

And if you're a fan of other unconventional flours, try replacing some of the flour with chickpea flour. Be warned: it also has a very dominant and characteristic taste (for fans of the genre).

I also added 2 scoops of vanilla-flavored soy protein powder. If you don't have any, you can skip it and add 30g more of each flour (60g total).

For this recipe, use the firm/natural-style peanut butter.

If you want to replace the peanut butter (someone is holding a gun to your head, right?), swap it for the same amount of almond butter or raw tahini.

Nutritional Values by Clinical Dietitian and Fitness Coach Noam Bechar:

One 50g bar out of 12 bars will contain:

• 246 kcal
• 15g protein
• 16g carbs
• 13g fat

Want another protein snack recipe? Click here