Homemade Quest Inspired Protein Bars

In the fitness and fitspo "world" Quest bars are all the rage. Not only do they pack lots of protein, they are low in carbohydrates, and they taste amazing! I discovered quest bars about two years ago when I spent a lot of time weight lifting (ahh lets reminisce for a moment on the pre-baby days when I got to spend lots of time at the gym.. we can reminisce for a moment right???)

I loved (and still love) quest bars. I used to warm mine up and they would remind me of a fresh baked ooey gooey chocolate chip cookie! They are an easy snack if I'm running out the door to an appointment or simply forgot to eat something because I am chasing around my toddler all day. When it comes to breastfeeding, it is really important that you watch the way you eat. You need to make sure you're eating enough for yourself and for you to produce milk for your little one! 

Like I said, I love quest bars but I'm on a strict budget right now-- so I don't really like the price. So I set out on a mission to make some type of protein bar at home. I made a few different recipes, but everything left me longing for my questies. 

So I decided to go back to the basics! I ordered a bottle of Vitafiber IMO, (a prebiotic sweetener that is GMO free and commonly used it protein bars) so that I could play around and see if I could come up with a good recipe. I finally came up with a good recipe but because there is a lot of controversy about IMO being safe and natural, I decided I should come up with a secondary recipe that did not include IMO-- I personally like the second recipe more!

**I have read conflicting reports about whether or not IMO are safe and good for you. I created the second recipe because I would really like to look into it further. I recommend looking into IMOs and deciding for yourself if they work well in your nutrition program. At this point, I personally won't fully rule them out, but I will continue my research and look into it further. Almost all of the popular protein bars out there have Vitafiber (or another brand) of IMO in the ingredients because it is low in calorie, can be found naturally (it is usually extracted from tapioca), and can make for a high protein low carb option for athletes. As always consult your fitness nutritionist, naturopath, doctor, and/or nutritionist before starting adding any type of supplements!

The calories are higher and this bar will not contain as high of a prebiotic fiber content, but I wasn't too worried about that. I would really rather my clients (and myself) get prebiotic fiber from eating lots of veggies and such.. but that is another blog post to talk about! 

Cookie Dough Quest Inspired Protein Bars

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Recipe #1 (Makes 2 bars)
~1/4  Cup plus 1/2 Tbsp Vitafiber IMO Syrup, (buy it here)
~1 Tbsp Ground Flaxseed 
~3 Tbsp Ground Almonds or Hazelnuts (buy it here)
~3.5 Scoops Love and Peas Protein Powder (buy it here)
~Chocolate Chunks (I like these kind and buy them in bulk)

Recipe #2 (Makes 2 bars) *My favorite recipe 
~1/4 Cup Coconut Palm Syrup, (buy it here)
~1 Tbsp Ground Flaxseed 
~3 Tbsp Ground Almonds or Hazelnuts (buy it here)
~3.5 Scoops Love and Peas Protein Powder (buy it here)
~Chocolate Chunks (I like these kind)

1- Measure flaxseed, ground almonds, and love and peas into a medium sized bowl. 
2- Whisk together so that it is mixed evenly. 
3- In a sauce pan, warm syrup until bubbles form. Remove from heat immediately. 
4- Pour syrup into bowl and begin mixing the wet/dry ingredients together. I like using a fork for this step, and if need be my clean hands!
5- Empty contents of the bowl onto a piece of parchment paper and form into what would be a large bar, you will cut this to make two bars later.
6- Next top with chocolate chunks. 
7- Refrigerate until it sets up.
8- Chop in half and enjoy! Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container. 


***If you are interested in getting a membership with nature's sunshine to get your love and peas-- please fill out the form below & I can help you sign up for the best supplements out there! Love and peas happens to be allergen free & vegan!