Protein bars have gained a lot of popularity over the last several years.  Whether you’re looking for a healthy source of protein after a workout, need a quick snack for days when you’re on-the-go, or just want a delicious way to add more high-quality protein to your diet, protein bars can be a great solution.

Unfortunately, most protein bars you can find in stores today are filled with sugar or artificial sweeteners, unhealthy oils, and a poor-quality source of protein (like soy protein or whey protein from conventionally-raised cows).

So what do you do if you want protein bars that are actually good for your health AND taste amazing??  You make your own! 😊

These protein bars are one of my favorite recipes that comes from the MaxLiving Nutrition Plans book (with a few tweaks).  They are easy to make, don’t require any baking, and have lots of high-quality protein, fat, and fiber.  We like to have them for dessert (yeah, they’re THAT good!),  as a snack, for breakfast, post-workout, or literally any time of the day!  As you’ll find out, they are quite addicting…but you don’t have to feel guilty about eating them! 🙃

P.S. I’ve got a special surprise for you beneath the ingredients & directions below — don’t miss it! ☺

Ingredients:

2 cups almond flour

1 cup ground flax seed meal (you can buy the flaxseeds pre-ground, or you can buy whole flax seeds & grind them yourself — I use a little coffee grinder)

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

3 scoops of chocolate grass-fed whey protein (I use & recommend MaxLiving’s Grass-Fed Whey Protein)

1/2 cup of xylitol** or erythritol

1/2 cup organic virgin coconut oil

1/4 cup organic grass-fed butter

3- 1oz. squares of unsweetened chocolate (100% cacao)

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

**A lot of xylitol is made from corn, while some is made from American hardwood trees.  When we use xylitol (sparingly), we prefer the kind that is made from trees (see picture above).  If you use xylitol made from corn, make sure it is made from Non-GMO corn!  We’ve never made this recipe using other sweeteners, but if you’d prefer a different sweetener, I would think it would turn out just fine and I’d be curious to hear how it turns out!**

Directions:

1. Melt coconut oil, butter, and chocolate in a small pot on the stove on very low heat.  Once melted, add vanilla to the mixture.

2. While the chocolate mixture is melting, place almond flour, flax meal, shredded coconut, whey protein powder, and xylitol in a food processor.

3. Pulse until ground into meal and mixed evenly.

4. Mix the dry ingredients with the melted chocolate mixture together in a large bowl until it turns into a paste-like texture.

5. Press mixture into a glass baking pan (either an 8×8 or a 9×13, depending on if you want thicker or thinner bars).

6. Chill in the refrigerator or freezer until the mixture hardens.

7. Keep them refrigerated or in the freezer, and enjoy!! (We prefer keeping them in the freezer!) ☺

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A Special Surprise For You

If you’re reading this, you’re most likely into delicious, healthy recipes.  And if that’s the case, I’ve got a special freebie download for you that’ll help you take your nutrition & recipes to the next level: Dr. Christi’s Must-Have Ingredients List.

This practical guide highlights 40 of my favorite go-to foods that are frequently found in my household & that I can’t live without (and you won’t want to either!).  These foods are fat-burning, health-boosting, nutrient-dense, & sure to become staples in your kitchen! Click below to get instant access to the list! 😄

For more grain-free, gluten-free, & sugar-free chocolatey deliciousness, sink your teeth into these Black Bean Brownies + Cream Cheese Frosting!  (I promise you they’re so insanely yummy, you won’t even taste a hint of black beans!)

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