Home-made Power Bars
By Toby Helmstetter, LAc
I love power bars but hate buying them. I love them because they are quick, generally have all the important constituents of a snack such as fat, protein, and a little bit of something sweet, and are very portable. But they cost quite a bit if you and your family eat one almost daily (like I do), and they generally have all the stuff I don't like in a snack such as soy, sugar, and lots of carbs. When you read it like that, they're kind of just a fancy candy bar.
So I've started making my own! Each week the kids and I stand in front of the food processor and pile in the goodies. They're surprisingly easy to make and just as yummy as something store-bought, without any of the guilt. Not only that, you can create your own fabulous combinations. Below is a general formula for home-made power bars and some suggestions of what you can add or substitute to make them your own.
1 1/2 cup pitted dates
1 cup nuts
1 cup "filler"
2-4 tbs "flavor"
The nuts can be anything you like. I like a combination of cashews and almonds, but pecans work great and so do walnuts. You can mix up sweet flavors with salty by adding pistachios or peanuts too.
"Filler" can be shredded coconut, dried cherries or apples or any other dry fruit, peanut butter or almond butter, chocolate chips....
"Flavor" can be a combination of any of the following: cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, lemon or lime zest, coconut oil, cinnamon, ginger.... For this, I always use a combination of coconut oil and something else (usually chocolate!). I find the oil keeps the mixture moist and helps hold it together. If you don't like coconut oil, you can add a tablespoon or two of water if your mixture seems dry.
In a food processor, combine dates and nuts and blend until they create a kind of paste-like substance. Add your "filler" and pulse to combine. Then, with the motor running, slowly add your "flavors" until well combined. Remove mixture from the food processor and press into an 8 x 8 baking pan (or whatever similar size you have around) until they are even and about 1/2-3/4 inch thick. You can keep them at room temperature, but I like to refrigerate them. Cut them into whatever shape or size you want. They'll last a week, which is about as much as you'll have. If you want flavor inspriation, just peruse the power bar isle at your grocery store (especially the Larabars), and create your own!