Homemade Energy Bars

      

What is energy? Have you ever thought about that? How is your energy depleted and how do you refill your tanks? Don't you think when you are doing something you love, the energy just comes even though you may be physically exhausted.

 This reminds me of when our twins were newborns and I was physically fatigued all the time but somehow, the energy I needed to care for them came. I was madly in love with those little people and just caring for them each day, helping them to grow stronger, gave me energy I needed. Caring for my family gives me energy.

I think our children are inherently active and they know the secret.  

Grace is a fish and loves to swim

Mitchell passionately plays the striker position in soccer...he's on the left side of the picture, in blue.

The little girls love to jump

If  I'm ever looking for Harrison, I just need to listen for thump, thump, thump and then a pause, swish

And 9 out of 10 times, it goes in.

And then there is Will, who is non stop action, I'd love to harness his energy source

Well if you have read my blog at all, you know I'm all about energy. While I believe we are energy at it's source, it does get depleted and we need to recharge. Whether that is from rest, meditation, or food, I want to get my fuel from a source that is as healthy and positive as possible.

 

Along with my morning green drink, I thought I would share a recipe I made recently for our family. Particularly for our two older sons. (Sorry Mitchell, I will have to send you some in your next University care package)

Our oldest son, Clark, has been working on building his body for over a year now. He counts calories, ensures he is getting a broad range of foods and it's important that he has some sort of protein source right after his strenuous work outs in order to build the muscle he desires. Now I would love it, if he were doing "crop fitness," on our farm, but on our small scale urban homestead there isn't the extensive physical work required, so after a day at University, he heads to the gym. When he comes home he likes to eat something full of protein right away.

Since we are moving slowly in the direction of becoming vegetarians, (for environmental and ethical reasons) I have to really plan and ensure we are getting the requirements all of our children need based on their activity levels, brain and physical development. My mother always taught me that moderation of anything was the key and I believe she was right. My advise to our children is that energy creates more energy, so stay active and eat foods as close to whole as possible, as fresh as possible and as colourful as well.
 


These protein bars are really delicious, so I thought I would share the recipe with you. I have made energy bars before but I always follow a recipe closely, to ensure they turn out. I'm becoming more adventurous of late and our kids will even eats things that don't turn out all that great. It's a WIN/WIN.

Today, I just looked in my pantry to see what we had and made the bars from what was there. You can be as creative as you want. Personally, if I were making these just FOR me, I would have put the dried cranberries in them, but I knew the boys wouldn't eat them, (OR at least been reluctant to, all the while complaining saying, "these would be soooo good without the cranberries, mooom") so here is what I came up with.

Hope's Energy Bars

1 cup of dates
1 cup of almonds
1/2 cup of sunflower seeds
1/4 cup ground flax seed (I grind them freshly every time I use them)
1 cup of whey powder
1 cup of organic peanut butter

What's in your pantry? Thank heaven I had some whey left from Christmas. Is it still good? The kids did a gift exchange and the boys had made energy bars for each other along with tie-dyed t-shirts, so I still had enough whey for these bars...yeah!

I just went into the pantry to see what was available and came up with this mix...you can be as creative as your pantry is full.

Add the dates, almonds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds and the whey powder. into a food processor and mix them really well.

Pour the mixture into a mixing bowl and add 
your peanut butter....sorry if you are allergic...we would die around here if we couldn't eat peanut butter!

Mix until well combined.

I made the balls into 2 biters...big biters that is....now put them in the fridge or freezer to firm up

At this point you can either form them into balls as I have done above, or you can spread them out in a pan and flatten them to 1/2 an inch high. Put parchment paper underneath and lay another piece on top. Put it in the fridge overnight and then carefully cut into desired shapes the next day. I personally like the ball shape as they pop into your mouth in two bites....or at least that is how many it took my kids to eat them today.

"Mom, are you taking this picture for your Blog?" said Harrison on the right.

I think these energy bars are going to go pretty fast by how well received they were before they even went into the fridge to set up. That's okay though as they were quick and easy to make and next time, I'm putting some cranberries in them....for me.

 Clark works out at the gym 6 days a week and will enjoy these energy balls

 

As for me, I get energy from feeding those I love. I hope you enjoy this post and make some energy balls/bars for your family.

I do believe we're all connected. I do believe in positive energy. I do believe in the power of prayer. I do believe in putting good out into the world. And I believe in taking care of each other.

                                                                                                                              ~Harvey Fierstein~

Until we meet again, may you be well, happy, energized and peaceful.

Blessings from Hope