Good nutrition is tremendously important before and after exercise. Try my homemade energy bar recipe specifically designed to help optimize your workout! Whether you’re undertaking endurance training or any other type of exercise program, forget about eating starchy bars or glucose gel packs. My energy bar recipe contains real fruit and has the nutrients needed to reduce stress and help you get the most out of your workout.
- 2 Cups dates, pitted
- ¼ Cup cocoa powder
- 6 Tbsp honey
- 2 Tbsp coconut oil
- ⅔ Cup coconut shreds
- 1 Tbsp salt of your choice
- 4 Tbsp powdered gelatin, bloomed in ⅔ Cup cold water
- Optional: Additional hydrolyzed collagen can be added for more protein. Use a ratio of 1 Tbsp gelatin to 1 oz hot water. Dissolve up to 4 Tbsp gelatin in 4 oz hot water, and mix it in at the end.
Cooking Instructions
Use an electric mixer, or a blender to mix the dry ingredients including the honey and melted coconut oil before adding the wet gelatin. Pour the mixture into a glass tray and let set. This recipe makes six portions, excellent for about 2 hours of endurance training apiece, or perfect for your pre- and post-exercise nutrition. Simply wrap each energy bar in saran wrap for storage. While all of the ingredients are shelf-stable, it is best to store the bars in the fridge or freezer.
For Added Convenience…
To reduce mess and increase convenience, an additional step is to flatten the entire mixture on a cookie sheet and bake at the lowest heat (170°F or below) for 3 hours. Peel the dehydrated energy bar off the sheet and lay exposed-side down on a cutting board. Cut into the desired portions, then roll each segment into a cigar-like shape. The sticky underside will keep the shape, and the dehydrated outside will keep it from falling apart. This makes the bars easy to consume and less likely to make a mess.
To further optimize your workout, try my homemade orange juice sports drink recipe and check out my previous posts for helpful endurance training tips and nutrition tips for morning, noon, and evening exercisers. Interested in getting more in-depth info and advice on best practices in diet and exercise? Sign up for my newsletter!
