Healthy Bars and Snacks

Homemade Apple Chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 200°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. 
2. Core 2 large Gala, Pink Lady or Braeburn apples. Using a mandoline or a serrated knife, cut apples crosswise into 1/8-inch slices. Arrange slices in a single layer on baking sheets. In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons apple pie spice. Sprinkle or use a pastry brush to cover slices with half of the sugar mixture. Turn apple slices and repeat with remaining sugar mixture. 
3. Bake for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until crisp, turning apple slices and rotating pans every 30 minutes. Cool completely on wire racks. Store apple slices in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Yummy Banana Oat Bars

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats (not instant)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup raisins or chopped dates
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
• 3/4 cup finely chopped apple
• 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl until well combined. Press into a 9-by-9-inch baking pan and bake for 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. When cool, cut into squares or bars.

The Simple Whole Food Protein Bar

1. The first step is to choose and soak your grain for 8 hours. Barley and quinoa both work well. You will know they are ready when you can chew them without hearing a crunch. If you're in a hurry, you can cook the grains, but cooking kills amino acids, so for optimal results, just soak. (Quinoa is a very well known complete protein food. Barley and wheat are also old standards for high protein grains with impressive amino acid profiles of the 9 essentials.*)
2. Take about a tablespoon of your favorite nut butter, roll it in your favorite high protein "flour" in a large mixing bowl. (We recommend oats as they are also high in all 9 essential amino acids.* It is also easy to make your own oat flour. Just put some oats in the blender for a few seconds until they turn to powder and voilà, you've got oat flour. The same can be done with almonds if you have a good blender or food processor. Or, you can buy your "flour" already pulverized. Look for quinoa flour at your local health food store. Wheat germ and ground flax seeds are other high quality options.)
3. Add a little water or non-dairy milk and mix until you get a consistency that you can easily mold into a bar shape. Soy milk adds the most protein, but feel free to use whatever flavor you like best.
4. Grab a handful of damp quinoa or barley (or both) and work them into the bar mixture. Add cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. 
5. Go ahead and taste a bit and decide if you would like to sweeten the mix. The healthy protein part of your bar is now complete. Options for added sweetness include dried fruit (raisins, dried blueberries or cranberries) coconut flakes, cacao nibs, or our healthy chocolate frosting (see recipe on opposite page) spread on top. Still not sweet enough for you? Add your favorite natural sweetener. Just remember that added sweetness is added protein-free calories, so you will want to keep sweeteners to a minimum.
6. Shape into bars (or cubes). Add some toppings (seeds, nuts, dried fruit, etc). Place on wax paper in refrigerator for 6-8 hours. Once chilled thoroughly, they will hold together under normal conditions for your high-protein snacking pleasure on the go.

Power Pack Snacks

Makes 24 cookie balls or squares

Ingredients: 

• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup raw oats
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut flakes
• 1/4 cup goji berries
• 1/2 scoop Garden of Life RAW Fit™
• 1 Tablespoon Garden of Life
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 3 Tablespoons water
• 3 pitted Medjool dates
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• dash of salt

Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients except water and dates into a food processor using the "S" blade. Process until well mixed, then add water and dates and pulse several times until mixture sticks together. Roll into cookie balls or press mixture into a brownie pan and cut into squares. Store in refrigerator for up to 10 days or in freezer for up to one month. Take out when ready to use. 

Recipe courtesy of Gwen Marzano, Garden of Life Educator and Certified RAW, Vegan Chef

Raw Protein Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chewies

Makes 24 Medium Chewies

Ingredients: 

• 3 cups rolled old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup of organic brand peanut butter
• 1/2 cup vanilla almond milk or regular milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup Garden of Life Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (can also substitute 1/4 cup butter, if you prefer)
• 1 scoop or one packet of Garden of Life RAW Protein Vanilla OR Original Flavor
• 1 Tablespoon stevia extract

Instructions: 

1. In a large saucepan, mix the stevia extract, coconut oil and almond milk. Bring to a full boil for one minute and stir the mixture constantly so it does not stick to the pan. Remove from heat and add peanut butter and vanilla, stirring until peanut butter is completely melted. Stir in the oats and RAW Protein, and stir well with a wooden spoon until combined. Quickly drop spoonfuls on sheets of wax or parchment paper and cool completely. Enjoy!!

Recipe courtesy of Rhonda Price, Director of Media and Public Relations at Garden of Life

The Protein Powder Protein Bar

1. Soak your grains. If you would like to add whole grains like barley or quinoa to your bar, start just as in the Whole Food Protein Bar by soaking them for 8 hours.
2. Take about a tablespoon of your favorite nut butter, roll it in your favorite vegan protein powder in a large mixing bowl. (See page 30 for our picks of the 5 best.) 
3. Add a little water or non-dairy milk to get a consistency that you can easily mold into a bar shape. Soy milk adds the most protein, but feel free to use whatever flavor you like best. 
4. Add barley or quinoa to the mix if you'd like. You can also add chia and/or hemp seeds, bananas, apple sauce (just add more protein powder to keep the consistency if needed). 
5. Roll in sunflower or pumpkin seeds for added protein and omega-3 fatty acids. 
6. Shape into a bar or a cube. Press walnuts or halves of dates into the top for added nutrition and decoration if you'd like. 
7. Take a taste and if needed, add your favorite sweetener or throw some chocolate chips in the mix or spread our healthy chocolate frosting (recipe to the right) on top. Again, keep in mind that you are adding calories when you add a sweetener, so you will want to keep sweeteners to a minimum. 
8. Place in refrigerator for 6-8 hours. Once chilled thoroughly, they will hold together under normal conditions for your high protein snacking pleasure on the go.