These home made vegan protein bars are scrumptious, made with healthful components, and sweetened solely with dates… and have NO pea protein. 🙌
What’s the issue with pea protein? Learn on…
Vegan protein bars have develop into large enterprise. Search on-line and you’ll discover so many choices for vegan snack bars and plant-based protein bars.
These snack bars differ tremendously in components. I believe LaraBar in all probability originated the plant-based snack bar. Whereas not a “protein bar” per se, they’ve complete meals components and protein coming from nuts and seeds.
With the massive development in vegan meals, extra plant-based snack bars have emerged. Some staying in keeping with that Larabar components of a wholesome snack bar. Then, others with the aim of providing a protein bar that’s vegan – free from animal components usually in protein bars (primarily egg whites and whey protein).
I get pleasure from a vegan snack bar. Generally simply half a bar. Certainly one of my favorites years in the past was Mid-Day Squares. Nonetheless, they just lately modified their components to incorporate pea protein. And that leads me to in the present day’s put up, and this video.
Introducing Dreena’s “No Pea-Protein” Vegan Protein Bars
So I created my very own vegan protein bars. And I believe they’re scrumptious! They’ve a satisfying chew and aren’t too candy (I take advantage of a modest quantity of dates to sweeten).
However why the humorous title?
Just a few years in the past I skilled irritation in my physique. Not in only one joint, however in all my joints. My naturopath really helpful some meals testing.
Among the many high-offending meals? Mustard seed, sunflower, corn, and peas.
Peas? They appear such pleasant meals! And natural inexperienced peas are one in every of my favorites. They appear so innocuous. How may they be one of many large culprits?
I believed peas could be the best to take away. Not like mustard, which I take advantage of in salad dressings, or corn which we get pleasure from within the type of polenta or snack crackers. Peas appeared the best to get rid of – simply cease consuming inexperienced peas, proper? Not so.
It’s stunning what number of vegan meals have pea protein
Pea protein is not only in vegan protein powders (and it is in most plant-based protein powders). Have a look at your labels. Very like sunflower (which is utilized in small quantities as sunflower lecithin or sunflower oil in all the pieces from dietary supplements to crackers), pea protein is making its means into so many meals.
Each time I meals store, I verify labels of latest vegan merchandise. MOST have pea protein. But it surely’s not simply vegan merchandise like vegan yogurts, vegan milks, and vegan snack bars. It’s additionally in merchandise like granola, cereal, snack bars marketed for youngsters. It’s additionally in vegan ice cream! Why does a non-dairy ice cream want pea protein? It doesn’t. However these firms are utilizing it as a dietary “bump” for his or her labelling.
Check out macadamia nut milk, vegan greek yogurts, and all So Scrumptious ice lotions. Pea protein.
Maybe that macadamia milk or vegan greek yogurt could be “low” in protein naturally, however with the addition of pea protein, it has a decent protein rely.
That is unlucky as a result of the merchandise don’t want the protein supply to be added. However producers know that customers are searching for greater protein profiles – it appears we nonetheless have some protein inadequacy issues.
To be clear, protein isn’t a priority in an entire meals vegan weight loss program. When consuming a wide range of meals like leafy greens, complete greens, complete grains, complete grain merchandise, beans and legumes, and a few nuts and seeds… we get ample protein.
There are occasions, nonetheless, when a higher-protein snack or meal is useful, corresponding to for vegan athletes and likewise for youngsters which may have meals sensitivities or some urge for food points.
Additionally, a superb snack bar is appreciated for on-the-go meals. I believe because of this most of us select protein bars or snack bars: fast meals with some dietary increase.
Do-it-yourself vegan protein bars aren’t a brand new factor. You’ll be able to google to search out many recipes. Nonetheless, virtually all use a vegan protein powder within the mix (I’ve used it myself prior to now). And it’s not straightforward to discover a vegan protein powder that (1) tastes nice and (2) doesn’t have pea protein.
So I convey that choice to you in the present day: home made vegan protein bars that style scrumptious, with out pea protein, and likewise low in sweeteners (made with a modest quantity of dates).
In these bars, I take advantage of peanut butter powder and pumpkin seed powder. You’ll be able to go for complete peanuts (or a nut) or pure pumpkin seeds (I really like Wilderness Poets) and grind them right into a powder for those who choose. Or, see the recipe notes for one more variation. Wilderness Poets makes use of prime quality components, in contrast to what number of producers are utilizing questionably sourced pea protein.
Vegan Protein Bars FAQ
Have a look at the components. Many protein bars embody whey (from dairy manufacturing), and might have a variety of sugars. Additionally, some have widespread allergens, so search for choices which might be appropriate for you. Do-it-yourself protein bars are normally more healthy, made with fewer components – and components you may acknowledge.
Should you want the comfort of a snack bar, once more discover some choices that supply much less processed components. Usually, it’s okay to eat a protein bar day by day if that works in your way of life. You’ll be able to definitely eat these home made protein bars day by day if you’d like!
I like to recommend refrigerating these bars. And store-bought bars could profit from refrigeration throughout hotter months.
These bars will be frozen, and thaw effectively.
It’s not dangerous, I wish to be clear that I’m not demonizing pea protein. It may be a beautiful choice for some that can’t eat soy, nuts, or different vegan meals. My downside with pea protein is how it’s being discreetly added to many merchandise like vegan milks, non-dairy yogurts, and extra simply to offer the dietary profile a lift. Producers are possible utilizing low high quality pea sources. Since peas are a legume, that is problematic (even harmful) for folks with legume sensitivities. Lastly, I’ve discovered that pea protein is rising as a number one meals allergen, in all probability as a result of this overexposure. So it’s worthwhile to learn labels.
I supply choices within the recipe notes for nut-free protein bars.
Many are, relying on the model. These home made vegan protein bars are gluten-free when utilizing licensed natural gluten-free oats.
For these bars, sure, a meals processor is required. It takes a couple of minutes for the combination to develop into sticky and are available along with a meals processor. These bars can’t be made with no processor. I’ve a 16-cup processor, and also you don’t want one that giant, however a ten or 12-cup processor will likely be wanted.
Benefit from the bars, please share your suggestions within the feedback, I really like to listen to from you! x Dreena
No-Pea-Protein Protein Bars
After looking excessive and low for a considerable snack bar that didn’t have pea protein… I made a decision to make my very own. These are straightforward to make, and I supply nut-free modifications and likewise substitutions for those who don’t wish to use the peanut butter and pumpkin powders.
Directions
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Put together a loaf pan with a strip of parchment paper. In a meals processor, add all components and pulse by means of till crumbly. Then proceed to course of till the combination turns into sticky and begins to kind clumps on the blade. This may occasionally take a few minutes. It should seem as if nothing is occurring, with the combination whirring round in crumbs, however quickly it’s going to begin to develop into sticky. Cease the machine and take away the dough, putting within the loaf pan. Use a spatula to press the combination into the loaf pan. Then, cowl with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour or longer. After chilling, use a butter knife or spatula to start to launch the combination away from the sides of the loaf pan, after which use the parchment to raise the combination out. Reduce into squares or bars, after which retailer within the fridge in an hermetic container. Makes 12-15 squares/bars.
Video
Notes
Nut-free Word: For a peanut-free model, change the peanut butter with cashew butter, and change the peanut butter powder with the pumpkin protein (thereby utilizing 1/2 cup whole of the pumpkin protein powder). For a totally nut-free model, use common tahini or black tahini (sesame seed paste), sunflower butter, or pumpkin seed butter to switch the nut butter. Since seed butters have a extra pure bitter style, you could wish to use one other few dates within the combination or add a contact extra vanilla.
PB Powder/Pumpkin Powder Word: Should you don’t have, or don’t wish to use, the peanut and pumpkin protein powders, you may omit and make these modifications: use 1/3 cup peanut butter or nut butter as a substitute of 1/4 cup; 1/3 cup cocoa powder as a substitute of 1/4; and improve rolled oats by one other 1/2 cup (utilizing 1 cup whole).
Concept: Should you choose, you may roll the combination to kind small balls, and optionally roll in a dusting of coconut sugar, cocoa powder, and/or nuts or pumpkin seeds.
Meals pictures by Angela MacNeil.
This put up was initially printed August 2022 and has been up to date for April 2024.
