DARK chocolate chunk cranberry protein graonla bars
(GF, DF, NUT-FREE)
These chocolate chunk cranberry protein granola bars take just 20 minutes and are loaded with ingredients that actually work for you — high-quality protein to keep you full and focused, fibre-rich oats to support healthy cholesterol, and no refined sugar spikes.
The perfect midmorning snack with your coffee, and so much better than anything from a packet.
If you’re a busy woman and you’re struggling with mid-morning or mid-afternoon cravings are real - I feel you.
You want a “little something” with your coffee for a pick me up, but you also want to lose weight, so you’re trying to up your protein and fibre intake.
I feel you - finding the perfect snack can be hard, and most protein bars are overpriced and full of junk.
Most granola bars are just heaps of sugar and very little to no protein, which leaves you crashing and craving an hour later. These blood sugar ups and downs throughout the day promote weight gain, impact your mood and brain power, too.
In midlife, with fluctuating and then declining hormone levels, women are more prone to blood sugar imbalances - crashes, high blood sugar and insulin resistance, so it’s critical to stay on top of your nutrition game, so you can function at your best.
That means:
no skipping meals (and coffee is not breakfast) and don’t go more than 4 hours without eating
20 to 30 g of protein per meal
protein & fibre rich snacks
including healthy fats to turn off hunger hormones and nourish your brain
increase fibre
build muscle: weight training is much more important than cardio for blood sugar regulation.
Now the good news: you have to avoid granola bars forever, there is a way to make them healthier.
To keep those craving at bay, stay focused and motivated and keep your metabolism high, you need a protein and fibre rich snack that also tastes good!
Enter my high protein chocolate chunk cranberry granola bars.
These granola bars are packed with protein and fibre to keep you fueled and focused until lunch, or as a mid-afternoon snack.
Protein sources: egg and whey protein (can be substituted for vegan protein powder)
Fibre sources: flax, oats, hemp seeds. These are gut-friendly fibre sources that are less likely to cause bloating that others.
Added bonus: the high fibre content not only helps you stay energized and keeps cravings away, but the oats contain beta glucans which are proven to help lower cholesterol, which tends to creep up in midlife!
Ingredients:
2 cups gluten free rolled oats
2 tbsp ground flax + 2 tbsp warm water (for “flax egg”
2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
1 large egg, whisked
1 cup dark chocolate chunks or chips
1/3 cup dried cranberries (naturally sweetened)
1/2 cup hemp seeds
1/2 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
1 scoop whey protein powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 to ½ cup agave syrup (or maple syrup)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325 F.
Make the flax egg: in a small bowl combine ground flax and warm water. Stir with a spoon, then leave it for 2 to 5 minutes until thickened and cooled off.
Melt coconut oil in the microwave.
Add the dry ingredients to a medium mixing bowl.
Stir in the flax egg, whisked egg, melted coconut oil and agave or maple syrup.
Mix thoroughly until combined and sticky. Taste and adjust as necessary. If too dry, add more coconut oil or agave.
Grease your 8” x 8” square baking dish, then spoon the granola bar mixture in. Press down to flatten and smooth out evenly. A spatula works well for this.
Bake for about 15 minutes until set and starting to turn golden on the edges. It will still be soft, but that’s ok - you want them to be chewy, not hard and dry.
Let them cool completely, then cool in the fridge.
Cut into 8 bars, store in an airtight contain for up to 1 week. Enjoy!
Nutrition per bar:
Protein: 10 g
Fibre: 4 g
Carbohydrates: 31 g
Sugars: 15 g
Ready to feel lighter, less bloated, and confident again?
