These home made vegan protein bars are scrumptious, made with healthful elements, and sweetened solely with dates… and have NO pea protein. 🙌
What’s the issue with pea protein? Learn on…
Vegan protein bars have change into huge enterprise. Search on-line and you’ll find so many choices for vegan snack bars and plant-based protein bars.
These snack bars range tremendously in elements. I believe LaraBar in all probability originated the plant-based snack bar. Whereas not a “protein bar” per se, they’ve complete meals elements and protein coming from nuts and seeds.
With the large development in vegan meals, extra plant-based snack bars have emerged. Some staying according to that Larabar method of a wholesome snack bar. Then, others with the aim of providing a protein bar that’s vegan – free from animal elements usually in protein bars (primarily egg whites and whey protein).
I get pleasure from a vegan snack bar. Generally simply half a bar. One in all my favorites years in the past was Mid-Day Squares. Nonetheless, they lately modified their method to incorporate pea protein. And that leads me to right now’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 exploit a modest quantity of dates to sweeten).
However why the humorous identify?
A couple of years in the past I skilled irritation in my physique. Not in only one joint, however in all my joints. My naturopath beneficial 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 considered one of my favorites. They appear so innocuous. How may they be one of many huge culprits?
I assumed peas can be the best to take away. Not like mustard, which I exploit in salad dressings, or corn which we get pleasure from within the type of polenta or snack crackers. Peas appeared the best to remove – 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). Take a look at your labels. Very like sunflower (which is utilized in small quantities as sunflower lecithin or sunflower oil in the whole lot from dietary supplements to crackers), pea protein is making its means into so many meals.
Each time I meals store, I examine labels of latest vegan merchandise. MOST have pea protein. However it’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 kids. It’s additionally in vegan ice cream! Why does a non-dairy ice cream want pea protein? It doesn’t. However these corporations 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 can 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 considerations.
To be clear, protein just isn’t a priority in an entire meals vegan weight-reduction plan. When consuming quite a lot 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, akin to for vegan athletes and likewise for kids 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.
Selfmade vegan protein bars aren’t a brand new factor. You may google to seek out many recipes. Nonetheless, virtually all use a vegan protein powder within the mix (I’ve used it myself previously). And it’s not simple to discover a vegan protein powder that (1) tastes nice and (2) doesn’t have pea protein.
So I convey that choice to you right now: 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 exploit peanut butter powder and . You may go for complete peanuts (or a nut) or (I like Wilderness Poets) and grind them right into a powder if you happen to want. Or, see the recipe notes for an additional variation. Wilderness Poets makes use of top quality elements, in contrast to what number of producers are utilizing questionably sourced pea protein.
Vegan Protein Bars FAQ
Take a look at the elements. Many protein bars embody whey (from dairy manufacturing), and might have loads of sugars. Additionally, some have widespread allergens, so search for choices which might be appropriate for you. Selfmade protein bars are normally more healthy, made with fewer elements – and elements you may acknowledge.
In the event you want the comfort of a snack bar, once more discover some choices that supply much less processed elements. Generally, it’s okay to eat a protein bar day-after-day if that works on your way of life. You may actually eat these home made protein bars day-after-day if you would like!
I like to recommend refrigerating these bars. And store-bought bars might profit from refrigeration throughout hotter months.
These bars could be frozen, and thaw properly.
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 drawback 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 doubtless utilizing low high quality pea sources. Since peas are a legume, that is problematic (even harmful) for individuals with legume sensitivities. Lastly, I’ve realized 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 provide 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 change 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 can be wanted.
Benefit from the bars, please share your suggestions within the feedback, I like to listen to from you! x Dreena
No-Pea-Protein Protein Bars
After looking out 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 simple to make, and I provide nut-free modifications and likewise substitutions if you happen to 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 elements and pulse via till crumbly. Then proceed to course of till the combination turns into sticky and begins to kind clumps on the blade. This will take a few minutes. It would seem as if nothing is going on, with the combination whirring round in crumbs, however quickly it should begin to change into sticky. Cease the machine and take away the dough, inserting 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 perimeters 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 Be aware: For a peanut-free model, substitute the peanut butter with cashew butter, and substitute 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, chances are you’ll wish to use one other few dates within the combination or add a contact extra vanilla.
PB Powder/Pumpkin Powder Be aware: In the event 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 an alternative of 1/4 cup; 1/3 cup cocoa powder as an alternative of 1/4; and enhance rolled oats by one other 1/2 cup (utilizing 1 cup whole).
Concept: In the event you want, 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 photographs by Angela MacNeil.
This put up was initially printed August 2022 and has been up to date for April 2024.
