After my near-death experience with a killer swan yesterday, I decided I needed a lighter activity to smooth my frazzled nerves. Swans are so pretty and graceful until they try to attack you, or they show up in your mirror’s reflection and try to kill you. I’m just glad I didn’t engage in a freaky inner dialogue with the swan about poor form and my passion for ballet. If I did, I’d totally be dead already. Natalie Portman must be one tough lady.
To relax, I decided to start reading Bob Harper’s “Skinny Rules”. That man is not only hot and tough; he isn’t dumb. Being a jaded NYC actor, I don’t have high hopes for TV people. Granted, he most assuredly had a team of experts the size of the Duggar family helping him conceptualize the diet, and put it into words, but he was obviously the lead Duggar. The “Jim-Bob”, if you will. (Although, if we’re being honest, I think Michelle Duggar’s lady flower and motherhood greenhouse are the true bosses)
In “Skinny Rules”, Bobbie (he let’s me call him that, mostly because he has no idea I call him that, and he has NO idea of who I am, even after meeting me.) talks in depth about the importance of protein, and encourages protein at every meal. Granted, he’s the spokesman for Quaker Oatmeal, but I am fairly certain he chugs some egg whites or feeds off the pain of his clients with his breakfast. (to a succubus, pain is protein…sorry if you didn’t know that. Not that Bobbie is a succubus, but he IS a personal trainer.)
This got me thinking about how much protein I eat. The answer I came up with was “not enough.” I avoid a lot of cheese, because I don’t love looking like I swallowed a balloon, I don’t really love meat, I eat a mostly plant based diet, and tofu gets old. I realize there’s a gajillion other plant-based proteins, but I fall into a food routine and tend to stay there.
As of last night, I have decided to eat more of the muscle building, metabolism boosting, amino chain. I still don’t want to walk around with turkey in one hand and string cheese in another, but I am going to aim for at least 15g of protein at every meal, and put more protein in my snacks.
My breakfast of oats was going to need a change. I also still wanted to eat oatmeal. I came up with the idea of protein breakfast bars, made with oats. I wanted a little extra something, though. I decided caffeine was what I *really* needed with my protein.
A person in my brain said “mocha protein breakfast bars”, oddly enough in Wilford Brimley’s voice. Not ONCE did he tell me not to add sugar because of his die-uh-bee-tus, and I was really saddened about that.
Mocha Protein Breakfast Bars -no bake
Mocha Protein Breakfast Bars
Keywords: breakfast dessert snack vegetarian
Ingredients
- 3 scoops vanilla protein powder (I used Optimum Nutrition Platinum)
- 2 cups quick oats
- 3/4 cups canned light coconut milk with 3 tbsp chia, and 4 tbsp instant espresso let set for 15 minutes
- 1/2 cup pb2 with 1/3 cup water
- 1 cup chopped dark chocolate
Instructions
stir together all ingredients,
press into a 9″-9″ square pan lined with wax paper
chill overnight
cut into 9 pieces
serve
Im in in in to make these.
I need to go git coconut milk and wilford brimley and then im all set.
how much do I love (that I can comment and) the fact you know who he is!!
I love that you can comment too!! Wilford was my homey.
Yum!! what a great easy recipe! I am working on consistent higher protein too and trying to balance it with veggies and animal proteins…somedays easier said than done
I eat tuna regularly, and greek yoghurt has TONS of protein. Do you like yoghurt? I also love meat! LOL
I do like it!!
Love how simple this recipe is! Will be making these for sure!
I’ve made something similar only I baked it!
it was too hot to bake anything!!
These bars look delicious!
I don’t think I eat a ton of protein at times. Like you said, there at times I won’t have much at all at a meal or snack. I was considering getting a protein powder to include in an occasional snack smoothie.
I will be making these this weekend. I was just thinking this morning that my daily work breakfast (oatmeal w/ PB) needs something different, and I don’t metabolize protein well, (plus, I am P90X-ing AND bf-ing), so I need to up my protein game w/o getting all fat(ter). This is like the answer to all my needs. You are psychic! I see you starring in your own paranormal series any minute. Also – starting the new book tonight! Can’t wait to hang out w/ Vlad a bit.
I see baby poop in your future…..
These babies look great! I want to experiment with quinoa to make some sort of protein bar because of it’s high protein content and overall yumminess.
good idea!!
So funny, I am mentioning Bob in my post tomorrow cause I recorded something cause he was on & then ended up learning something else!
He did say he was not a vegan anymore because his workouts were suffering without animal protein. Not saying people have to follow but just what he said. I eat more protein due to me weight lifting.
OK love this recipe!!!
Yes, I know who Wilford is!
I’m eating a hard-boiled egg right now!! I bet he had 6 this morning.
I was just looking for an oatmeal bar recipe. Leave it to you to come and save the day. Bobbie would be proud.
pinning now!!
Thanks, linds!!!
Eggs = natures perfect protein
I see you went the parchment paper route…they look great
No bake anything always wins.