Loving the BITE: My Favorite Energy Bar UPDATED

Hundreds. Thousands. There is no end to your energy bar options. There are some great commercial ones, other bland or cardboard-like ones, and some that are little more than candy bars.

Here’s mine. I use this energy bar on rides, runs, and skis. I love it.

Just 5-6 ingredients in a food processor, and your set. No baking.

Stick ’em in a baggie in your jersey, and ride knowing you have a delicious fresh lemon bar ready to fuel you along.

Recipe of the Week: Fresh Lemon Fuel Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup raw cashews
• 2 lemons
• 18 pitted Medjool Dates
• 2 Tbsp organic honey
• ¼ tsp sea salt + more for topping*
• 1 Tbsp organic coconut oil**

Instructions:

Place cashews and dates in food processor, process until finely chopped.  Zest 2 lemons, juice 1 lemon.  Add zest, juice, honey and salt to food processor.  Process until smooth, but not quite a paste (this doesn’t need to be exact).  Press into a greased bread loaf pan (if it’s sticky, you can use wax paper to press).  Place in freezer 1 hour, or in refrigerator until firm.  Cut into 12 equal bars or squares.  Store in refrigerator – place in baggie and take with you.

*If you are not getting 400-700 mg sodium per hour from your fuel options and drinks on the bike, you can add more salt to these bars, up to 1/12 tsp sprinkled on top each (200 mg sodium per 1/12 tsp).

**If you’re planning on having these while riding when it’s warm, they may fall apart due to the coconut oil melting (~78 deg F). If this is the case, either plan on eating them straight out of a baggie, or omit the coconut oil.

Makes 12 bars.

Nutrition (per bar): 192 calories, 25 grams carbohydrates, 5 grams protein, 52 mg sodium, 258 mg potassium, 16 mg calcium, 82 mg magnesium

Comments:

Instead of a stale, processed bar that tastes overly sweet and sugary, you can enjoy a homemade version that’s citrusy and fresh.  With 20 grams carbohydrates and 5 grams of protein, it’s perfect fuel before or during your ride.  And, with 200 calories, healthy fats from cashews, and protein, it’s got sticking power that will last through some tough hours of cycling.  What else can it do?  Well, its key ingredient, lemons, has a lot to offer for training and for overall health and disease prevention.  They provide:

• High levels of Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that works in the body to fortify the immune system, fight free radicals that can build up during intense physical work, and reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
• Anti-nausea properties.  When you’re nauseous, not many things help.  However, the smell and  taste of lemons can provide relief.  Since many athletes feel slightly nauseous when eating on the bike, including fresh lemons can ease an unsettled belly.
• A good amount of energy-providing carbs from dates and honey – 2 of nature’s best fuels!
• Anti-bacterial compounds.  These components of citrus can reduce putrefactive bacteria in both the intestines and the mouth, and thereby provide fresher breath and reduced gastrointestinal distress.
• Mucus-busting action provides relief to athletes who suffer from build-up while training.  If you ever feel like you’re constantly “working the junk out of the lungs,” you’ve got a friend in lemons.
• Unique flavonoid compounds that have anti-cancer properties.  In fact, limonoids have been shown to help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon.

Issues in temperatures over 78 deg F: Anytime you use a coconut oil-based recipe, you’ll have some issue with them melting and falling apart when their environment is warmer than about 78 deg F (temperature at which coconut oil melts).  When I’m riding in the Spring/Summer, I often smash these into cubes or balls rather than leaving them as bars…as smashed as I can get them…they hold up better. Or, I simply eat them right out of the baggie, like you would a gel – kind of. In this case I actually appreciate not having to chew as much when I’m working hard on the bike. I always find it annoying when I bite into something hard-to-chew when I’m breathing hard from pedaling. Alternatively, if this is a deal-breaker, try either freezing the bars ahead of time OR leaving out the coconut oil (although I don’t recommend the latter since coconut oil is a valuable fuel).

For lasting energy with fresh lemony flavor, eat one bar 1-2 hours beforehand, or during the first half of any 2+ hour ride.  With any luck, you’ll ride stronger, have fresh breath, less mucus, and not one hint of nausea.  In the long run, you’ll reduce risk of cancers and fortify your immune system.  Not bad for a bar.

Fuel Your Ride.  Nourish Your Body.