All I eat is oatmeal, peanut butter, and bananas.

Or so it may appear at least. I promise I do actually eat more than just oatmeal, peanut butter, and bananas, but who can be mad it's just such a great combination.

Last night we had a community appreciation night at Elevate, and Kristie Rosser, a doctor from the area came and spoke on hormone therapy. It was extremely interesting. I started reading and studying about hormones and how they effect our bodies BACK IN JUNE You may recall this is when I gave up my beloved Diet Dr. Pepper/Diet Coke addiction (It's been almost 7 months aaaathankyou.) It is so fascinating to me how much your hormone levels can effect the way your body reacts to food, your energy levels, your outlook on life, etc. I am going to continue to read up on it, but I've suspected that I have some deficiencies, and I am looking into getting all of my blood levels tested, so I can be performing at my optimal! Pretty interesting...we'll see.

So back to the oatmeal, pb, and bananas...Our physical therapist's wife made some amazingly tasty granola bars that I just had to attempt to make today because I was seriously dreaming about them. I got home and looked at the recipe and it turns out I hardly had any of what she used, so I just came up with my own version instead.

Peanut Butter Banana No-bake Protein Bars

Makes 12 Bars 

Ingredients:

2 cup old fashioned oats

2 ripe bananas (mashed)

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 Tbsp honey

2 Tbsp sugar free maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

2 scoops vanilla protein powder

2 cups Fiber One cereal

1/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions: In a small bowl, mash bananas. Add in all other ingredients and mix. Add chocolate chips last. You could also add flax seeds, raisins, dried fruit, cereal, coconut, almonds, etc. Get creative. Once mixed together well, lay out wax paper on counter. Divide and drop 12 portions out onto paper. Form into bars and allow to sit out for an hour or two until dry.

I ate one on the spot for my afternoon snack...and it was SO good, and then I wrapped the others in wax paper and froze them to eat on the go! I can't wait. For the fiber one cereal I put in there I used this sample box of the Fiber One Honey Clusters I had in my pantry to up my fiber content. I think you could use regular Fiber One, or All bran and it would be equally as delicious. 

(Don't mind my special effects, I was playing with the settings on my computer.)

 

Nutrition Facts: (For one bar) 200 calories, 9 grams of fat, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 7.5 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, 9.5 grams of protein. Not too shabby. I am definitely a fan.