Healthy Breakfast Bars & a Protein Bars Recipe - Vegan in the Freezer (2024)

FAQs

Can I freeze protein bars? ›

Storing tips

In the fridge: store these chocolate peanut butter protein bars in the fridge tightly wrapped or in an airtight bag or container for up to 2 weeks. The perfect easy snack to have on hand! In the freezer: feel free to keep them in a freezer-safe bag in your freezer for up to 1 month.

Clif Bars are an incredibly popular energy bar that also double as breakfast bars. In particular, their blueberry crisp flavor makes a great morning meal. Made with rolled oats, soy protein, and dried blueberries, these bars are rich in protein and fiber to keep you full and energized all morning long (19).

Most protein bars will suffice as a meal replacement because they tend to have at least 15 to 20 grams of protein per bar. Because protein suppresses hunger hormones and is digested slowly, you should be full until your next meal. However, most protein bars lack the amount of fiber recommended for a meal.

Homemade protein bars are much more cost-effective than buying protein bars at the store. A single protein bar can range from $. 99 to $3.99. This entire recipe (for 16 bars) will cost you less than $5 and you likely already have these ingredients on hand!

This method involves adding the protein solution drop- wise (about 100 µl each) into a pool of liquid nitrogen, then collecting the drop-sized frozen beads and storing them in cryovials under liquid nitrogen. Freezing at -20°C or -80°C is the more common form of frozen protein storage.

Best for clean nutrition: Orgain. These organic vegan protein bars are available in counts of 12 and derive their protein from organic brown rice, organic pea protein, and chia seeds. They are available in three flavors. Orgain claims that these protein bars are suitable for adults and children.

Many vegan protein bars are also free from artificial additives, preservatives, and sweeteners, making them a healthier choice for those seeking clean and natural options. Nutritionally, vegan protein bars can be just as beneficial as their traditional counterparts.

They're also a great way to help you stay full between meals, as they tend to be more filling than non-vegan protein bars. Plant-based protein bars have more fiber and less saturated fats than whey bars—this makes them easier on your digestive system and less likely to cause stomach upset.

What to avoid when buying protein bars? ›

A good bar shouldn't have any trans fats and should be low in saturated fats (less than three grams per serving). Oils. Avoid any bars with palm oil or kernel oil (often included in bars coated with chocolate) Sugar.

Added sugars and artificial sweeteners

While a protein bar isn't as nutritionally empty as a bag of ultra-processed potato chips, many brands contain added sugars, artificial sweeteners, such as high-fructose corn syrup, and fatty oils like canola or palm that keep the bar from falling apart.

They will keep well for up to two weeks. To freeze: Place the bars in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

These bars need to be stashed in the fridge because they're teeming with 1 billion CFU (colony-forming units) probiotics per bar—in addition to 10 grams of nut butter-based protein.

Storage: To maintain nutritional value, protein bars should be kept in a cool, dry place. Refrigeration can prolong shelf life, especially for bars containing ingredients like cheese or real fruit.

Answer: not really. "You shouldn't worry about losing nutrients from freezing a smoothie or protein powder and water," Sumbal says. "Freezing overnight should keep the protein intact, but be sure to mix completely before freezing so you have a well-mixed drink when you thaw it out in the fridge," she adds.