Kastor’s Kitchen: Energy Bars

Refuel after a hard workout with these nutritious and delicious energy bars.

Written by: Deena Kastor

These bars are great to have on hand after a hard run. I like to refuel immediately after a workout, but sometimes my next meal is a 40-minute drive away. By packing one of these energy bars into my backpack, I can have something super nutritious to consume after a run. With the fruit and nuts, each bar is packed with energy and nutrients to help build a stronger you. Enjoy indulging after a hard effort.

Ingredients

¾ cup dried figs

¾ cup pitted dates

½ cup pumpkin seeds

½ cup almonds

1/3 cup flax seeds

½ cup oats

½ cup honey or agave nectar

½ cup almond butter

1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut

½ cup chocolate chips (optional)

Place figs and dates in a food processor and pulse until size resembles rice. Add all other ingredients and pulse until mixture sticks together. Press firmly into an 8×8-inch baking pan. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes before cutting into squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Figs are rich in potassium and calcium and high in energy. Dates are also high in energy and have a good concentration of iron. Almonds and almond butter are lower in fat than most nuts yet have a good amount of calcium to support strong bones. Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc and iron.* The chocolate chips? Well, they’re simply delicious.

*Taken from “Staying Healthy with Nutrition” by Dr. Elson M. Haas.