Ultrarunner's Energy Boosting Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Hello, my fellow endurance enthusiasts and long-distance conquerors!
One of the challenges we often face as ultrarunners is finding the right nutrition that's not just adequately energy-dense, but also portable and, of course, delicious. I can tell you, from personal experience and years in the hospitality industry, creating a food item that checks all those boxes is no easy feat. But today, I'm excited to share with you a simple, homemade recipe that does just that – my Ultrarunner's Energy Boosting Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars.
Inspired by my journey as a running coach and my background in restaurants, working alongside incredible chefs and prestigious brands, this recipe aims to provide the sustained energy needed for an ultrarunner. This isn't just any snack or pre-run food item. It's designed to pack a punch of energy, be easily carried during your ultra marathon, and also give your taste buds a treat.
Let's start with the core ingredients: oatmeal, natural peanut butter, honey or maple syrup, a pinch of salt, and dark chocolate. Each ingredient is selected with the ultrarunner's needs in mind. The oatmeal offers complex carbohydrates for sustained energy, the peanut butter brings in protein for muscle recovery, and the dark chocolate contributes good fats and a morale-boosting flavour.
The bars are wonderfully simple to make. A nutritious blend of the oatmeal, peanut butter, and honey forms the base, which is then topped with a layer of melted dark chocolate. After a short stint in the refrigerator, they're ready to be cut into portable bars, perfect for on-the-go fueling during your runs.
With each 150-calorie bar offering 5g of protein, 16g of carbohydrates, and 7g of fats, they provide a balanced macro profile to support your ultra-running adventures. Not to mention, the hint of salt to replace the electrolytes you lose while running and the satiating combination of chocolate and peanut butter make these bars an ultra-runner's best friend.
So the next time you're preparing for a long run, give these Ultrarunner's Energy Boosting Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars a try. I'm sure they'll not only become a staple in your running nutrition but also a favourite treat that you'll look forward to on the trails.
As always, keep pushing your boundaries and remember - good nutrition is your ally in every race.
Happy running and fueling!
Ultrarunner's Energy Boosting Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Serves: 16 bars
Calories per bar: 150
- Proteins: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Dietary Fibre: 2g
- Fats: 7g
- Saturated: 2g
- Monounsaturated: 3g
- Polyunsaturated: 1g
Ingredients:
- 200g oatmeal
- 130g smooth natural peanut butter
- 60ml honey or maple syrup
- Pinch of salt
- 200g dark chocolate (70% or higher)
Instructions:
- Prepare a 20cm square baking dish by lining it with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, blend the oatmeal, natural peanut butter, honey or maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. Mix it thoroughly until it's well combined. If the mix seems too dry, you can add a tad more honey or maple syrup to achieve the desired consistency.
- Next, press this energy-packed mixture evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking dish.
- Melt the dark chocolate using a heatproof bowl over simmering water or in the microwave at 30-second intervals, giving it a good stir each time.
- Once melted, pour the chocolate over the oatmeal and peanut butter layer, ensuring an even spread.
- Refrigerate the dish for a minimum of 2 hours, allowing the chocolate to set perfectly.
- When set, take it out of the fridge and cut the mixture into 16 portable bars.
- Pack these up as needed for your ultra runs!
For more amazing recipes to fuel your running. Check out the Ultimate Cookbook for Runners, the consumate recipe book for your Runners Nutrition needs! For a quick taste, I've included five free recipes here.
