Almond butter delight

Protein in hand
We're always looking for a tasty snack that has protein, but satisfies like a granola bar, but isn't a granola bar that has been packed with additives, shelf stabilizers, and other such things. Mike just created this by accident in the kitchen and it has quickly become a favorite.  The only questionable item are the rice crispies, but they add that needed crunch that makes this a delight. 
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups thick rolled oats
  • 1  cup rice crispies (or similar cereal)
  • 1/2  cup unsweetened coconut
  • 1 cup Pecans (crushed)
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1/4 (or less) cup of honey
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup of almond butter (no sugar)

Heat over to 350
Directions
  1. Mix in the dry ingredients (oats, crispies, coconut, pecans, mini chocolate chips)
  2. Heat the almond butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds
    1. ​This makes it more pliable to work with as you combine it with the other stuff
  3. ​Combine the honey with almond butter
  4. Mix the almond butter / honey mixture in with the dry ingredients.
    1. ​I like to do this with my hands just grabbing and combining it all together.  This creates clumps of happiness, but also, you get to lick your fingers at the end.
  5. ​Cool in the fridge as is, eat as is, form it into little protein balls (if you do this, you may want 1.5 cups of almond butter), form into bars, mix it into yogurt...the sky is the limit.  
Protein Content by Ingredient
Ingredient
Amount
Protein (approx)
Justin's Natural Almond Butter
1 cup (8 servings - 1 serving = 2 TBSP)
56 g
Bob's Red Mill Thick Rolled Oats
1.5 cups (3 servings - 1 serving = 1/2 cup)
21 g
Unsweetened Coconut
1/2 cup
~ 2 g
Raw Honey
1/4 cup
0 g
Pecans
1 cup
10 g
Ghirardelli Mini Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup
~ 4 g
Vanilla Extract
2 tsp
0 g
Total Protein per batch: 93 grams.  Serving size is 1/4 cup which equals about 5 grams of protein, 157 kcal, 13 grams of carbs, and 11 grams of fat
How much protein per day

Don't lose your mind over this one, but if you want to build and sustain muscle, then it is 1 gram per1 lb of body weight per day.  You could also do 1.2 g per 1 lb of body weight per day. If you are in maintenance, you could do 0.8 g per lb of body weight per day.

If you are taking testosterone, estrogen blockers, and human growth hormone, then you need about 1.6 -1.8 grams of protein per lb of body weight per day to build muscle. Just realize that this will make you into a giant bald douche bag with small nuts.