{"id":491,"date":"2013-08-10T18:34:00","date_gmt":"2013-08-10T22:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mikaelstaer.com\/clients\/cbeals\/dev\/?p=491"},"modified":"2015-05-18T17:09:32","modified_gmt":"2015-05-18T21:09:32","slug":"endurance-eats-best-bars-bar-none","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mikaelstaer.com\/clients\/cbeals\/dev\/2013\/08\/endurance-eats-best-bars-bar-none\/","title":{"rendered":"Endurance Eats: Best Bars, Bar None"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every morning strange creatures converge on trailheads, tracks, and sports stores. Droves of fluorescent, polyester-clad hominids laden with belts, bottles, bars, handhelds and hydration packs. You could be forgiven for mistaking these gatherings for trans-Saharan expedition parties. In fact, it’s just the local hobby joggers out for their bi-weekly jaunt around the block.<\/p>\n

Triathletes are no better when it comes to gratuitous fueling and hydration. Some may be surprised to learn that most non-sedentary individuals can survive short bouts of exercise without a sugary IV drip, despite what sports store clerks preach. In fact, well-trained athletes have a couple hours worth of readily-accessible fuel (glycogen) stored in their muscles and liver. There’s even evidence that training in a fasted or glycogen-depleted state can produce beneficial adaptations<\/a> (for some<\/i> athletes doing certain<\/i> workouts during specific<\/i> training phases).<\/p>\n

But let’s assume that some of your training sessions are demanding enough to require fueling and hydration. What’s a health-conscious athlete to do? Many athletes pay meticulous attention to their diet, only to give themselves a free pass when it comes to workouts. Obviously your nutritional needs are different mid-workout than mid-movie marathon, but don’t kid yourself; that Triple Chocolate “Performance Energy Bar” and Berry Blast “Hydration Formula” are essentially Snickers and Tang with a price markup.<\/p>\n

Most sport nutrition products are overprocessed, overpriced and overpackaged. They have interminable and unpronounceable ingredient lists full of creepy additives, flavours and colours. A growing number of athletes are rejecting sports nutrition products in favour of simple, real food whenever possible. For some background, check out this interview with nutrition guru Allen Lim<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Continuing with the Endurance Eats<\/a> series of wholesome, practical and affordable training food, I’m going to share my favourite homemade energy bar recipe and a few other ideas.<\/p>\n

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Confession: This high quality photo should make it evident that these aren’t my bars. I was forced to pirate this photo because my bars all got eaten before I could snap a shot (a good sign).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\nInstead of store-bought bars, try making your own.<\/b><\/div>\n
\nIngredients for bars are as limitless your imagination. Once you get the consistency right, it’s hard to go wrong. For the culinarily-challenged, bars tend to be simple and forgiving recipes, really just a small step up from the mudpies kids make.<\/p>\n

You can dial in the sweetness and the carbohydrate, protein and fat ratios to suit your needs and tastes. With a higher protein and fat content, this formula is better suited to longer, lower intensity workouts or pre\/post-workout snacking.<\/p>\n

1. Melt together in a medium saucepan:<\/p>\n