Clean Food Creative Fitness Blog
by Danielle Prestejohn, Fitness and Nutrition Expert

Disclaimer...this recipe is most certainly not Paleo but...it is gluten free! I'll admit it, back in the day I used to be addicted to bars. When I was in college I hated cafeteria food and was always on the go between dance classes so I often resorted to bars and the habit just kind of stuck.

As my diet started to change to more Paleo I pretty much cut out bars but still would have the occasional one if I wanted something sweet! Since finding out I have Celiac Disease, I have to be even more careful about the types of bars I eat. Some of my favorite Gluten free bars are Lara bars, Kind bars, Nosh bars, and Think Thin.

A few bars I especially miss.... Luna, Clif, and Clif Z bars for kids! I know these are made for kids but I used to love the chocolate chip Z bars because they were lower in calories than Clif bars, but just as sweet and a good quick source of carbohydrates! Here's my attempt at recreating a Gluten Free Z Bar! Hope you like it!!!

Ingredients: 

• 1-1/4 cup Gluten Free Oats


• 1/4 cup Chocolate Chips


• 6 Medjool Dates


• 1/4 cup All Natural Peanut Butter


• 1/4 cup Agave


• 2 tbs. Flax


• tsp. Vanilla


• tsp. Baking Soda


• Dash of Sea Salt

Directions: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a blender pulse 1 cup of the oats until it reaches a flour consistency. In a bowl combine the oat flour, 1/4 cup oats, baking soda, salt, and the flax. Mix in the peanut butter, agave, and vanilla. In a blender or food processor pulse the dates until blended (make sure to remove the seeds). Combine the dates with the rest of the mixture until well blended, it will be sticky. Lastly add in your chocolate chips. Form the mixture into 6 or 12 bars and place on a baking sheet sprayed with oil. Bake 8-10 minutes until the tops begin to slightly brown.

Straight out of the oven! I started by cooking 6 bars but they expanded a lot so I ended up cutting them in half to cut back on calories. They are probably the same as say, a Clif bar, versus a smaller Z bar. I prefer the smaller bars as I don't do a ton of endurance activity so I don't need the higher calorie bar!


Calories: 145kcal Carbohydrates: 24.6 grams Fats: 5.1 grams Protein: 3.2 grams

*Stats are for 12 bars and will vary based on brands and products used!

What's your favorite protein bar? 

For more recipes check out my blog at Clean Food Creative Fitness.