DIY: Lara-like Bars

I love creating & trying new things!

When I found this DIY Lara-type bar recipe from Enlightened Cooking I had to investigate! More on official Lara bars here including a FAQ section.

Please visit EC's blog post for excellent preparation details, better photos and nutritional information. You'll find additional flavor combinations, Cliff-like bars and no-bake oatmeal bars as well. Tons of ideas here.

Here's what my Lara-like experiment looked like:
1. Gather and measure:

- 1/4 C Dried Cherry Berry Mix from Cherryland's Best

- 1/4 C chopped whole dates (I used pre-chopped, next time I'll do differently.)
- 1/3 C almonds
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon

*I added a little more cherries.

2. Prepare plastic wrap pieces before my sticky hands make this step impossible.

3. Pulse cherries and dates into a paste. Transfer to another bowl. *She notes here not to clean the cherry mix from the processor - great suggestion.

4. Put almonds in processor & chop finely.

5. Add chopped almonds and cinnamon to the cherry paste & use your fingers to squish it all together.

6. Place 1/2 of the final mix on the plastic wrap & wrap tightly pressing into a bar-like shape or shape of your choice while removing air bubbles. Store in the fridge.

photos: by me

MORE GOOD STUFF

Must try this next! Fruit, Seed & Nut Energy bar

COST

Cherryland's Best Cherry Berry Mix $10.48/32 oz., $5.24/lb, $0.33/oz

Almonds $11.78/48oz., $3.93/lb, $0.25/oz

Dates $3.29/lb, $0.21/oz

More about equivalents & measures!

- A Conversion chart

- How many dry ounces in a cup? It depends.

- Liquid and dry measurements.

Questions for You:

What bar-type food do you like most?

What flavor needs to be invented?

Would you or have you tried making your own energy bar?

I Ate the Bunny: Things I Wish I Knew

#5 I Ate the Bunny
Series: Things I Wish I Knew as a New Triathlete.

Seinfeld's George Costanza eats peanut butter out of the jar with his fingers, rescues eclairs from the garbage and devours hot fudge sundaes (4 min mark).

True George lives with his parents, but he should know better. And, as a mother and experienced triathlete, I should too.

As a triathlete, I swim, bike and run. And, too often, I overeat or eat too much junk. Over the years, I've learned a lot about my diet. What my red light foods are. What emotional environments encourage me to overeat. How my body responds to different food choices.

One of my biggest problems--is thinking I can eat (Oreos, caramel bunnies, El Taco Loco) because I've worked out. My reward item often outweighs my workout. It'd be simpler to not eat the junk food at all. Can I "just say no" to snack-size chocolate?

With a better diet where could I be as a triathlete? I'd hope I'd be lighter, leaner, faster. All good things. Eating well should be straight-forward, but I make it complicated. I eat when I'm tired, angry, stressed-out or bored vs. when I'm actually hungry. Add on the post-workout reward and the calories pile up!

Even world-class triathletes struggle with food choices and nutrition. Six-time World Ironman Champion Dave Scott shares his advice on nutrition and common mistakes in this Inside Triathlon article.

More help:
- Stop by USA Triathlon's Fuel Station for weekly nutrition articles.

- Weight Watchers offers 28 Small Changes to Make a Big Difference here.

- Nutrition Overhaul for a Triathlon Newbie
- Quick Meals for Busy Triathletes

- Check out active.com's nutrition expert Nancy Clark RD

Lately I've been: trying to eat smaller amounts more frequently, eating smarter portion sizes and drinking more water. When I fail, I start over, right away. Tell me, how do you handle tempting food choices? What works for you?

Triathlon is a rewarding sport for people of all ages and abilities. 2009 is your year to taste triathlon. As a triathlete, you'll surprise yourself as you face fears and set personal bests. You'll be more confident, have more energy and smile more often. People will be drawn to that difference. Triathlon is a rewarding sport for people of all ages and abilities, wearing underwear is optional. Sleestak sightings rare. Dogs, many. Caramel bunnies, eaten.

Check out Why You Can series: Common excuses:
1-I have no time. 2-I can't afford it. 3-I'm too old. 4-I'm afraid. 5-I'm not an athlete.

Also see the entire series: Things I Wish I Knew As a New Triathlete:
#1 My swimsuit was see-through.
#2 Go Commando: Things I Wish I Knew
#3 Land of the Lost Training
#4 Chopper, sic'em, Boy!

And visit me in active.com's triathlon community. Come say hello, I'm a volunteer moderator!

photo credit by me: A caramel bunny calls out from my countertop... eat me.