Organic Soy Free Energy Bar

Why No Soy?

There are several reasons a person might want to avoid soy. First, some people have an allergy or sensitivity to soy, just as you might have a problem with wheat or gluten in general.

Soy is often genetically modified. Some natural health advocates say that all soy should be avoided because there is no way to know that soy is really organic or not produced with genetically modified ingredients.

Other people avoid soy because they think it is associated with health problems such as breast cancer and brain issues. Most experts say that soy is safe and even beneficial for heart health, but this is a reason that some people want organic soy free energy bars.

Options for Organic Soy Free Energy Bars

There are several different companies selling energy bars that are both organic and soy free. But, these companies also sell products that are not organic or that are made with some soy ingredients. Make sure you check the websites for more information on which products are right for you.

• Bumble Bar products are all organic and gluten free. The original flavor is processed with soy lecithin, and the lemon and chai flavors contain soy crisps.
• Ruth's Hemp Bars are made with hemp, which is high in Omgea-3 fatty acids. Several products contain organic ingredients, but none of them are 100 percent organic. None of them contain soy.
• Gertrude and Bonner's Alpsnack organic soy free energy bars are made with lots of dried fruit and organic ingredients. The chocolate flavors contain soy lecithin.

You may be able to buy these products at your local organic food store, or you can find them online.

Making Your Own

If you're really interested in getting organic soy free energy bars, you could always make them yourself. The recipe would be something like granola but with more stuff to hold it together, such as natural peanut butter.

A good general recipe to get you started might include:

• Peanut butter
• Soy-free protein powder
• Raisins
• Walnuts, pecans or almonds
• Uncooked oatmeal
• Wheat bran

Mix up as much of the dry ingredients as you like, adding other dried fruits or mix-ins that you like. Add enough peanut butter (you can also add honey for extra stickiness and sweetness) to make a nice solid mass.

Spread your concoction out on a cookie sheet, slice into pieces and individually wrap them. Because of all the peanut butter, this recipe is a higher fat option than many of the energy bars out there. You'll probably want to use it when you're really working out and not just for a snack.

You could also try using unsweetened natural apple sauce in place of the peanut butter to give you stickiness without as much fat. Or, just use your favorite granola or trail mix recipe.

If you have a recipe that calls for baking, make sure you bake your recipe in a small enough pan so that it will stick together. Slice into bars when cool.

Energy bars are great for a quick pick-me-up when you are feeling slumpy in the afternoon. If you're using store-bought bars, be mindful of the nutritional information. Don't eat for a snack what was intended to be a meal replacement!

Making your own energy bars is a great way to control all the ingredients that go into your body. If you want a bar that's completely organic, you know you're getting one if you bought and mixed together all of the products. You can make it soy free, wheat free, gluten free, dried fruit free, or whatever your preference is. You'll also save a lot of money, since most organic energy bars sell for a couple of dollars each.