Generally, energy bars are reserved for long training lesson to replace calories to sustain energy levels. Instead, they should not be used as a replacement for meals or snacks during the day.
Energy bars could taste as much satisfaction as snacks—especially Hercules bars are too tasty to keep your mouth shut. Hercules Bar can sometimes be a better alternative to less healthy choices (like cookies or a candy bar).
Here are a few tips of Hercules Bars as a key ingredient in some serious pre- and post-workout refueling treats.
Hercules Bars n’ Cream
Put a few scoops of yogurt in a bowl (plain or vanilla works best); then break up a Hercules Bar into little chunks over the yogurt. Mix and enjoy. This makes a good substitute for a bowl of cookies and ice cream.
Hercules Bar Trail Mix
Start with your favorite trail mix recipe, whether it’s good old raisins and peanuts (gorp) or another combination of fruits and nuts (I like almonds, cashews, walnuts, raisins, and apricots). Then cut up a Hercules Bar into small pieces and add to the mix. The Hercules Bar adds a nice texture to the trail mix, not to mention it energizes an already energy-packed snack.
Hercules Bar with Almond Butter
Take your favorite natural almond butter (or peanut butter); and spread it on top of a Hercules Bar. Stop here or add a layer of sliced bananas on top of the almond butter. Although I usually have just bananas with almond butter when I need to get an alpine start, I occasionally do the Hercules Bar with almond butter combination before a key morning workout as well as on race day morning.
Chocolatey Hercules Bars
This recipe adds a chocolate twist the one above. Take chocolate almond butter (or another type of chocolate nut butter, like peanut or hazelnut) and spread it on top of a Hercules Bar. The chocolate chip or coconut chocolate chip Hercules Bars work well as a base, or you can really double up on the chocolate with chocolate or chocolate almond fudge Hercules Bars. Another variation on this recipe is to simply use regular almond butter and then add semi-sweet chocolate chips on top of the almond butter. Either way, this acts as a tasty dessert when you need a chocolate fix.
Again, these Hercules Bar “recipes” are for occasional use and should not replace well balanced meals with whole foods. But, in moderation,HerculesBars can be enjoyed in myriad ways as an occasional splurge for hungry athletes. Enjoy!
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