WHAT TO EAT DURING A RACE: HOMEMADE ENERGY MIXES

by OXB Staff on Jun 18

Oxyburn offers 4 energy-boosting blends (2 drinks and 2 bars) for triathlons, trail running, cycling, and your mountain hikes!

Expensive energy bars with an endless list of ingredients? What’s in the supplements they’re pushing on us to help us regain our strength during a race? If you take the time to read the labels, you’ll find that they’re all lab-made products—yet nature already provides us with everything we need, and with much better taste and at a much lower cost!

Here are our dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options!

Homemade energy bars to eat during a race

BARS

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

This classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate provides protein and fat (learn the truth about fat) to give you long-lasting energy.

If you prefer, convert the cups to grams

Ingredients
1 and 2/3 cups rolled oats
2/3 cup unsweetened puffed rice
1 cup creamy, salted peanut butter
¼ cup honey
¼ cup pure
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup chopped peanuts
2/3 cupchocolate chipsInstructions
In a saucepan, combine the peanut butter, honey, maple syrup, and vanilla over medium heat until the mixture becomes more fluid. (Be careful not to burn it.) Pour the oats and puffed rice into a large bowl, pour in the peanut butter mixture, and mix well. Let cool completely. Once cooled, stir in the peanuts and chocolate chips. Line a square baking dish with parchment paper. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the mixture into the dish and press into an even layer. Cover with plastic wrap and let it set in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. Cut into 12–14 bars, wrap each one individually, and store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Cherry, pecan and seed bar
Simple to make and full of texture with a burst of chewy dried cherries.

Ingredients
2 cups 1/2 cups of unsweetened puffed wheat, puffed rice, spelt, or barley
½ cup of chopped pecans or regular walnuts
½ cup of dried cherries or other red berries
1/3 cup of toasted and salted pumpkin seeds
¼ cup of
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
½ cup honey
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line an 8- or 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Combine the puffed cereal, pecans, cherries, pumpkin seeds, coconut, and flaxseeds in a bowl. In a small saucepan, heat the honey, vanilla, and salt over medium-low heat until the honey is no longer runny. Pour the honey mixture into the bowl and stir in the other ingredients until well combined. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the mixture into the baking dish and press into an even layer. Bake for 30–35 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 1 hour. Remove from the pan by lifting the edges of the parchment paper. Cut into 12 squares, wrap individually, and store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Cereal Mix for Athletes

MIX

Most zip-lock bags are great for holding these mixes.

Cherry Haze

2 cups of potato chips

½ cup of hazelnuts, chopped in a food processor

½ cup of pecans

½ cup of dried cherries

½ cup of dried blueberries

½ cup of dark chocolate chips (you can process them in a food processor)

1/3 cup coconut chips (dried coconut)

¼ cup of shelled pumpkin seeds

Tropical Twister

4 cups of popcorn

½ cup of chopped dried mango

½ cup of chopped dried pineapple

½ cup unsalted, shelled pistachios

½ cup of coarsely chopped, unsalted, toasted cashews

1/3 cup coconut chips (dried coconut)

¼ cup of soy flakes

Place all the ingredients for the recipe in a large bowl and stir to combine. Divide the mixture among zip-top bags for transport. They can be prepared up to three days in advance and stored in the refrigerator to stay fresh.