Protein bars are a godsend for people who live life on the move. They're convenient, grab-and-go-friendly and their high protein count will keep you full between meals.
That said, they aren't always the most delicious. While some are pleasantly palatable, others can be hard to swallow — and, unfortunately, the worst-tasting ones tend to be the healthiest or most "clean."
But the way you eat protein bars is all about to change thanks to Runner's World, which came across a Reddit thread illuminating the world of protein bar consumers. It suggests that a 20-second jaunt in the microwave takes a regular ol' protein bar from mediocre to brownie status.
TIL if I microwave a protein bar for 20 seconds, I basically make delicious chocolate peanut butter cake. from r/xxfitness
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The thread shows the enthusiasm of fellow Redditors on the concept: "Quest bars taste like cookies when you microwave them,” wrote one person.
“I left a Clif bar in my car on a warm day,” added another person. “Turned into a delicious cookie waiting for me after a day of classes.”
You can just imagine how a dipped protein bar's outer shell would melt into a warm glaze for the softened bar — which Runner's World confirmed with a Think Thin bar. Jessie Van Amburg reported:
"The hard white chocolate shell on the protein bar melted a little bit, basically turning into a sweet, delicious glaze. And when I cut into the bar with a fork, the inside was soft and crumbly like a cake – not firm and dense like protein bars normally are. As for taste, well, it was mostly the same. But because the texture was so much better, I enjoyed eating this bar that much more. It felt like I was eating a warm lemon bar. And I freaking loved it."
Now, if you're concerned about the bar losing nutritional value in the microwave, a Body Building forum suggests that it shouldn't make a difference.
While this microwaving hack takes the grab-and-go convenience out of the protein bar experience, it certainly transforms it into a healthier and protein-rich dessert if served with milk or ice cream.
If you're looking for a something to try out this healthy hack, check out this list of seven healthy protein bars and three to avoid.