Since coming to grad school, I’ve been doing a lot of meal-prepping. I have found it really beneficial for 2 reasons.

First, it saves me SO much time during the week. Instead of going through the whole process of prep, cooking, eating, and cleaning every night during the week, I make my meals on Sunday and store them in Tupperware to just heat up and eat during the week.

Second, it’s kept me eating healthy, even on my busiest, most stress-filled days. Whereas I might otherwise be temped to run to a fast food restaurant and pick up a burger or burrito on those stressful days, having healthy meals ready to go in the fridge makes eating healthy the easier option!

However, I have found that although my meals may be healthy… sometimes I’ll look in my pantry and find nothing but chips, candy, and cookies when I’m in the mood for a snack! So, I’ve recently been working on making quick and healthy snacks that I can keep in my fridge or pantry when I need them!

These no-bake bars are perfect for just this. They take about 10 minutes to whip up and can be stored in your freezer for weeks. Plus, they contain 6g protein and 4g healthy fats, which will keep you feeling full until your next meal.

Or, if you’re like me, your neck snack!!

No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

• 1 1/2c old fashioned oats
• 100g plant-based protein powder (I used peanut butter flavor!)
• 1/2c natural peanut butter
• 2tbs cacao chips or chocolate chips
• 1tbs honey
• 2-4tbs milk of choice

Add oats, protein powder, peanut butter, honey, and chocolate chips to a bowl. Mix until it is combined. It should look like clumps of dough. Add almond milk one tablespoon at a time until mixture comes together to a dough. Line a 8×8 or 9×9 pan with parchment paper and lightly grease. Press the dough into pan and smooth down. Put in freezer or fridge to harden, 30 min-1hr. Cut into 15 pieces. Store in air-tight container in fridge or freezer. Will keep in fridge for about a week or in freezer for a month.

Nutrition Information (from myfitnesspal.com). Yields 15 pieces.