Conquer The Prove It Challenge With These Protein-Packed Snacks

Are you ready to prove yourself? You’ve got four weeks to build a stronger, fitter you!

We teamed up with Optimum Nutrition to help you level up your fitness—and your fuel—with fun challenges and protein-packed recipes. Here, you’ll find easy-to-make (and delicious!) snacks, developed by The Vitamin Shoppe nutritionist Brittany Michels, that will help you sweat hard and get results.

Protein Granola

Made with Optimum Nutrition Chocolate Bliss Gold Standard 100% Whey Isolate, this high-protein granola packs flavors like chocolate, banana, and pecan.

Ingredients:

• 2 medium bananas
• 1 ½ scoops Optimum Nutrition Chocolate Bliss Gold Standard 100% Whey Isolate
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 ½ cups gluten free rolled oats
• 1/3 cup hemp seeds
• ¼ cup dried unsweetened tart cherries
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Blend banana, protein powder, salt, and cinnamon in a food processor. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the rest of the ingredients. Spread the mixture into a single layer onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake on low (around 115 degrees) for 45 minutes. Let cool and enjoy!

Protein Date Bars

Made with Optimum Nutrition Chocolate Bliss Gold Standard 100% Whey Isolate, these sweet, chewy bars provide protein, healthy fats, and fiber from ingredients like shredded coconut, almonds, and pumpkin seed butter.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• ¼ cup almonds
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 scoop Optimum Nutrition Chocolate Bliss Gold Standard 100% Whey Isolate
• 8 medjool dates, pitted
• ½ cup raw pumpkin seed butter
• ½ tsp sea salt

Combine all ingredients in a food processor until dough forms. Transfer onto wax paper and press into an inch-tall rectangle. Chill in the freezer for five to 10 minutes. Remove and cut into eight squares. Store in the fridge for up to a week.

Protein ACAI Bowl

Whip up this acai bowl with your favorite Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Isolate, top it with your favorite fruits, and dive in!

Ingredients:

• 1 3.5 oz acai packet, frozen
• 1 medium banana, frozen
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• ¼ avocado
• 1 scoop Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Isolate
• 2 Tbsp toasted slivered almonds
• 2 strawberries, sliced

Blend acai, banana, almond milk, avocado, and protein. Pour into a bowl. Decorate as desired and dig in!

Check out all four weeks of challenges, and post your fitness progress and homemade snacks using #ProvingIt! We might just feature you on our Instagram page.