Having completed one 26.2 mile marathon in my life, I can’t quite remember how my *dear* friend convinced a number of my girlfriends (including moi) to enter a half marathon this summer.

I think it was a combination of a few Gin & Tonics on New Year’s Eve, mixed with conversation about planning a girly Ibiza getaway which involves wearing bikinis, in public, on a beach, surrounded by one’s gorgeous girlfriends…

Somehow I was won over – even after an afterthought/hungover conversation on New Year’s Day, taking place in a Whatsapp group aptly named “BEEFA” – that’s Essex talk for Ibiza, in case you were wondering.

So I am now back in to my running and I now recall was how hungry I was during my marathon training days. It’s so easy to graze on anything to give a quick sugar/carb/calorie fix – which is why I try and ensure I have always got some home made ‘healthier’ treats as my easy-to-reach alternatives…

Here’s a really easy recipe to make home made bars (inspired by some more complex energy bar recipes my trainer gave me)…

You need just 4 ingredients:

1. 200g oats
2. 130ml almond milk (or skimmed milk is fine)
3. 1 jar almond butter (approx 125g)
4. 1 egg white

Method: Mix the ingredients up in a bowl, put in small oven dish (you want them a good few centimetres deep), and bake for 25-30 minutes at 180 degrees. Leave them to cool in the oven dish before removing and cutting them in to 6-8 squares.

That’s it!

Make sure you line your oven dish – ideally with coconut oil or baking paper.

Although these bars are fine as is, I prefer to mix them up with other ingredients. Try adding chocolate or vanilla flavoured protein powder to create the optimum pre/post workout snack, or play around with different types of dried fruit, blueberries, nuts and seeds – for different flavours and textures.

My favourite combination is to mix in some chopped dates and a drizzle of honey. I then place only half of the mixture in the dish before adding a layer of sliced banana, before topping with the rest of the mixture and using a spatula to push the mixture down firmly to ensure the finished product is nicely dense.

So good and so easy to make!

Whether you need a quick breakfast, a snack before/after a fitness session, or an alternative teatime treat, please do give these bars a go and have fun toying with a variety of ingredients – and no that doesn’t necessarily include chocolate chips, marshmallows or caramel chunks (well – for me not until after bikini season!).

XCamilla