The Accidental Recipe
Post-practice nutrition is usually a race against time and hunger. Will Carr was making a post-workout shake one afternoon, got distracted by a phone call, and came back to find his blender empty and a Genesee bar half-unwrapped on the counter.
He crumbled it over the frozen açaí base he'd already poured into a bowl. Added a scoop of almond butter. Ate it standing at the kitchen counter.
"It was better than the shake," he says. "The tallow in the bar bound with the cold açaí and gave it this dense, almost fudgy texture. I made it the same way for the next three weeks."
That became the recipe we now call the Post-Workout Bison Protein Smoothie Bowl—and it's one of our most-made recipes among founders.
Why It Works Nutritionally
The macros in this bowl align with what sports nutrition research consistently supports for post-workout recovery:
- Protein: 35g total (21g from the bar + 14g from the Greek yogurt) — within the 20–40g window that maximizes muscle protein synthesis post-exercise
- Carbohydrates: ~45g from the açaí base and banana — sufficient to replenish glycogen without triggering an insulin spike that would be counterproductive to fat metabolism
- Fat: ~18g (primarily from the tallow in the bar and the almond butter) — slows digestion and extends the satiety window
The Build
See the full recipe at [/recipes/bison-protein-smoothie-bowl](/recipes/bison-protein-smoothie-bowl).
The short version: frozen açaí base blended thick, topped with crumbled Genesee bar, sliced banana, a tablespoon of almond butter, and a drizzle of raw honey. Eight minutes. One bowl. 35g protein.
Variations We've Tried
- Winter version: Swap açaí for frozen pitaya (dragon fruit) + pomegranate juice. Brighter flavor, higher antioxidant load from the betalains in the pitaya.
- High-fat keto version: Skip the banana and honey. Add half an avocado blended into the base. Drops carbs to under 15g, pushes fat to 28g. Different fuel window, same great texture.
- Pre-competition: Add a second bar crumbled on top and swap the honey for a teaspoon of maple syrup. Gets you closer to 50g protein for a pre-weigh-in loading strategy.