I work out regularly [1], and one of my favourite ways to fuel my body before hitting the gym is by enjoying a protein bar [2]. After trying tons of brands and flavours over the years (more of which had way too much sugar), I found my absolute favourite ones: Quest bars [3]. I have one almost every single day, and I'm not even ashamed to say that it is always a true highlight (it's the little things, you know?). And while all of the Quest flavours are good, the best one, by far, is s'mores. Eating one feels like I'm enjoying an indulgent dessert. Why? Because I heat it up in the microwave for exactly 28 seconds.

Popping a s'mores Quest bar into the microwave perfectly melts it into a freshly-baked cookie consistency, and it genuinely satisfies my very large sweet tooth. Because there are chunks of chocolate and graham cracker in the bar, you get gooey chocolatey bites with a bit of crunch. And that sometimes off-putting protein taste [4] that most protein bars leave in your mouth? Literally non-existent in a microwaved Quest bar. If you tried one with your eyes closed, I guarantee you'd think you were eating a chocolate chip cookie straight out of the oven.

The 28-second rule is also very important. If you microwave it for too long, the bar can burn and quickly harden. If you don't microwave it for long enough, you won't get that soft cookie consistency. And while it depends on the power of your microwave, I have found that 28 seconds is the sweet spot.

I'm definitely not the only one who enjoys this hack! My husband melts all of his Quest bars and mixes them with yoghurt for a late-night snack. And when I told a few coworkers about my melting ways, they said that they, too, love to microwave their Quest bars. It's basically an underground club, and you absolutely need to join.

So, the next time you want a healthy snack or are craving a cookie, pop a s'mores Quest bar into the microwave. I promise it'll be a highlight of your day.