I’m a tried-and-true snacker. Some of my current favorites include: full-fat yogurt + 1/2 a crumbled BoBo’s oat bar or bites, hummus + veggies, cheese + crackers, or whatever homemade treat we have on hand. When I worked in an office, though, I used to always reach for a packet of almond butter or a protein bar — Square Organics, Health Warrior, Oatmega, Perfect Bar, to name a few. I loved the convenience of eating something packaged while typing away on my computer.
That said, there are quite a few protein bars out there that are a) no better than a Twix bar and b) cause digestive issues — mostly because of their sneaky chemical fillers and unnecessary additives. You can skim through some of the most bizarre protein bar ingredients here. Anyway, here’s my rule of thumb: if you can’t understand a particular ingredient, you probably shouldn’t put it in your body. Common sense, right? In essence, understanding ingredients is far more beneficial than counting calories. At their core, calories are simply units of energy. We need ’em to do everything from sleep to move to type on our phones (a lot of ’em, too).
To segue, let’s talk about these simple, gooey energy bites. As of late, they’ve been my go-to snack. I’ll have one or two in the morning, enjoy them after lunch, or eat one right before bed. Yes, I typically eat something within an hour of hitting the pillow. Doing so helps me sleep soundly, keeps my body satiated throughout the night, and helps stabilize my hormones.
These bites are portable, delicious, chock-full of healthy fats, and are lower on the glycemic index (meaning, they won’t significantly spike your blood sugar levels). Because I haven’t been craving nut butter lately, I used tahini to bind the dough together. If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I’ve been enjoying tahini on everything — pancakes, sweet potatoes, salads, atop yogurt, and in smoothies. If you’re curious, here are 10 reasons to eat tahini 🙂 Due to the bites’ higher fat content, I keep these stored in the fridge. However, you can pop a few into a bag and take them with you on your commute, to the gym, etc. They’re a wonderful balance of sweet and nutty. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1/3 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut + 1/4 cup for topping
- 9-10 pitted dates (soaked in warm water if they’re too dry)
- 4 heaping tbsp tahini
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions:
1. In a food processor, add the cashews and coconut (save the 1/4 cup for rolling later). Pulse until they’re finely ground.
2. Add in the dates, tahini, and sea salt. Pulse until equally combined. You may need to scrape down the edges a few times.
3. If you find that the dough isn’t sticking together, add 1-2 tbsp of water to the dough. Continue pulsing in the food processor. Once combined, you should have a relatively sticky mixture that still maintains some texture.
4. Roll the dough into balls. Then, roll them in a small bowl of shredded coconut (or dip them into melted chocolate, sprinkle on hemp seeds, etc.). Place on a baking sheet or in tupperware.
5. Stick them in the fridge for 1-2 hours. Then, dig in. Also, I find that these taste even more delicious as the days go on.
If you make any of my recipes, please tag me (@wellnesswithedie) or use #wellnesswithedie on Instagram! That way, I can easily see your creations 🙂
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