Ciao tutti!
I have been so hooked on this healthy snack that I couldn’t wait to share it with you guys. These energy bites are super easy to make and have so much nutrition packed into them that they make the perfect filling breakfast or afternoon snack. They are also dairy free and can easily be gluten free if you use gluten free oats.
On my recent trip to New York, I picked up some similar energy balls from a smoothie shop before my flight home and loved them as a filling snack, but didn’t love some of the ingredients they had included. I subbed those out for my own and added a few extra for added nutrition and I thought mine came out even tastier – and definitely cheaper. The protein and fiber in them fills you up and totally satisfies sweet cravings, as they taste like a cross between a cookie and fresh granola bar. Also these ingredients are easy to find and not very expensive to purchase in their organic form, so you can boost the quality of your bites without much extra effort. I’ve linked below to the brands I trust and use.
For these energy bites you’ll need:
- 1/2 cup organic almond butter
- 1/3 cup raw organic honey
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 cup old fashioned oats (option to use gluten free oats)
- 1/2 cup of ground flaxseed meal (OR 1/4 cup flax seed meal and 1/4 chia seed powder – which is what I’m enjoying now for added benefits!)
- 5/6 tbsp. organic cacao nibs (nibs work and blend may better than chips)
- (optional – if you like coconut, you can include a few tbsp. of organic shredded coconut)
Instructions:
1. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the almond butter, honey and vanilla extract. I find that using a rubber spatula to mix is easiest.
2. Next, add in your oats, flax seed meal (and chia seed powder if you’d like) and cacao nibs. Combine again with spatula – and use those muscles because it does take a minute to get everything combined!
3. Chill mixture in the fridge for 20-30 mins.
4. Take out your mixture from the fridge and begin shaping 1 1/2 – 2 inch balls. I find that this recipe yields around 10-12 balls, which lasts me about a week.
5. Store in the fridge in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap.
I’ve been eating about two of these a day (I have to stop myself from having more) and I especially love having them after my morning smoothie for breakfast. I find that they keep me full until lunch and satisfy any sweet cravings (I love having a little something sweet with my cappuccino in the morning and these are much better than cookies).
I think the powerhouse ingredient in here is the flaxseed and I’m so happy to have found a way to incorporate it daily. Flaxseeds are rich in omega-3 fats, fiber, protein and many other vitamins and minerals. Like I mentioned earlier, I’m loving adding in chia seed powder as well which is an amazing source of antioxidants, fiber and protein.
Let me know if you guys have tried something similar and what you think. I’m also open to any other ideas for ingredients I could add to pack an even bigger health punch! I hope you enjoyed and will try them!
A presto,
Amanda