Ok guys, we are officially 110% all aboard the healthy food train - first stop, chocolate peanut butter energy bites!
One of my workmates/actual real life friends also, Yvonne, proposed at the start of spring that she was taking on a 12 week healthy eating program. So obviously, the rest of us in the office jumped on board too, because 1. summer is coming and 2. things like this are way more fun when everyone is doing it. So far, we're doing pretty well but the thing we are all having a hard time with is snack time. We sit at our desks all day which also means we kind of graze all day. I actually don't understand it - when I'm at home over the weekend, I barely eat but sit me at my computer and I'm reaching for the snack draw within 30 minutes.
So other than the obvious fruit, carrot sticks and pretzels which I am 100% obsessed with at the moment I have still been taking some form of baking for morning tea. I'm not worried about it because it's all homemade and I am addicted to cookies, but to stick with our plan and to keep Yvonne company - and maybe for a snack she will love too, I thought I would make these little energy bites.
You might have heard of these referred to as bliss balls, but I'm not 100% sure how I feel about that term. For me, it kind of denotes organic, paleo, super healthy and a little bit of "I can't eat your normal snacks, I need my bliss balls". No offense to anyone who is in any of those categories but it's just not me. And when I really think about the definition of bliss, it looks more like lying on the beach in the middle of summer after just having a swim, with an ice cold beer - not so much eating a healthy snack...you know? And I also don't really see what is blissful about spending $3 or $4 on a teeny packet of them when it's so easy to make them at home!
So we're going rogue and calling these guys chocolate peanut butter energy bites - because that's really what they are! Little bite sized snacks that you can eat guilt free and at any time of the day.
The ingredients list is short & sweet:
- Dates
- Peanuts
- Peanut butter
- Cocoa powder
Done - probably all things you have!
They're perfect for lunchbox snacks and would even be a hit with the kids. The dates make them nice and sweet and the peanuts add a bit of crunch. And even better, they are SO easy to make! Throw all ingredients into a food processor, blitz together for a couple of minutes, roll into balls and keep in the fridge.
Pop a couple into your handbag or desk draw for that mid morning snack or mid afternoon pick me up. They even make a great after dinner treat. Guilt free snacking...yuuuuuuussss!!!
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup dates
- 1 cup peanuts
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- If using pitted dates, and they are a little hard, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes, before draining and using.
- Add all ingredients to a food processor and blitz on high speed for 1-2 minutes until mixture is crumbly and you can form it into a ball with your hands.
- Form 12-15 balls and lay them out on a tray and refrigerate for about an hour until firm.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days.
Yum! It can't get any easier (or yummier) than this! 😀 I have been making a lot of my own energy bites lately because I have to pay for my own groceries while at school and bliss/energy bars/bites are just so darn expensive.
They're so expensive right?!! This is the way to do it!
Haha your definition of bliss sounds about right. Having healthy snacks is always a struggle and I agree, when I'm studying I can't resist snacking.
I'm the same! I'm a constant snacker! 🙂