Ancient Grains | Healthy Bites

Finding a healthy snack to keep you going during the day can sometimes be difficult. You can only eat so many almonds before you start feeling more like a squirrel than a person. What about dark chocolate you say? Oh sure, pounding down one or two dark chocolate peanut butter cups is pretty awesome. Right up until the sugar rush wears off and you find yourself needing a blankie and a nap.  You can’t be napping when you’re in a killer Fit Bit step challenge with your girlfriend, who happens to be high energy and very motivated. What you need is not just two great tastes that go great together, but maybe eight great tastes that happen to also be very good for you and give you lots of energy.

We’re talking Energy Bites. A protein packed combination of old fashioned oats, almond butter, dried cherries, pistachios, orange zest, toasted coconut, honey, mini dark chocolate chips with some chia seeds and ground flax meal for added protein. These tasty bite size balls taste delicious, and are guilt free. They’re also very easy to make. 15 minutes from start to finish. As a matter of fact, I was craving some while writing this article, so I went down to the kitchen, made a batch and ate two before coming back up to finish writing this article. Want a healthy snack for the kids? Check. want some homemade energy bars for your next camping trip? Done. Need that boost of energy to get you to 10,000 steps so you can keep up with your motivated girlfriend? Got it.

Don’t thank me, thank the ancient grains. Because once again they came through in the clutch. See you next week, when we’ll show you how to use that leftover oatmeal with a popular herb to help rid your body of heavy metals. Until then, remember to cook with love and live to cook.

Jim & Jena

Print Recipe

Healthy Bites

These powerhouse bites of yumminess will recharge your battery and tantalize your taste buds at the same time.

Prep Time15 mins

Total Time15 mins

Course: Snacks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: flax, healthy, no bake, oats

Servings: 24 -30

Author: Little Rusted Ladle

Ingredients

• 1 cup Old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup Mini dark chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup Unsweetened shredded coconut toasted
• 1/2 cup Ground flax meal
• 1/4 cup Dried cherries chopped
• 1/4 cup Pistachios chopped
• 1 cup Chia seeds
• 1 tsp Grated orange zest (optional)
• 1 cup Creamy almond or peanut butter
• 1/3 cup Honey

Instructions

• Combine oats and next seven ingredients in a medium size bowl. Add almond butter and honey and stir until all ingredients are combined and the mixture can be formed into a ball.
• Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until chilled.
• Form into balls and place on a wax paper linen cookie sheet.
• Refrigerate until firm. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Feel free to substitute sunflower or pumpkin seeds for the pistachios if desired. You can also omit the cherries or replace them with dried cranberries or chopped dried apricots or raisins.