Since most of you don’t know me personally, I like to share bits and pieces about myself throughout my blogs. Today’s fun fact that is that I LOVE sweets. If there was a bigger word than love, I would probably use it. I could eat sweets all day long and not get tired of them. In fact, growing up I was jokingly dubbed the nickname EEJ- (“Emily Eats Junk”) by a comically impaired member of my family. Unfortunately it was true, which is why I am sharing this embarrassing fun fact with you now.
I would love to be able to say that as I’ve grown older and wiser, my knowledge of the harms of sugar outweigh my love of the substance but that it just not true, not completely true anyway. I no long feel compelled to overdo the sweets but I still like to include them as part of my diet. I just happen to do it differently now. Typically I use a natural sugar of some sort whether it be honey, maple syrup, coconut nectar, etc. And I keep my kitchen stocked with treats such as the one I am sharing today.
WHY you should give it a try:
Dates
- Natural sugars found in dates include glucose, fructose and sucrose which make them a great source of energy.
- Due to the high amount of vitamins and minerals, the health benefits of dates are impressive. They include relief from constipation, intestinal disorders, heart problems, anemia, sexual dysfunction, diarrhea, abdominal cancer, and many other conditions.
Peanut Butter
- Peanuts have only unsaturated fats so they can be consumed regularly.
- High protein
- They are full of vitamins as well. Vitamin A for eyesight, vitamin C for immune function and vitamin E which helps dissolve fat blockages in the arteries.
Cacao
- The extensive properties of cacao are impressive. It can help relieve high blood pressure, cholesterol and has antioxidant properties that eliminate free radicals from the body.
- Studies have shown that the flavonoids found in cacao help enhance mood, positively affect anxiety and combat depression.
- The amount of copper found in the cacao has been used to treat copper deficiencies and can have positive effects on preventing disease such as anemia.
- Great for helping with high blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity, constipation, diabetes, bronchial asthma, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome and various neurodegenerative diseases.
WHERE to get the goods:
- Dates and Cacao can be found about anywhere but the best pricing usually occurs in the bulk section of your local health food store.
- Peanut butter is easy to find just about anywhere. I would recommend finding one as close to natural as possible, meaning no added sugars, flavors, etc. Or you can easily make your own!
HOW to enjoy it:
- Dates in this recipe provide a great deal of energy so they are great as an on-the-go snack.
- Sweet enough to satisfy in place of a sugary dessert.
- Kids love them, making them great for an afternoon snack!
- Store in the freezer for best results.
Chocolate, peanut butter and dates. Need I say more? Not only are these tasty treats healthy and packed with energy, they are also enough to help anyone’s sweet tooth; even mine.
- 20 pitted medjool dates, soaked until soft
- 3 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp hemp seeds (optional)
- 1-2 tbsp water (as needed)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- Hemp seeds, walnuts or topping of choice
- Blend the dates into a paste
- Add the cocoa and peanut butter, blend until mixed
- Pour mixture into a bowl and add the remaining ingredients.
- Mix by hand, prepare to get messy!
- Place mixture into the refrigerator until cold.
- Once cold, remove mixture and roll into balls about 1.5 inches in diameter
- I love to roll these in chopped walnuts or hemp seeds for an extra kick of protein
- Enjoy!
- Store in the freezer for best results.
