As summer comes to an end I am attempting to desperately cling to my favorite parts of this warm 
season. When it comes to food, I love the bounty that summer brings but what I look forward to most are fresh, ripe berries picked straight from the vine and consumed immediately. Though this recipe doesn’t use fresh berries, the presence of the dried berries are enough to bring summer back instantly with each and every bite. (Bonus part about using dried berries- this recipe can be made all year round whenever you’re craving a taste of summer!)READ MORE
Something that I really enjoy is the ability to make delicious food quickly and with a few ingredients. I often hear that eating healthy is expensive or difficult but I love the opportunity to show people that what they are saying isn’t necessarily true. Take for example, these delicious and healthy spinach stuffed mushrooms that contain only six (main) ingredients and take about 30 minutes to make, and most of the time is spent in the oven. It took me a few tries to get this right but I was determined. And boy am I glad I stuck with it because these are GOOD.READ MORE
Apparently, I can’t get enough pumpkin in my life. This bread is SO good and I’m happy to be sharing it with you. Not only is it packed full of health, it’s also gluten free and super moist thanks in large part to the coconut oil. It makes a great snack, breakfast or dessert and is becoming a favorite of mine.
Hello again! Today I am sharing a delicious and super easy dip that is sure to please. If you have ever had the very popular chickpea hummus, this variation is not much different. The flavors are pretty comparable but I find exchanging the edamame for the chickpeas is a great way to shake things up a bit. If you like hummus and you like edamame, this recipe is for you! If you have never had either, I highly suggest giving it a try and I bet you won’t be disappointed.
These bars a great little snack that made to combine the flavors of fall into a healthy grab and go treat! Pumpkin is everywhere this time of the year so I wanted to make sure to include this fall favorite without it stealing the show.. and peanut butter. Need is say more? I hope you enjoy these as much as we do!READ MORE
Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!
We all have been gifted (and possibly re-gifted) a chia pet at one time in our lives or another. In our house it was known as the gift that keeps on giving. And who forget that catchy jingle, Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!
I don’t know about you but I had no idea those seeds you spread on your terra-cotta animal back in the day weren’t just fun to grow, but also very versatile and packed full of health benefits. Today it seems like everyone is trying to get their hands on there wonder seeds and back then we were using them as home decor. Funny how times change. So here we are today, using chia seeds in everything from salads to smoothies and my personal favorite, pudding. READ MORE
I love food. This should come as no surprise since I have a food website, I am a food photographer and I also do nutrition work. It should also not surprise anyone that I love to eat. Ever since I was younger, I have been a grazer. I was never the kid to sit down and clear my plate. Rather I would eat a little while my mother was cooking, eat a little more during the meal and then come back later to finish off whatever I had left; my parents used to call me a “bird”. I wish I could say that I grew out of that habit, but truth is, I haven’t. I still prefer to set out an appetizer while I cook, have a few bites while I enjoy a meal with the family and then come back for a snack after I’ve cleaned up the kitchen. This love of “munching” has driven me to create good snacking options for myself and my family.
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.
Raw Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites
2015-08-24 08:52:59
Yields 10
Delicious bites of chocolate and peanut butter for a little pick me up to help you power through your day.
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
10 min
Total Time
20 min
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- 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!
Notes
- Store in the freezer for best results.
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