Banana Bread Energy Bites

These banana bread energy bites taste just like banana bread! They are filled with nutrients and all the flavors that give you that banana bread flavor.

The star in these bites are the banana.  Did you know the fructose in banana is liver’s favorite source of food. It provides quick fuel to the liver and wakes up sleepy cells. Soothes the linings of the intestinal tract and also soothes the nerves attached to the intestinal tract. Contrary to popular belief, bananas are one of the most antibacterial, anti-yeast, antifungal foods.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup banana, mashed
1/2 cup nut or seed butter, melted
2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp coconut sugar
1 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp pink himalayan salt
1 cup gluten free oats
1 scoop plant based vanilla protein powder
1/3 cup chocolate chips 

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients together except the chocolate chips.

2. Add in chocolate chips and form into about 8 balls.

3. Chill in freezer for 30 minutes for balls to firm up and enjoy!

Substitutions & Notes:

• Honey or Maple Syrup: I use maple syrup to make these vegan. 
• Nut butter: Any nut butter will work for this recipe. You can use almond butter, cashew butter, tahini or sunflower butter.
• Protein powder: I prefer the vegan chocolate shakeology as it pairs nicely with the banana bread flavors and it's full of digestive enzymes, probiotics and prebiotics.   Feel free to use your favorite brand and flavor of protein powder for this recipe.
• Chocolate chips: You could always skip the chocolate chips and add a different mix-in. Some great examples include: crushed nuts, chia seeds or ground flax seeds.

Cinnamon Caramel Apple Bites

This healthy no bake snack is quick and easy.  The whole family will love the flavor of a sweet and sticky caramel apple with a hint of cinnamon.   Made with dates which contain anti-inflammatory and anti-infective properties.  Making this snack an excellent food for those who suffer with chronic infections and auto-immune disorders.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pitted dates

1 cup dried apples (not freeze dried, chewy ones)

1/2 cup oats

1/2 tsp cinnamon

If you can't find dried chewy apples, then you can dice up an actual apple.  However, here is where you would need to play around.  The apple makes the mixture super wet.  So you would need to adjust the measurements to reduce the amount of diced apple and increase the oats.  Or add in a scoop of vegan vanilla protein powder to dry up the mixture.  

Directions:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and process until it forms a thick paste.  A blender works to, but the food processor makes for an easier clean up.

2. Using about a tablespoon of the mixture, roll into balls.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Cookie Dough Energy Bites

One of my favorite things to have on hand in my freezer or fridge are energy bites and today I am sharing with you these healthy no bake chocolate cookie dough energy bites.  They taste JUST like raw cookie dough. This recipe will be so easy for you to remember off the top of your head so you can make them all the time! They come together in one bowl in under 15 minutes.  There’s no food processor or mixer required,  just good ol’ arm strength! 

Ingredients:

1 cup gluten free old fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup nut butter

1/4 cup maple syrup or honey

1 scoop vegan chocolate protein powder

1/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Place oats, nut butter, maple syrup, protein powder and chocolate chips in a large bowl and stir to combine.

2. Mix the ingredients together in a large bowl. Getting the mixture to combine takes a little arm muscle it will come together as you keep mixing. 

3. Once combined, use a small cookie scoop to scoop and form the dough into balls. Roll in your hand to form balls and roll in a few extra oats. If the mixture is to dry, then add a dash of water.

4. Enjoy immediately or store in refrigerator (for a week) or freezer (up to 3 months).

Substitutions & Notes:

• Honey or Maple Syrup: I use maple syrup to make these vegan. Maple syrup is a little thinner than honey so you might need to add some more oats to the mixture to get the balls to hold together better.
• Nut butter: Any nut butter will work for this recipe. You can use almond butter, cashew butter, tahini or sunflower butter.
• Protein powder: I prefer the vegan chocolate shakeology as it pairs nicely with the peanut butter and chocolate chips, but feel free to use your favorite brand and flavor of protein powder for this recipe.
• Chocolate chips: You could always skip the chocolate chips and add a different mix-in. Some great examples include: dried cranberries, raisins, shredded coconut, crushed nuts, cacao nibs, chia seeds or ground flax seeds.

Energy Bites to dry or crumbly?

There are a few reasons why your protein balls might be dry or crumbly. Most likely it is that there isn't enough moisture in the mixture. Be sure to use a nut butter that is smooth and runny, and consider adding a bit of water to help bind the mixture together. 

Cookie Dough Energy Bites

These Cookie Dough Energy Bites are the perfect no bake healthy snack.  They come together in one bowl in under 15 minutes.  There’s no food processor or mixer required,  just good ol’ arm strength!  So easy to make and you only need 5 simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. They hold together well so you can easily toss a few in your bag for school, work or as a travel snack for a little treat.

Ingredients:

1 cup gluten free old fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup nut butter

1/4 cup maple syrup or honey

1 scoop vegan vanilla protein powder

1/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

• Place oats, nut butter, maple syrup, protein powder and chocolate chips in a large bowl and stir to combine.

2. Mix the ingredients together in a large bowl. Getting the mixture to combine takes a little arm muscle it will come together as you keep mixing. 

   

3. Once combined, use a small cookie scoop to scoop and form the dough into balls. Roll in your hand to form balls and roll in a few extra oats.

   

4. Enjoy immediately or store in refrigerator (for a week) or freezer (up to 3 months)

Substitutions & Notes:

• Honey or Maple Syrup: I use maple syrup to make these vegan. Maple syrup is a little thinner than honey so you might need to add some more oats to the mixture to get the balls to hold together better.
• Nut butter: Any nut butter will work for this recipe. You can use almond butter, cashew butter, tahini or sunflower butter.
• Protein powder: I prefer the vegan vanilla shakeology as it pairs nicely with the peanut butter and chocolate chips, but feel free to use your favorite brand and flavor of protein powder for this recipe.
• Chocolate chips: You could always skip the chocolate chips and add a different mix-in. Some great examples include: dried cranberries, raisins, shredded coconut, crushed nuts, cacao nibs, chia seeds or ground flax seeds.