Nut Butter Energizing Bites

Three squares a day?  Three meals, two snacks?  Several mini meals a day?  Paleo, Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Oh Geez?  Don’t ask me please because I am not any of them.  Yes, I know all too well that January is the time for resolutions. I get it, I totally do.  You just signed up for a gym membership?  Good for you.  You swore off carbs, sugar, and all processed foods (aka junk food)?   Even better.

As I mentioned here, I am more into goals vs making New Years Resolutions.  I am not against them and love a fresh start but I am more into living a healthy lifestyle all year round…80/20 you could say.

I believe that moderate quantities of healthy treats are one of the key ingredients in reaching long-term health goals.  Do you remember those days when your mom had a snack ready for you when you got off the bus?

My grandchildren live to far away, (sigh) but I do get to prepare snacks for my friend Sarah’s little nugget, William.  At least once a week, every Tuesday, I am get to watch him explore my house, discover new hidden treasures (oh oh), and snuggle him as he naps (love)❤️.  He’s a treat to have.  He’s only one, but I have all ready discovered he loves his morning smoothies, my healthy banana cookies, and other healthy treats.

I remember having snacks like milk & cookies.  Or maybe apple slices with peanut butter?  How about ants on the log?  Sometimes cold cereal if I was lucky…  Sound familiar?

Do you love snacks still?  Are you preparing snacks for you, your kiddos, grandchildren, etc?  I am!  To be perfectly honest…….I LOOOOVE them!  I look forward to them and actually call them my “mini mental time-outs”.

I especially NEED them when I am training for a marathon!  Honestly, it seems like I am hungry all the time.  I mean all the time, especially when it’s this cold out!  So an afternoon snack is just mandatory.  Remember those 4 stages of Hunger?  This is the get out of my way time!  HA!  So there are times were three square meals a day just don’t cut it for me.  Sorry.

Yes I love all those yummy fresh veggies dipped in this amazing hummus, but some days I just want something more.  It’s kind of like after one of those long run mornings, when a smoothie is just not enough.  I just love my smoothies, as is quite obvious here, here & here.  But what do I do when I need more….

I make some yummy coffee like energy balls.  I love the taste and smell of coffee and I remembered these Dark Chocolate Coffee Treats stashed in my cupboard so I decided to try making a new healthy snack.

Wow they turned out amazing, and they don’t even taste like coffee!  Since they don’t taste like coffee, I decided I can’t call them caffeine energizing bites right?  Why?  Because, first off, if I did, those who don’t like coffee won’t try them!  That would be so sad because they are so good and  you can’t even taste the best part!  Oh boy, I am addicted to these!  I limit myself to one a day, but I wish I would have made a double batch….You will too!

Secondly, this sounds better…Nut Butter Energizing Bites.  “Right?”.   And you can use any nut butter you like.  Maybe is’s sun-butter, almond butter, or peanut butter.  Why not try tahini?  What?  Tahini?  Yes, after all, it’s not just for hummus.   So you can call them whatever you want….according to your choice of nut butter?.

Ok, want to know what’s in them?  Thought so.

All you do is mix everything together and it’s magic.  You have yourself a tasty little snack.  Seriously, you’re going to want to make these right now!  Especially if you’re needing a healthy snack almost daily like me.  They are not only super delicious, they are also good for you and will keep you energized for your next few hours of work, or pre or post-workout snack, or until whenever!

As I mentioned above, the coffee flavor isn’t overpowering, so try making these with those cute little beans first.  Trust me on this one……you won’t even notice them.  But if you insist, use chocolate chips or these.  Or heck, why not use both.  Now that is a novel idea.  The more chocolate the better.  I love recipes you can play with, don’t you?

Ok here is the best part, besides being healthy and delicious, these are ridiculously easy to make.  All you need to do is pull out your food processor.   Seriously, for me this is the most difficult part.  My Vita-Mix is always in arms reach since I have a smoothie almost daily, but my food processor is tucked backed in a cupboard in my laundry room….inconvenient I know.

Anyhow, it’s easy once you have your food processor ready……pulse a few things in your food processor, then mix everything together, then form them into balls.  This just takes a few minutes.  That’s it.  I know, all that work to pull out my food processor for just a few minutes.  So worth it though…..Super quick & Super easy.  Plus you now have a fridge stocked full of healthy treats besides carrots, celery and cucumbers.  Ha.  See I told you….worth it!

You know what else I do?  They are nice and convenient to bring to church for a sneak-able snack if you need one.  You see, Sunday mornings I run, workout and shower up at the gym since my church is right down the street.  I throw a couple in a little baggie and bring them with me, either in my purse or gym bag for a quick, delicious, and healthy treat.  YUM!

Gotta love that?!  Always prepared!  But than again, I really do love a healthy snack and often times really really need one!  Don’t you?  Thought so!  So all you need to do is make these and you’re in luck, they only take a few minutes; plus however long it takes you to pull out your food processor.

Now that you’ve made them….remember you get to try them again with chocolate chips right.  Make them again and again!  That way you’ll always have some delicious Nut Butter Energizing Bites to power you through the rest of your morning or afternoon.  Get ready, get set, go!  (make them – Ha!)  Thank You Very Much.