Chocolate Energy Snack Bites

There are many reasons to follow a diet. Whether it's for performance, or for physique, or morality that you follow your diet, snacks are usually a point of guilt and shame in diets. Cravings require willpower to control, and willpower is a finite resource.

That's why I love these little bites; they're satisfying, they provide stable energy for hours, they incorporate the benefits of several superfoods and adhere to several dietary options (depending on ingredients used), and they're absolutely delicious. These are truly guilt free snacks full of healthy fats, protein, and fiber, and only 10 net carbs.

Essentially, all cookies, cakes, and pastries are composed of three things: flour, fat, and sweetener. By picking the right types of these components, you can make almost any guilty pleasure into a relatively healthy substitution. For example: by using dates as a sweetening agent, you remove the need for processed sugar, and you get the antioxidants, selenium, potassium, and fiber from the dates. I also substituted butter/margarine for coconut oil + almond butter, and almond flour for wheat flour, because I personally like to keep carbs low and fat high.

Not only are they delicious and good for you, but they're ridiculously easy to make. Read on for the recipe!

• 1 1/2 C Almond Flour

• 1 C Shredded Coconut

• 1/2 C Protein Powder

• 1/4 C Cocoa Powder or Cacao Nibs

• 3 Tbsp Chia Seeds

• 1 C Dried Dates

• 1/2 C Almond Butter

• 1/2 C Coconut Oil

Equipment Needed:

• Measuring utensils
• Food Processor
• Spatula
• Mixing Bowl
• Cookie sheet or pizza pan

Start off by making a binding material for the dry ingredients by blending together the dates, almond butter, and coconut oil. This will make a sweet paste (that doubles as a very delicious spread, by the way) which will bind the dry ingredients.

In a medium/large bowl, combine the flour, protein and cacao powders, coconut, and chia seeds. Use a fork or whisk to combine them.

Combine the blended paste and the dry ingredients together. i prefer doing this with my hands, it's just more fun that way.

Form the mixture into balls about 2 inches in diameter. Place the balls on your sheet or pan, and cover the pan loosely with cellophane wrap.

Chill the bites in the refrigerator for about a half hour, until the balls get firm. Keep them in a plastic baggie in the fridge. I've found that they taste the best and have the best texture after a day in the refrigerator.

These bites are now my go-to snack. They satisfy any junk food craving i may be having and make me feel great, with no guilt. This recipe makes a batch of 18 bites. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!