Date Energy Balls -Be Prepared!

Date Energy Balls -a healthy snack guaranteed to satisfy the munchies, no matter when that feeling hits!

Be prepared.

No one is immune to the munchies -whether you experience them in the middle of the afternoon or in the middle of the night.

Perhaps you get that feeling as soon as you wake up in the morning and you don’t always have the time to make yourself a proper breakfast. Instead of relying on highly processed commercial foods, try these little bites to tie you over to your next meal.

Let’s take a closer look at just a few of the wholesome ingredients which are part of these energy bites.

Almonds: As you’ve probably heard, almonds are truly nutritional powerhouses, providing you with some important anti-oxidants and nutrients. Almonds are also high in protein and fiber, which can contribute to reducing your overall daily food intake. This is always beneficial if you are trying to maintain a healthy weight.  Be mindful of the portion size – a one ounce serving is equivalent to 23 nuts… so start counting ?

Cacao nibs: These unprocessed crunchy bits of raw cacao are the broken up pieces of the cacao bean. Cacao is considered a super food due to the high levels of the antioxidants flavanols and polyphenols; not to mention that it is one of the best dietary sources of magnesium.

Goji Berries: These chewy nutritional jewels, native to China, have traditionally been steeped to obtain a hot beverage. They are available throughout the year in North America in a dried form. They are an excellent source of Vitamins A and C.  I will usually purchase my berries in a natural health food store.

So now that we know the facts about the nutritional benefits of just a few of the ingredients found in these Greek Yogurt Goji Berry Almond Date Energy Bites, let me show you how easily this recipe comes together.

Start by pulsing some dates and almonds in a food processor for about 30 seconds. Add the sunflower seeds, goji berries, cacao nibs, dried cranberries and a pinch of salt and pulse for another 30 seconds or so until your mixture forms a clump. The longer you pulse this mixture, the finer the ingredients will become.

Add the yogurt and simply whirl the mixture one final time.  It’s now time to dish out some energy bites. Feel free to make smaller or bigger balls. Once the balls are portioned, roll them between the palms of your damp hands.

If desired, you can roll these bites in unsweetened shredded coconut or even cocoa. Place them in the refrigerator and then whenever you get a case of the munchies, you are ready!

Origins of the recipe for Date Energy Balls:

It’s no wonder why there is such an abundance of recipes when it comes to energy and protein bites. The ingredients are easily interchangeable and there is a lot of nutrition that can be packed in these little power balls. As an added bonus, they are totally adaptable to one’s dietary specifications. Undoubtedly, the perfect snack food and so much healthier than any store bought equivalent. Whoever came up with this original idea was truly a genius.

A couple of years ago, I came across this recipe for Yogurt Protein Bites. I liked the idea of incorporating a tart, almost sour taste (in the form of Greek yogurt) to balance out the sweetness of the dates. As an added bonus, the yogurt will contribute to the overall protein content of our little balls of goodness.

This recipe for these almond date balls will quickly become your go-to snack food when you need a quick pick-me-up!

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

Ciao for now,

Maria 

★★★★★ If you have made this recipe for healthy date balls, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Date Energy Balls

Date Energy Balls- a healthy snack guaranteed to satisfy the munchies, no matter when that feeling hits!

5 from 1 vote

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Course: snack/breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: yogurt balls

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 24 bites

Calories: 71

Author: Maria Vannelli RD

Ingredients

• 10-12 large Medjool dates pitted
• 1 cup almonds whole
• 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds unsalted
• 2 tablespoons goji berries
• 2 tablespoons cacao nibs
• 2 tablespoons dried cranberries unsweetened
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 4 tablespoons Greek yogurt
• OPTIONAL: unsweetened shredded coconut or cocoa powder for rolling

Instructions

• Combine the dates and almonds in a food processor and pulse for about 30 seconds.
• Add the sunflower seeds, goji berries, cacao nibs, cranberries and salt.
• Pulse for about 30 seconds or until desired consistency is achieved.
• Add the yogurt and pulse until incorporated.
• Shape mixture into 1 inch balls with damp hands.
• Place in fridge.
• Optional: roll balls in unsweetened shredded coconut or cocoa powder.

Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

Notes

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1bite | Calories: 71kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 112mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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