Ashlea Hartz, N.C., RYT
Nutty Cherry Energy Bites
Dates might be one of my favorite foods and if you follow my blog I use them regularly to make sweet treats that are healthy and delicious. I am also a big fan of cherries, so when I found the unsweetened dried bing cherries at the store I had to give them a try. According to Livestrong.com, dried cherries are a good sources of copper and vitamin C, two nutrients that support collegen production and protect us from free radical damage.
Here is my most recent recipe for a quick fix or a pre-workout energy boost! To keep costs down you can find all these ingredients at your local Trader Joe's, a great option for shopping healthy on a budget.
The raw cashews in the recipe gives is a nice "cookie dough" flavor and the cherries add a sweet pop of color. You can add or omit ingredients to fit your taste so use this as a jumping-off point for your next recipe adventure.
Cherry-Nut Energy Bites
Makes about 2 dozen

1 Cup Raw Cashews 1 Cup Pecan Halves 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted and chopped ( they should be very soft) 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 1/2 cup dried bing cherries, unsweetened 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 tsp salt Optional -1 tsp cinnamon is great for balancing blood sugar!
Directions: Add nuts to food processor and blend into a fine meal consistency. Add in the rest of the ingredients and process until a sticky dough forms. Roll 1/2 tablespoon of dough into bite size balls. Chill for about 1-hour and then serve! Bites can be stored in air tight container in the fridge or freezer then remove when ready to eat.
Nutrition Facts Calories: 119 Total Fat 8 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Monounsaturated Fat 3 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 32 mg
Potassium 65 mg
Total Carbohydrate 11 g
Dietary Fiber 2 g
Sugars 8 g
Protein 2 g
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 1%
Iron 3%