Energy Bites

Make these before you head out.

Oatmeal bite with nuts, fruits, chia seeds and hemp hearts. No added sugar or salt. Gluten free if gluten free oats are used.

This is labour and time intensive (took me about an hour, excluding cutting the bars up). You will use a lot of muscles stirring the wet and dry ingredients together.  However, given the cost of similar bars in the store ($3.00 and up) it is worth it.

Dry Ingredients

3 1/2 cups oatmeal (oats)

1/3 c. chia seeds

¼ c. ground flaxseed

½ c. hemp hearts

½ cup Nuts (I used walnuts)

½ cup dried Apricots

½ c. raisins

Wet ingredients

1 medium Apple, chopped

200 g dates, pitted and chopped

½ cup natural Peanut butter

½ cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup plain 0% fat yogurt

Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. Place dates in water on stove and cook until mushy. Puree.  Puree apple in water. Combine dates, apple, oil, peanut butter & yogurt in small bowl. Mix into dry. Mix well. Using a one ounce measuring scoop, scoop out the mixture and roll each scoop into small balls. Alternative, place entire mixture into 9 x 9 pan. Refrigerate. When cool, cut into bars.  Wrap each ball / bar individually in saran wrap. Keep balls refrigerated or frozen until use as the balls lose their shape when warm.  A great snack or have one for breakfast with some fresh fruit and non fat Greek yogurt!