Yeah, you read that right.

A pretty incredible date, in fact.

I mean, what else can provide you with calcium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium AND vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin A and vitamin K? 😉 Dates are an amazing source of energy, natural sugar, and fiber! You know you want one, so…

Don’t worry, it wont be a:

Let me introduce you to a super easy way to prepare and make some incredible goodness out of your dates below! Dates are one of the most versatile and tasty staple ingredients to stock in your kitchen. You can eat them raw, filled with nut butter, soaked in water to create a sweet syrup, dipped in chocolate, or chopped in a salad…seriously, they are amazing in every way!

Raw Vegan Superfood Energy Bites:

Crunchy. Sweet. Nutty. Chewy. Protein-packed perfection.

If you’re craving something sweet, give these guilt-free, superfood packed, protein energy bites. They ONLY take 5 minutes to make! Aaaand, they basically taste like raw cookie dough!  These could also make for a “healthy” twist on mithai (Indian sweet), which are normally very high in added sugar and saturated fats.

Time: 5 minutes

Makes 15-20 bites

Ingredients:

• 1 cup medjool dates, pitted and roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil, nut butter, or tahini
• ½ cup of almonds + ½ cup of another favorite nut (I used walnuts)
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds*
• 1 tablespoon hemp seeds*
• 2 tablespoon oats (can be gluten-free if you prefer)
• ½ cup shredded coconut, unsweetened
• 1 tablespoon plant-based protein powder- I use the Vega Protein and Greens Vanilla powder because it is vegan, contains greens, and adds a really great vanilla flavor to the bites!
• pinch of sea salt
• Sesame seeds or shredded coconut to coat

Here is a little nutrition background on your superfoods…

*Chia seeds:

Chia seeds are really high in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, protein. Scientific research suggests that omega-3s can decrease the risk for thrombosis and arrhythmias, which are risk factors for stroke, heart attack, and sudden cardiac death. Omega-3s may also help to decrease atherosclerosis by lowering LDL (the “bad” cholesterol–LDL: you want it LOW), total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Besides chia seeds, other Jain/vegetarian/vegan sources of omega-3s are flax seeds, hemp seeds, and walnuts.

Did you know just 1 oz of chia seeds provides 10 grams of fiber–which is almost half the daily recommended amount? Total daily fiber intake should be 25-30 grams/day from FOOD, not supplements. Most Americans consume HALF the recommended amount of fiber, which can lead to gastrointestinal problems like constipation, hemorrhoids, and diverticular disease. Fiber is also an important marker of satiety. Thus, not getting enough fiber + reaching for extra snacks between meals = weight gain!

*Hemp seeds:

This superfood provides an excellent source of essential fatty acids including Omega 3, 6 and GLA in the perfect balance. They contain more digestible protein than meat, whole eggs, cheese, human milk, cows milk or any other high protein food. They are also rich in Vitamin E, which acts as an antioxidant in the body, protecting cells in the body from free-radical damage. Vitamin E also promotes healthy skin, eyes, and a strong immune system.

Convinced? Thought so. Now, here is how to make your superfood bites:

Instructions:

First add oats, nuts, chia seeds, and hemp seeds to a food processor, blend for 1 minute until it forms a flour. Then add the remaining ingredients and blend for another 1-2 minutes until a sticky dough forms. Roll the mixture into little balls for bites or press into a pan to make bars. Let set in the fridge for 1-2 hours (a true test of patience :P). Store in the fridge and grab ‘em on the go, pre-workout, or as a guilt-free snack!