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Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Water and snacks and a Recipe for Cocoa Bites

So, for the first night of our class on healthy living and whole food we're talking about water and snacks.  There's a lot of differing opinions about how much water you should drink each day, 8 glasses for most people is not enough.  I typically drink 5 water bottles a day (23.6 oz) which is almost 120 oz, so that's about an ounce per pound for me.  That's in addition to any tea, coffee, or smoothies that I might have during the day and I still get dehydrated sometimes, especially during the summer.

As for snacks, my friends laugh at me because I always have some kind of a snack in my purse.  I find that most people end up eating something unhealthy or going through a drive through because they're starving and don't have a snack with them.  If I don't have access to a frig my favorite go to's are Kind bars or Larabars.  They're gluten free, have a very short ingredient list and are very convenient.  If you're looking for an easy, home made snack both of these are perfect.  (The picture is of the cocoa bites)


Peanut Butter Balls

Ingredients:

1 c oatmeal
2/3 c unsweetened coconut flakes
1/2 c almond butter or peanut butter
1/2 c ground flax seeds or wheat germ
1/2 c chocolate chips
1/3 c honey
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract

Instructions:

Mix together honey, nut butter, vanilla, and chia seeds.
Add the oatmeal and flax seeds or wheat germ. Roll in coconut or chocolate chips. Enjoy.



Cocao Bites

Ingredients:

1 cup raw seeds or nuts of choice (I used sunflower, flax seeds, and walnuts)
1/4 cup cacao or cocoa powder*
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 cup medjool dates, pitted and chopped
1-3 tbsp water (I used 3)
1/4 cup cacao nibs or chocolate chips*
cocoa powder, sesame seeds, or shredded coconut, optional for coating

Instructions

Place seeds/nuts in a food processor, and process until finely ground. Pulse in cocoa, vanilla, and salt.
Add in the chopped dates and water, 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together nicely.
Process until all ingredients are distributed evenly.
Pulse in the cacao nibs or chocolate chips.
Roll pieces of the dough into small, tablespoon-sized balls. Optional: roll them in the cocoa powder, shredded coconut, sesame seeds or any other toppings of choice. Refrigerate or freeze for about 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy.

*Cacao powder and cacao nibs are vegan and raw