Healthy Treats~Date Bars
I love treats. I like to have things that I can munch on late at night. The problem is that my go to is ice cream. I love ice cream in milk. Chocolate ice cream with whole milk is my comfort food.
I have learned that I cannot do that and stay in shape, don’t get me wrong I do indulge once in a while. The other challenge is that midday snack, normally we go for candy bars or quick snacks that really do us no good.
I love to have snacks that are easy to make and filled with goodness. From healthy fiber to essential oils, snacks can be healthy and good for the body and more important the mind. We need to satisfy both. I have a hard time eating something that is just good for us with no emotional value. Meaning we eat it because we have to and not because we enjoy the experience. We actually live in the best time in the history of the world to be able to eat healthy tasty foods. We have so much at our disposal and if we can’t buy it locally we can always just go on line and order. So really we have no excuse for not eating healthy wonderful tasting snacks.
I have come to love dates. There are a wonderful healthy choice. Did you know that dates are high in iron and vitamin K. Both esssential in healthy blood cells. A serving of dates contians as much as 11% of your daily required iron needs. Dates have antiflamitory benefits for the body and do wonders for colon health including promoting healthy bacteria in the colon and gut. Dates are loaded with magnesium that has amazing results in controling inflamation in the body. Dates are great for skin and hair growth being high in B5 and Vitamins A. Dates are indeed a great choice for snack. They are filled with better sugar options and can really help curb our sugar addictions.
I love to work out. I should say I love how I feel after I work out. It’s a sense of accomplishment that I have found I can get no other way. I love how it makes my body feel and I believe that it strenghthens my spirit. For me after a work out I need something quick and good to give me an energy boost. I cycle a lot and half way through I need a quick energy. I have created a date bar that I love. I make them and wrap them and enjoy them anytime I want. I fill them will great things and the dates really sweeten them up so I really feel I am getting a good treat. I savour every bite and I love how I feel after.
This bar is filled with dates, chia, flax, nuts, hemp nuts, coconut oil, and other great things. It changes from time to time depending on what I have on hand. The important thing is that it is all natural and filled with what I need. When you make this bar add what you feel like you need and want. This recipe can be a guide for you and once you make them you will see just how easy it can be for you. If you can’t do chocolate leave it out. If you like peanut butter, add it or add the peanut butter powder. It is so flexible. I make them and cut them into bars and warp each one up in wax paper and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until I need them. They last for months, but mine never do. They go fast.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do.
Chef Brad~America’s Grain Guy
Chocolate Date Bars
3 cups dates, pitted
2 cups popped amaranth
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup hemp seed
1 cup flax meal
2 cups unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil
1/3 cup chia seed
1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 cup almond butter or organic peanut butter without sugar.
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup agave
1 teaspoon salt
Place all ingredients in food processor, if your processor is smaller, cut the recipe in half and do two batches. Process until it starts to form ball. Remove from food processor and place in a parchment paper lined cake pan. Press down firm. Place in refrigerator and let chill. Remove and dump on counter and cut into bars. Wrap each bar in a wax or parchment paper wrapping. Place in air tight container and leave in refrigerator until you need a quick snack or protein bar.