Most days, we’re busy. We spend our mornings running around, getting the kids ready for school, studying, hitting the gym, or rushing to work. Often times, we get so caught up in life that we forget to take care of ourselves and our bodies. A sugary latte from a drivethru coffee shop and a donut can be oh tempting when you hit that afternoon slump or when a snack attack strikes. But, beware! Those treats will not only give you a huge sugar rush and headache, but the crash that follows will leave you feeling drained and slow. Instead of reaching for a pastry, give these No Bake Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites a shot!
Not only are they tasty, but they’re outrageously easy to make and extremely portable. If you make a batch or two over the weekend when you have a few minutes to spare, you can have a healthy snack or breakfast option for the entire week! They’re perfect for any brown bag lunch and have a sweet peanut butter flavor, big chunks of dark chocolate, and a fantastic texture to boot. The next time you’re considering going through the hassle of turning on the oven and baking up a batch of fat-laden cookies, be kind to your body instead and whip up some energy bites that both you and your kids will love! I promise, you can’t even tell they’re good for you!
It goes without saying that these energy bites are delicious, but they’re also chock full of nutrients, healthy protein, and fiber as well all of which are essential in keeping you feeling healthy and good in your own skin. Let’s take a look into the cast of characters:
The oats and wheat bran contribute to the bulk of the fiber, which is important in keeping your stool regular and in removing cholesterol, notably LDL cholesterol (the bad kind), from your bloodstream. This in turn helps reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and plays a role in keeping your arteries free from the damage that the free radicals in the LDL cholesterol cause. Along with that, fiber helps keep you feeling full and prevents against a spike in blood sugar!
Both the peanut butter and protein powder contribute to giving the energy bites their high protein content, which, like all of us know, is essential in repairing and building muscle tissue, along with several other lesser known functions such as making hormones and keeping your bones and blood healthy.
While chia seeds may seem a bit exotic to most people, they can be easily found in most healthy grocery stores such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. The little seeds provide a huge host of nutrients such as calcium, omega 3, and phosphorus and develop a sticky covering around them when exposed to water. While a gelatinous covering may seem a bit strange, it helps slow digestion and keeps your blood sugar from spiking!
And the dark chocolate? We can brag about both the benefits from its antioxidants as well as the fact that it’s downright mouthwatering!
It goes without saying that these energy bites are delicious, but they’re also chock full of nutrients, healthy protein, and fiber as well. All of which are essential in keeping you feeling healthy and good in your own skin. And the dark chocolate? We can brag about both the benefits from its antioxidants as well as the fact that it’s downright mouthwatering!
Ingredients
- ½ cup oats
- ¼ cup wheat bran
- ¼ cup protein powder
- 1 tbsp chia seed
- 1 oz dark chocolate, roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp peanut butter, chunky or smooth according to your preference
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium sized bowl, combine the oats, wheat bran, protein powder, chia seeds, and dark chocolate.
- Stir the dry ingredients together until evenly mixed.
- Add in the honey, peanut butter and vanilla extract, using your hands to combine the wet and dry ingredients.
- Using your hand or small ice cream scoop, take a tablespoon sized amount and form it into a small ball.
Notes
Energy bites can be stored at room temperature for up to two days, or refrigerated for up to a week.
Christine is a health and body image activist who is passionate about creating recipes that combine delicious and fresh ingredients with nutrition. Located on the coast of California, she enjoys spending time hiking, exploring new restaurants, and leading an active lifestyle. She is currently studying to become a physical therapist and runs her own growing food and fitness blog, Apple of My... Read More
Kim Seghers
Great recipes and your pictures of them look great . Thanks for sharing this fabulous and delicious recipe. I’m pinning it to my pinterest board they look to good not to share! Kim
FitBodyHQ
Hope they all love them!
Lucy
My friend makes something similar to these but I don’t think she’s even tried them with dark chocolate. That sounds even better than the other version! Pinning.
FitBodyHQ
Fab!