Summer means kids are home from school and if yours are anything like mine, they are eating machines! I wanted to come up with a healthy whole food snack for them and this delicious coconut and chocolate energy ball is perfection in every bite! This will quickly become a family favorite in your home as it has mine, and your kiddos will love how they taste while you will love how nutritious they are!

I love how easy this recipe is to make and that it is made with all whole food ingredients. There are no refined oils, nut butters, or sugars, plus it is vegan and fits both a Paleo and Whole30 way of eating! During the school year I love to make these as healthy snacks to share with my kids athletic teams. They are easy to make and transport, easier to eat, and provide loads of energizing nutrients! Plus with all the fiber, they are gut friendly and support healthy digestion!

Why Dates are So Good For You!

My specific way of eating (WOE) is focused on foods that are in their whole form or as close as possible. I do my best to find and buy ingredients that are unprocessed or minimally processed so it is more nutritious. Medjool dates are one of my go to ingredients in many of my recipes because they are unprocessed, super nutritious, and add the beautiful sweetness to foods I’m looking for.

Medjool dates are not only a delicious and delectable way to sweeten a dish, but they are full of nutrients and fiber. Let’s compare the nutritional value of medjool dates to regular white sugar.

Just 2 dates (48 grams) contains [1]:

Calories: 133

Carbs: 36 grams

Fiber: 3.2 grams

Protein: 0.8 grams

Sugar: 32 grams

Fat: 0 grams

Vitamin B6

Minerals: Ca, Mg, Cu, K, Fe

White sugar (48 grams) [2]

Calories: 184.8

Carbs: 48 grams

Fiber: 0 grams

Protein: 0 grams

Sugar: 48 grams

Fat: 0 grams

* No Vitamins

* No Minerals

As you can see, due to the heavy processing that white sugar (sugar beets or sugarcane are the sources) undergoes, it has been stripped of any trace vitamins and minerals, resulting in a food product that is nutritionally void and empty. Check out the nutritional value of sugarcane and sugar beets in their whole form:

Sugarcane naturally contains these vitamins and minerals in trace amounts:

• Iron
• Magnesium
• Vitamin B1 ( thiamine)
• Riboflavin

Sugar Beets naturally contain these nutrients [3]:

• Fiber
• Vitamin C
• Calcium
• Iron

This is why it matters when it comes to choosing the ingredients in your dishes. Foods like white sugar that are nutritionally void are just empty calories and are inflammatory to the body. Consuming large amounts of inflammatory foods can lead to chronic symptoms and possible disease.

So grab some whole Medjool dates, and let’s get cooking!

Almond Joy Energy Bites Ingredients

1 3/4 cup Medjool dates, pitted

3/4 cup Raw Almonds

3/4 cup Unsweetened Flaked Coconut

1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 tsp Sea salt

1/4 cup Raw Cacao powder

Unsweetened Shredded Coconut for rolling (opt)

How to Make Almond Joy Energy Bites

1. If your dates are not pitted, go ahead and remove the pits and add them to a food processor.

2. Pulse and chop the dates until broken down some but not combined into a paste.

3. Add the remaining ingredients and process until it resembles a coarse crumbly texture.

• Stop the processor and pinch to see if the dough “sticks” together
• If it does not, add 1-2 dates at a time and process until desired texture is reached.

4. Using a small spoon or a small cookie dough scoop, scoop out the dough and roll it into bite sized pieces.

5. Roll the balls into shredded coconut and enjoy!

6. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container up to a week!

If you like this recipe, check these out!

Coconut Chai Energy Balls: Warm spices and nutty coconut are a match made in heaven with these energy balls. Make with seeds and coconut manna these are nut free and super delicious!

Gluten Free Almond Joy Granola: Made with all the love, tasty coconut and chocolate, without any refined oils or sugars. This granola is so good for breakfast with cold milk or as a snack with an apple or banana!

Pumpkin Spice Energy Balls: One of my favorite recipes that is on repeat through the fall season. I love to keep these on hand for my teens for their busy afternoons with sports and events.

I hope you enjoy this as much as my family does. – Amy

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