Cranberry Almond Energy Bites

5 min 10 min 15 min 16

Nutritional
Information

  • 0.514 per ballkj
  • 7gm
  • 14gm
  • 6mg
  • 3gm

‘Tis the season to be jolly and healthy! This is the first of three recipes for healthy Christmas treats that we are sharing with you so you can stay in the pink of health during this joyous holiday.

What's In It?

  • 1 C oatmeal
  • 1/3 C almonds
  • 1/3 C sweetened/unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 tbsp ground flaxseed, optional
  • 1/2 C almond butter or peanut butter
  • 1/4 C honey
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1/3 C dried cranberries, roughly chopped

Let's Get Cooking

  1. Roughly chop the almonds using a knife or food processor.
  2. Combine the oatmeal, almonds and coconut in a bowl and bake for a maximum of 10 minutes at 350°. Stir after 5 minutes. Let it cool.
  3. Get a medium-sized bowl and add the nut butter (almond butter or peanut butter) and put in the microwave for 30 seconds until it is runny.
  4. Add the chia seeds, flaxseeds, cranberries and honey. Mix all the ingredients together.
  5. Shape each energy bite into a 1.5” ball.
  6. Refrigerate the energy bites for two hours to harden.
  7. For proper storage, put the energy bites in an airtight container and keep them refrigerated for up to seven days or in the freezer for up to 90 days.

Why is this so Good?

This recipe from The Creative Bite is overflowing with all the good stuff! These Cranberry Almond Energy Bites are rich in protein, fibre and healthy fats because they contain ground flaxseed, chia seeds, coconut, peanut butter and this superfood – almonds. In fact, a 28gm serving of almonds (about 160 calories) already provides:

  • 6gm protein
  • 3.5gm fibre
  • 14gm fat, 9gm of which is monounsaturated
  • 32% of the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for Manganese
  • 37% of the RDI for Vitamin E
  • 20% of the RDI for Magnesium; and
  • Riboflavin, copper, and phosphorus

Of course, the other ingredients are bringing their own nutritional punch as well, such as cranberries, oats, and chia seeds. One cup of whole cranberries, in particular, contains about 4gm of fibre, which is 16% of the RDI. This will keep you fuller for longer so you can avoid overeating. Plus, fibre is generally healthy for your gut as it improves your bowel movements, which prevents constipation and bloating.

If you’re watching your sugar intake, this dessert is recommended for you. Cranberries don’t contain as much sugar as other fruits like mangoes so they’re safe to eat. One cup of whole cranberries contains about 4gm of sugar only, and combine that with 3.5gm of fibre, you have a fruit that will not cause any major spikes in your blood sugar levels. In addition, cranberries are rich in manganese which according to a 2012 study can help control blood sugar in men with type 2 diabetes.

For extra fibre, protein, or richness and flavour, you may add a scoop of your own vanilla whey protein, ice cream and an ample amount of water into the mix. You can also toss in some dark chocolate chips to make the energy bites even more flavourful.