Unpackaged snack foods are hard to come by. Although, since most packaged snacks are laden with highly processed ingredients, it’s arguable that we are better off without them anyway. For the most part our kids now snack on fruits and sliced veggies.
However, sometimes it’s nice to snack on something more other than fruits and veggies, and that’s where these amazing energy bites come into play! They are easily zero waste and are healthy too. My kids can even make them on their own (with a little supervision of course!) We whip up a large batch, then put them in the fridge or freezer to pull out as needed.
Like all of my recipes, its more of a choose-your-own-adventure experience. So take my basic pattern below and make it your own!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Dates (or date syrup or honey, but in that case use less)
- 1 cup Oats (quick or rolled)*
- 3/4 cup some kind of nut or seed butter (PB, tahini, sunflower, cashew, ect)
- 3 Tb ground flax seeds mixed with 10 Tb water
- pinch of salt
- Spices and other mix-ins(see below)
Instructions:
- Place the dates and oats in a food processor or blender and pulverize into a powder. If using date syrup/honey, then just pulverize the oats. Since they are more liquidy, you might need more oats.
- Add all of the other ingredients and mix together. Add more oats if too wet, and more nut/seed butter if too dry. Add more or less dates to adjust the sweetness.
- Roll into bite sized balls.
- Optional: roll the balls in sesame seeds, coco powder, or shredded coconut
Have fun with all of the combinations you can make!
Some of our favorites is to use peanut butter and add coco powder. Another favorite is to use cashew butter and add green matcha, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
For more inspiration and recipes, see the many energy bite recipes by the amazing Minimalist Baker here.
*You could swap all or part of the oats for hemp seeds or almond flour to increase the richness. I usually go for oats since they are economical and I always have them on hand.
Happy Snacking!
Zero Waste Chattanooga 