School has taught my kids a lot about food. In fact, it’s open a whole new world of food they didn’t know existed. I feel like I’m in a constant battle of them learning and wanting something to me quickly coming up with a healthy solution to the madness that comes home. That is where the 10 Minute Energy Bites were born.
Out of the drive to eat corn-syrup thick granola bars, I had to think of a solution to these super sweet and perfectly chewy granola bars. Lets be honest, I didn’t stand a chance. I mean we’re up against the most addictive sweetener of today, HFCS.
It never hurts to try, am I right? When you succeed, well it’s even sweeter {no pun intended}.
kids eating patterns
I get asked often how I feed my kids. I can tell you I don’t put up much of a fight, because food is supposed to be enjoyed. It’s not meant to be a battle and I fear once we start the food fight, it never ends. In fact, many adults are still faced with the food fight battle they once experienced as a child. Only now it comes out in bingeing, in fearing the lack of food, in the last supper mentality and in picky eating as adults.
We can say starting a food fight can make food become a subconscious obsession.
So we go to the other extreme, maybe to a fault. I do have a few rules but in general my kids decide what they want to eat and how much or even if at all with a few boundaries.
my food rules
My food rules boil down to this:
- I choose the food in which we have in the house {of course taking suggestions from the hubs and children}.
- We set meal times but allow them to pick what they eat at the meal times.
- If I make something for everyone they can choose to eat it or leave it and get the option for one “safe” food. The safe food is the dish they know they love and will eat even if they are uncertain about the food we are having at that meal.
- I allow them to eat when they are hungry and walk away from food when they aren’t without forcing food in them.
Basically once we have healthy food at home, they have a lot of control over what and how much they eat.
Don’t get me wrong, there is still the struggle to help them diversify in their choices but in general we don’t have too many food fights. My kids eat, they eat well and do so without complaining. My hope is that as they get older and become adults that their drive for healthy food is something they desire and not something that was forced upon them.
the problem
Our problem now lies in helping them to manage the not-so healthy food outside of the house. Which seems to be bombarded on them as they enter school. In my slight panic attack that they’ve ingested many things I wouldn’t buy or ever offer I’ve taken my fair share of deep breaths and know it is all a learning experience.
While we do say no to food, especially dessert if they haven’t eaten a meal, it is pretty rare.
So in the trust they’ve built, we can then help them to learn how their body feels. Especially if they eat something or too much of something that isn’t good for their body. Our oldest had a rude-awakening with this at Christmas. It’s all a part of the learning experience and it seemed to work.
Of course we’re all human and we crave sugar, chocolate and sweets from time to time.
the solution
In order to get around this, I try to make healthy treats that still taste good. Put healthy and delicious food in their bodies working to fill them up, reducing temptation and cravings. It starts by being aware of what they desire, what I desire and what the hubs desires and simply filling that void with homemade deliciousness.
Don’t get me wrong, we still have food fights. Not to mention my kids eat less than stellar compared to my initial mom thoughts about how well my kids would eat {I’m belly laughing at this}. Realistically though great things can come from having a common ground of avoiding restriction, starvation and deprivation.
Instead it’s all about fostering the intuitive instincts born in all of us.
the energy bites
As I mentioned these energy bites were born from the desire of my kids to avoid the highly processed, HFCS rich granola bars and instead create these fun energy bites, coated in chocolate {because it can take some coaxing and I’m not opposed}. Not to mention they are full of ‘superfoods.’
We add them to meals to create that dessert-like goodness at the end of meal or a simply addition to any lacking breakfast. We really try to avoid snacking, but if you do snack these would be a great choice to add to your mix.
Wait, quit snacking?
Yes, we don’t snack here. In fact, through my own health journey I have learned how incredibly beneficial this has been on my hormonal flow. Naturally our bodies are not intended to be digesting food 12 hours a day and actually perform better when we have structured meal times.
I know it sounds daunting, it did to me as well. I could have been classified as the ultimate grazer just picking all day. But everything changed when I took it upon myself to try out this one simple strategy. No snacking instantly created more energy, less hunger and cravings and a more even mood. You can say I was less “hangry” in general.
In fact, quitting snacking is one of my top tips in resetting your hormones, helping your body to change for good without changing anything you eat. It’s simple, it’s easy and I spell it all out in my 5-day hormonal reset. If you want to know more about it you can check out the one day reset sample to get a feel for it on your own.
Life changing.
If your still questioning this snacking idea and want to know more about how this can transform your hormones check these out:
- Is Snacking Healthy?
- The Only way To End Cravings
- How To Reset Your Hormones
- 5 Ways to Naturally Balance Hormones
- Balance Hormones By Adding These 5 Foods
the superfoods
Back to these energy bites. They really have become the indulgence my family loves without the guilt. And I really mean no guilt given they are loaded with ‘superfoods.’
These are the pantry staples I always have on hand. I tell you, you will be amazed at how much you use these ‘superfoods’ on a daily basis. I sprinkle them on yogurt parfait, put them in smoothies, add crunch to salads, topped on baked sweet potatoes, stirred in oatmeal or just sprinkled over peanut butter toast.
The crazy goodness doesn’t end and I promise it is the perfect crunch to any dish.
So here is the line-up in the pantry:
- chia seeds
- hemp hearts
- flax meal
- coconut flakes
- pumpkin seeds
- oats
- puffed rice cereal {the natural brand of rice-crispies}
- nut butter {my kids love peanut butter or cashew butter}
- raw honey
- coconut oil
- dark chocolate
If this seems overwhelming I can assure you that as long as you have the right ratio of dry ingredients to wet you can mix and match. And also, these are no-bake so you can play around with the consistency until it is just right.
As I mentioned, I can assure you that if you do a little grocery shopping or amazon stock-up you’ll definitely use all of these ingredients, possibly even daily if I can convince you enough.
Here’s to more energy, highly nutritious and deep down nourishing, delicious and indulgent 10 minute peanut butter energy bites.
How’s that for a description?
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 cups puffed rice
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup flax meal
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons hemp hearts {optional}
- ½ cup nut butter
- ⅓ cup honey
- ⅓ cup coconut oil, melted
- ⅓ cup dark chocolate
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- Mix together oats, puffed rice, pumpkin seeds, flax meal, chia seeds and hemp hearts in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl mix nut butter, honey and melted coconut oil. Stir until combined.
- Pour over dry mixture and stir until combined.
- Refrigerate for 20 - 60 minutes.
- Remove and form into balls. Place on parchment paper.
- Melt chocolate and coconut oil together.
- Dip balls half way in chocolate and dip in additional coconut flakes or nuts.
- Let dry and refrigerate until eating.