Healthy Snack Bites – Natural Chocolate Energy Balls

Need a healthy snack? My Chocolate Energy Balls Recipe is sure to be a hit! They’re made with raw cacao, dates, and coconut. What an excellent snack for kids and adults alike! These healthy snack bites are a great treat to pack in school lunches or bring to the office.

There’s no need to reach for sugary foods with energizing treats like these. The best part? You can make a week’s worth of snacks in minutes!

Table of Contents

1. Benefits of Raw Cacao
2. Healthy Chocolate Ingredients 101
3. Make My Healthy Snack Bites Recipe

Benefits of Raw Cacao

When you consider healthy living, chocolate usually isn’t one of the first things to come to mind, but maybe it should be. In the proper form, chocolate can be beneficial to your body. You should note that these benefits don’t apply to sugary chocolate bars but rather to healthy treats made with raw cacao powder.

Improves Emotional Health

It’s impossible to be in a bad mood while savoring a piece of chocolate. Many people consider it their go-to treat when they want to indulge.

There may be a scientific reason behind these positive feelings. Raw cacao has been proven to boost mood and cognitive ability. (1)  When you fuel your body with healthy chocolate treats, you don’t experience blood sugar spikes, which can cause your good attitude to take a nosedive.

Skip the unhealthy chocolate bars in favor of these delicious energy balls. They are the perfect healthy snack bites. They’ll put a pep in your step!

Can Reduce Inflammation

Cacao is full of excellent antioxidants and flavonoids. (2) The purer the chocolate, the more antioxidants there are. Antioxidants are an essential part of a healthy diet because they fight free radicals and lower oxidative stress. Free radicals cause many issues, including inflammation.

A body experiencing inflammation often feels sick, and those annoying aches and pains can turn into cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and even cancer. (3) We swapped cocoa powder for cacao and have never looked back. I encourage you to do the same!

May Help Manage Symptoms of Diabetes

Many people who struggle with diabetes have given up on chocolate because most chocolate products on the market are full of glucose-spiking toxins. This doesn’t have to be the case.

Raw cacao may help people with diabetes manage their symptoms. Studies show that it can improve insulin sensitivity and aid digestion. (4) Those at a higher risk for this disease can also benefit, as consuming cacao reduces your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes. (5)

God knew what He was doing when He created the cacao bean! Keeping this treat close to its original design ensures you receive all of its benefits. You really can have your cake and eat it too!

Healthy Chocolate Ingredients 101

You only need six ingredients to make these healthy snack bites. You may have some of them in your pantry already! Here’s what you need to add to your shopping list.

Dates: Dates are a key ingredient in energy balls. They have a sticky texture that helps the treats hold together, especially when soaked.

Dates are one of the most energizing fruits, and they contain several minerals, including magnesium. (6) These treats don’t call for additional sweeteners because dates add enough sweetness.

Coconut Oil: This ingredient gives your body a dose of healthy fats! Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides that skip a step and go straight to your liver, providing an energy boost. (7) When purchasing coconut oil, look for raw varieties. This coconut oil is in its most natural state and hasn’t been tampered with.

Organic Almond Flour: Almond flour is a low-glycemic flour alternative. It’s full of protein and contains all the omega-3s that almonds do. I love using almond flour in my treats to add a full-bodied texture.

As consumers learn more about health, most grocery stores readily offer these alternative ingredients. If you can’t find them locally, you can always find them on Thrive Market’s online platform. 

Organic Raw Cacao Powder: Cacao powder is similar to cocoa powder in flavor, but it’s unprocessed. This means it retains all its nutrients and doesn’t have any added fillers. Healthy living is a series of simple swaps, and this is one you can easily make! You won’t notice a difference flavor-wise, but you get more nutritional bang for your buck.

Organic Shredded Coconut: This ingredient gives our energy balls great texture. When purchasing shredded coconut, be sure your label says “unsweetened,” as other kinds have added sugars. I enjoy rolling my energy balls in coconut to give them extra flavor! They remind me of a gourmet truffle.

Organic Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are unique in that they start small and expand in liquid. Consuming them can help you feel fuller for more extended periods. (8)  They are a great addition to this recipe as they give it a lot of added crunch!

Make My Healthy Snack Bites Recipe

This recipe is easy to make and doesn’t require a lot of effort. If you enjoy meal prepping, this is a great snack to add to your rotation. I like making this treat on the weekend, so I have healthy options all week long.

Step One: Soak the Dates

Place the dates in a small bowl and cover with water. Let stand for 1 hour. Drain and discard the date seeds.

Step Two: Process the Chocolate Energy Ball Ingredients

Add the dates, coconut oil, almond flour, cacao powder, shredded coconut, and chia seeds to a food processor or blender. Process until mixture is well combined.

Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let sit for 20 minutes to soften the chia seeds.

Step Three: Form the Energy Balls

Roll the mixture into bite-size balls. If desired, place the remaining coconut in a small bowl. Roll the energy balls into the topping until coated.

Store your energy bites in the fridge until ready to eat. Alternatively, you can freeze your treats in an air-tight container for up to three months. When you want a sweet treat, take them out of the freezer and let them thaw until soft.  Enjoy!

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