No-Bake Energy Bites!

So I'll admit, at first I really thought these were weird looking meat balls but no worries, even though they may look super weird... they're actually really yummy. 

These are basically the healthy version to simple no-bake cookies that pack in a load of protein and fiber while still giving you energy to do things like a workout, an excursion with the kids, or anything else on your agenda.


Recipe taken from Ali's Cooking Blog!
No-Bake Energy Bites Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (dry) oatmeal (I used old-fashioned oats)
• 1 cup toasted coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup ground flaxseed or wheat germ
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Instructions: 

Stir in all the ingredients in a medium bowl until mixed. 

Cover the bowl with wrap and let it chill in the fridge

 for about thirty minutes to an hour and a half.

Once they are chilled and pliable without falling apart, roll into balls that are the size that you want them to be. I recommend about the size of a golf ball.. That way you don't get TOO much food in what is just supposed to be a snack, but it's enough to deliver that burst of energy you need!

Put them in an airtight container because if you don't they will dry out and loose their moistness. 
Store them for up to a week.

If you want, you could also add toppings and roll the balls in them. Toppings such as chocolate chips, more coconut flakes, sugar, pre-made graham cracker pie crusts broken into small pieces or even thrown in the food processor for a fine powder. Another great idea for these that someone shared with me was to heat of some dark chocolate, or which ever types of chocolate you prefer, and dip the bites in there (either half way or covered completely) 

If you do melt chocolate and cover the bites, make sure the have wax paper available to put the bites on after and let them rest. Wax paper so that they are easily removed. The chocolate would need time to pit so pop those lil' bits back into the fridge for another hour and ENJOY!

More on substitutions taken from the creator of these perfect bites: (Exact Excerpt) 

Ali’s Tip:

Substitution ideas can abound for just about any of these ingredients!  Feel free to substitute in your favorite nut butter (almond butter, sunflower seed butter, etc.) for the peanut butter.  And you could also add in some wheat germ in place of some or all of the flaxseed.  I would caution, though, against substituting agave nectar for the honey, as the honey’s thickness helps hold things together.

Some other fun substitutions for the chocolate chips (or an addition to them) could include:

• chopped dried fruit (apricots, dates, raisins, etc.)
• dried berries (cranberries, cherries, etc.)
• chopped almonds, pecans, walnuts, or sunflower seeds
• other chips (butterscotch, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, M&Ms, etc.)
• other grains (different kinds of oatmeal, rice cereal, etc.)