Almond-Date Balls

Okay, so I have been talking about sweetness this week. In case you missed it, a few days ago I posted a recipe for Chocolate Oat Squares - quick and easy to put together and throw in the oven. Many of us can still confess to a sweet tooth. Nothing wrong with that if it is kept in a healthy perspective. Like anything in life, it's about knowledge and control - this gives us the power to make wise choices (in many arenas of life).​

I was thinking about something for those times when you feel yourself crashing - time could be anywhere from 2:30 to 5:00 pm. The witching hour of when the lunch glow has worn off and dinner might be still a ways off. I think we all know what that feels like - hunger, irritability, and foggy brain. Sounding familiar? And, of course, the instinct is for quick satisfaction - sugary products, processed foods like crackers, pretzels, chips - whatever it is that is handy to... pardon my French, but stuff in our face! Unfortunately, the energy boost is often followed by another crash. We are no further ahead.

​Here's a very simple, easy alternative for the in-between times. By planning ahead, you can make these and have them stored in your fridge. They have very few ingredients: almonds, almond butter, organic pitted dates, coconut fat, cinnamon and vanilla. Each of these come with a boost to fame, as follows:

Almonds are a great hit of protein for our starving brains. They also lower the rise in blood sugar and insulin after meals, nourish the nervous system and help alkalize the body.

Dates are rich in dietary fiber, and an excellent source of iron, potassium, calcium, manganese, copper, and magnesium.

​Coconut oil, according to Dr. Mercola, is about 2/3 medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), also called medium-chain triglycerides or MCTs. These types of fatty acids produce a whole host of health benefits.  Coconut oil is nature's richest source of these healthy MCFAs.

Here's the recipe for these wee, little balls with a whole lot of goodness!

​*adapted from KitchenKonfidence
Almond-Date Balls
​Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw almonds
• 1 cup organic, pitted dates
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1-2 tablespoons organic coconut oil

​Place almonds in a food processor and process until a coarse meal. Next, add the almond butter, dates, vanilla and cinnamon and puree together until the mixture is soft and pliable enough to form into balls.

​I found my mixture was still a bit dry, so I added 2 tablespoons of coconut oil before I shaped about a 16 little balls. They are in the refrigerator and will stay there until I feel the urge and/or need them!