Homemade High-Protein Energy Bites

by Noor H. Salem

While it’s essential that you consume an adequate amount of protein for optimum health, especially when working out-many protein bars come along with unwanted ingredients. Although there are now a virtuous number of companies that make high-quality products, it’s also merely simple to make them at home yourself.

Along with the high-quality protein powder, the dates, certain spices and nuts in these recipes will boost your vitality, mood and overall physical health. Raw nuts are extremely high in protein, grant you satiety due to the healthy fats and are great for your memory. Walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, copper, manganese and biotin. They are simply remarkable in improving your cardiovascular health and due to their anti-inflammatory properties, they decrease your risk of many health conditions. Surprisingly to many, walnuts help you regulate your blood sugar levels ultimately decreasing your risk of type 2 diabetes. Pairing them with dates, protein powder and either cinnamon or fenugreek provides your taste buds with a scrumptious treat and your body with a tremendously healthy nut. Don’t be deceived by their trivial size as walnuts are mighty in their nutritional value.

Organic raw cocoa powder doesn’t just add a chocolatey like flavor to the chocolate brownie bites, but also boosts the antioxidant level of these protein bites tremendously. Cocoa in and of itself is healthy, however adding a ton of processed sugar and additives is what gives chocolate bars a bad rep. Raw cocoa is a good source of calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and potassium. Of all the natural sources, it is in fact the richest in the antioxidant flavanols- boosting your energy levels and mood alike. Ginger is another remarkable spice to add to your diet. Whether adding ginger in these protein bites or atop your lunch salad, ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, relieves nausea, prevents cancer and aids in your digestive health.

Here are three various flavors of my simple homemade energy bites-that many of my clients have simply treasured.

Feel free to omit ingredients of your choice and alternate the nuts or spices to your desire!

Chocolate Brownie Bites:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup date paste
• 1/8 cup organic raw cocoa powder
• 1/8 cup good-quality protein powder
• 1 teaspoon fenugreek, ground (optional)
• ½ cup raw walnuts, chopped

Directions:

Mix the cocoa powder, protein powder, and fenugreek spice. Add to a mixing bowl along with the date paste; mix until well incorporated. Roll into 1-inch balls; cover them with the additional walnuts.

Cinnamon Roll Flavored:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup date paste
• 1/8 cup good-quality protein powder
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon, ground
• ½ cup raw walnuts, chopped
• An additional ½ cup raw walnuts, chopped

Directions:

Mix the protein powder, cinnamon, and half cup walnuts well. Add to a mixing bowl along with the date paste; mix until well incorporated. Roll into 1-inch balls. Roll them into the remaining walnuts.

Ginger Cranberry Pistachio Bites:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup date paste
• 1/8 cup good-quality protein powder
• 2 teaspoons ginger, ground
• ½ cup raw pistachios (reserve some for rolling)
• ½ cup dried cranberries (reserve some for rolling)

Directions:

Mix the protein powder, ginger, pistachios, and cranberries in a mixing bowl. Add the date paste; mix until well incorporated. Roll into 1-inch balls. Alternating, roll them into the remaining pistachios and cranberries.

Store the energy bites in an air-tight container for optimum freshness and nutritional preservation. They should last up to 10 days.

Noor H. Salem is an author, speaker, and Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, from Michigan. Noor works with clients in better understanding their bodies and healing with natural foods through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition. She presents various workshops, school lectures, group coaching classes, and community lectures on the topic of holistic health. Noor recently published her book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS, a culmination of life-changing recipes and remedies, with a foreword by Dr. Waleed Basyouni. Her book consists of prophetic hadith, modern research, and delicious recipes, and is in the process of being translated into other languages.