Ok, I never thought I would say this, but I’m actually kind of getting sick of dessert.  You know it’s bad when you ask your kids what they would like for a snack and the only thing they can come up with is “a treat” or “chocolate.”  It’s definitely time to wind down off this 2 week sugar high.

Ideally, I’d like my kids to eat fruits and vegetables as a snack, but sometimes it ‘s not convenient or, more often, it’s a battle I am too tired to fight.   I’d rather keep away from overly processed snacks, however, so these power bites are the perfect compromise.  Many of the ingredients are raw/unprocessed; they are packed with fiber and protein; and, best of all, my kids will actually eat them!  They also make a great grab-on-the-go breakfast, so if your New Year’s resolution is to make healthier food choices, these are an ideal little bite to keep on hand for a quick meal or afternoon pick-me-up.

These power balls require no baking so I asked my sweet little helper to lend me a hand in the kitchen.   I’ll let her demonstrate how it’s done.  First, dump all the ingredients into a bowl.  I warmed the liquid component just slightly to make it easier to stir.

Next, thoroughly stir all of the ingredients together.  The mixture should be very thick.

Using your hands, grab a small amount of the mixture and roll it into a ball.  And, viola! Power bites complete! How easy is that?

Place a layer of parchment paper in between each layer in your container and store in the fridge until you are ready to eat.

Power Bites

Ingredients:

2/3 c peanut butter

1 c gluten free, organic oats

1/2 c ground flax

1/3 c raw honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, dried cherries or raw coconut

Directions:

Dump all the dry ingredients in a bowl and stir together.  Add the peanut butter, vanilla and honey (warming very slightly) and stir until you have a thick, cohesive mixture.  Roll mixture into tablespoon sized balls, using your hands.  Store in the refrigerator until ready to eat.