Unprocessed Snacks: Breakfast Bars and Energy Bites

Is snack time a problem for you? Check out those unprocessed snacks – Chocolate Avocado Breakfast Bars and Power Bites. Each are vegan and gluten-free.

You could recall I’m collaborating within the October Unprocessed problem. Throughout the month of October, I pledged to keep away from all processed meals. Soups appear to be an effective way to deal with foods (see Orange Bell Pepper Soup with Roasted Broccoli), however snacks proved to be an actual check of my dedication.

The Problem: Discovering Unprocessed Snacks

In truth, I’m no longer that a lot of a snacker. I do, then again, appear to depend on protein bars. They’re best possible after workout routines and once I’m working errands or racing out the door at eight a.m. on a Saturday morning for a football recreation. I additionally throw them in my backpack once I’m touring – starvation all the time moves when meals isn’t simply out there.

The protein bars I really like do NOT move the October Unprocessed kitchen check. Bars that do are generally approach too candy for me or they contain peanut butter (blech). My project was once to seek out simply moveable unprocessed snacks, e.g. protein bar replacements.

Snack 1: Chocolate Avocado Breakfast Bars

The primary recipe I attempted was once Cooking at the Weekends’ Chocolate Avocado Breakfast Bars. Containing oats, almond meal, coconut, darkish chocolate, and avocado, they had been scrumptious and filling. I additionally had my first revel in popping amaranth (see video on Instagram). Who knew you should do this sort of factor?!

Recipe Pointers:

• I really like darkish chocolate, however no longer for breakfast. The bars labored rather well for me later within the day.
• When you’re vegan, you’ll want to change the honey in those bars with a vegan-friendly sweetener.
• I used coconut chips as a substitute of shredded coconut and so they burned somewhat. I feel subsequent time I’ll upload within the coconut when there’s about five mins of oven time left.
• One small avocado as a substitute of part a big one works advantageous. That approach you gained’t have an avocado part left over to show brown on your fridge.

Dietary knowledge (in line with bar): 219 energy, 14g fats (8g saturated), 1mg ldl cholesterol, 103mg sodium, 23g carb, 3g fiber, 9g sugar, 4g protein

Snack 2: Power Bites

The following recipe I attempted in my quest for unprocessed snacks was once Blank Consuming Kitchen’s Power Bites. The good factor about this recipe is that it’s completely versatile. You’ll use no matter nuts, seeds, gluten-free flour, or form of oats you might have readily available.

My explicit power chunk aggregate was once 1 cup cashews, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, 1/2 cup coconut flour, 10 dates, 1/four cup coconut oil, and a couple of teaspoons cinnamon. This protein bar substitute was once tasty and no longer too candy – simply the way in which I adore it!

Recipe Pointers:

• The recipe requires 1 to two tablespoons coconut oil, however my power bites didn’t cling in combination till I added extra. Get started with the minimal quantity and upload extra if important.
• I used a 1 ¼-inch cookie dough scoop and were given 24 power bites.
• Subsequent time I’ll use rolled oats as a substitute of the coconut flour, however since I had simply made the Chocolate Avocado Breakfast Bars and so they had oats, I determined to take a look at one thing other.

Dietary knowledge (in line with chunk): 108 energy, 6g fats (3g saturated), 0mg ldl cholesterol, 7mg sodium, 11g carb, 2g fiber, 7g sugar, 2g protein