Raw Beauty Protein Bites (or Bar)

When you eat real food in its whole and unprocessed form there is no need to fuss over things like calories and fat grams. These little tasty beauty protein bites take only 5 minutes to throw together and can serve as a simple and delicious alternative to protein bars you may be buying at the super market. If you want to make enough to last you through the week simply multiply the ingredients by the number of days you’d like to enjoy them.

Ingredients

• 1 tbs. raw chia seeds
• 1/4 cup of dried,raw fruit like figs, dates or raisins ( soak these covered in water for at least 1 hour before you use them)
• 1/4 cup raw golden flaxseeds OR 1/4 cup vegan protein powder ( I used Vega One in the Chocolate flavor and omitted the flaxseeds. Both will lend a flour like consistency when blended.
• 2 tbsp. unsweetened shredded coconut or 2 tbsp. raw unsalted almonds. ( I’m a coconut girl at heart so I used that but love almonds too)
• cinnamon ( optional but I love it)

Instructions

1. First, drain the dried fruit from the soaking water. Soaking them increases the water inside them and helps them blend MUCH easier. Not soaking them will make this a little more difficult but it can sayll work okay.

2. Place all of the ingredients in a food processor or food chopper ( I used a Hamilton Beach brand 2 cup food processor that I paid $9 for at Wal-Mart and love it.)

3. Add 2 tbsp. cold water and blend until you get a paste.

4. Scrape out the «dough» a couple tablespoons at a time onto parchment paper or wax paper and form a bar, or three small bite-sized balls.

4. Wrap these up tightly and fold up around the edges. Then you can wrap it in foil to secure it.

*I don’t like placing mine directly on foil since I don’t want my food soaking up all that aluminum but if you could care less, feel free to just use the aluminum foil and skip the parchment paper.

5. This recipe makes one 45 g size bar, which is about the size of a Larabar or Luna bar, or 3 small «bites».

Notes*

These little gems will have you BURSTING with energy and keep you full for about 3 hours. They may not be the most beautiful bars, but they are SO good. I love them and they’ve been a staple for me for years on and off. Plus, after you soak the dried fruit, they take a measly 5 minutes to make. I like to make a week’s worth at a time and store them in the fridge or freezer. Then just grab and go!:)