energy bites for mama

I feel like I am a pro athlete in training. I can’t stop eating. Between all of the added work of nursing and the added hours I am up in the day, my body is continually hungry since Baby Z arrived a week ago today. A friend of mine recommended that I check out this recipe for No-Bake Energy Bites from Smashed Peas and Carrots, and she had me hooked at “peanut butter.”

I’m learning that having things prepared to eat off of for days, or even weeks, is the key to keeping your energy up for the long haul. T made a double batch of these for me and I’ve been eating off of them for the past several days.

The great thing about this recipe is that there are so many great little ways to tweak it to make it a bit different each time. The recipe yields around 18-20 “bites”, depending on how big you roll these.

Ingredients

• 1 cup oatmeal
• ½ cup peanut butter (or any other nut butter)
• ⅓ cup honey
• 1 cup coconut flakes
• ½ cup ground flaxseed
• ½ cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated. Chill in the refrigerator for half an hour. Once chilled, roll into balls. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week. You can also freeze a portion, perfect for easy access in those late evening/wee hours of the morning shifts with baby.

To change it up a bit, here are some ideas for substitutions

• Cashew/almond butter.
• Use flavored peanut butters. I have to say, some pumpkin peanut butter would give this a quick seasonal flair!
• Skip the honey and use agave nectar.
• For the chocolate chips, instead use butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips or peanut butter chips.
• Want to go less sweet and more fruit? Skip the chips and instead us raisins, goji berries, cranberries or even nuts.