Before we get to today’s recipe, I have to let you guys know about some excitement around our house last week. On Friday, I was boiling some water when the cooktop decided it wanted to try and start a fire by producing a spontaneous explosion! Thankfully, I was able to shut off the gas to the burner as well as the supply line, but it was a startling experience, let me tell ya! So, until we can get it fixed, my cooking endeavors look a little something like this:
Funnily enough, this little $15 hotplate is very effective, and has not tried to burn my house down. So much for the high-end Dacor cook top…! (And, while we’re on the topic, I have now talked to my fair share of people trying to get it fixed. Warranty issues are never fun!)
Anyway, back to the topic at hand: Energy bites!
For the last six weeks or so, I have been easing back into training for my big race this summer, Ironman 70.3 Boise. But, this past weekend, it started to feel more like I remember from last go-round – long efforts in all three sports separated by an effort to refuel, recover, and get back out the door. Saturday held a 2200 yard swim followed later by a 7.5 mile run, and Sunday was a crazy Cross-Fit like endeavor where I biked 5 miles as fast as I
While this is what my typical weekends will look like from now until June – except with more volume each week – I love it! When you start exercising for long periods like this, though, nutrition becomes incredibly important. Specifically, post-workout nutrition is key. While I am not usually that hungry immediately after a long effort, I know from past experiences that if I skip that post-workout snack, I will be ravenous in no more than an hour and my ability to make smart choices goes out the window.
And so, this weekend, when planning post workout snacks, these energy bites were born. Your body burns sugars most efficiently after a workout, so I usually try to time anything that is higher in sugar during this window. It’s my time to eat (natural) sugar and not feel guilty in the slightest!
Warning: These little balls pack a lot of calories into a small package by design. I offer this warning because it is nearly impossible to eat just one of these. I had four after my run on Saturday! If you want to make them lower calorie, leave out the brown rice syrup, and you’ll save 25 calories per ball.
Seriously, though, I cannot stop eating these, and made a second batch yesterday. Someone please come take them from me…now!
Coconut Energy Bites
Makes: 14 balls
Time Required: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked 4 hours, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup brown rice syrup
- 13 pitted Medjool dates
- 1 cup raw oats
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut, plus more for rolling if you wish
- Optional: 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Method:
- In a Ninja Blender (recommend 40 ounce bowl) or food processor, blend the cashews and brown rice syrup until combined, stopping to push down the pieces of nuts if needed. You don’t need to get this into cashew butter – just chopped up fairly well
- Add the dates, oats, and coconut, and blend it until the mixture comes together in a big “blob”
- Pour out onto a sheet of wax paper or a clean surface, and further combine any dry bits by hand. If you are adding cranberries, at them at this time
- Use a knife and cut off small sections at a time – roughly 1 inch by 1 inch – and roll into balls with slightly damp hands
- Pour some extra coconut into a bowl or small plate and roll the individual balls through the extra coconut, if desired
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator
Nutrition:
Per ball, without cranberries:
View Comments (15)
They sound good. I am glad you weren’t hurt or anything else was damaged by the cooktop. Keep on keeping on.
No injuries or fire, but I learned I can jump very high when prompted! The repairman came today but had to order parts…so we are without the cooktop indefinitely.
This is such good info. I’m a new runner (since last summer) and have just started adding distance runs. I’m sure my body will get used to it, but I feel completely depleted after running for more than an hour. I’ve been making soymilk/fruit/flax smoothies to recuperate afterwards, but these sound great. Thanks for the recipe. My challenge too will be not eating them all in one sitting!
Hi Jennifer,
Congratulations on getting into running and expanding your regimen to include distance runs! That is fantastic! Coming from someone who has been in your shoes, your body will definitely get used to it in time, but you are doing the right thing by making sure to eat something nutritious afterwards. Happy running!
Angela
Yikes. I missed this post, and just found it now when you referred to your gas stove exploding on a more recent post. eek. I am pretty sure we have Dacor stove top and oven too, and from what I learned, there are a lot of complaints about them. Mine came with the house, and it’s a few years old. I never even thought about a gas explosion. I really should learn where the gas shut offs are. I would be in deep trouble!
Anyway, this recipe looks scrumptious.
I’ve been having issues trying to find non-Asian grown raw cashews. I’ve been looking for months. I know I used to be able to find them from Brazil, and I can find USA grown ROASTED cashews…but there is so much to do with raw cashews, I will keep looking.
Hmm, I never thought about looking for non-Asian grown cashews. I have been buying them from Trader Joe’s — now I need to look, as I am guessing they are not-USA grown. What is the concern about the Asian cashews? I am curious now!
I just don’t trust it. Just a personal preference.
You hear about so many horror stories about anti-biotic usage in honeybees, polluted shrimp farms, tainted meat in dog food. And I know it’s probably unfair to plop the whole continent of Asia into that one category, but that’s just how I feel.
I’ve not seen actual RAW cashews from US, not that they are actually “raw” anyway, same as almonds. They are just not “roasted” LOL
But I’m still looking for raw cashews from Brazil.
Okay, now you have me curious – I am going to look at the bag next time I am at TJ’s. I never looked at the origin before, but you make a great point (as usual)!
I can tell you that TJ’s are most definitely Asian grown. I’ve been checking for months. I believe it might have been a mixture of countries. Viet Nam is big for cashews. whole Foods was selling them from Viet Nam.
The almonds at TJ’s are US, and so are peanuts. Same with pecans and raisins.
I plan on using roasted cashews because that’s what I have on hand. Why shouldn’t I?
Hi KerryAnn,
If that is what you have, go for it.
There are some schools of thought that roasting nuts alters the fatty acid content and are more difficult to digest. But, I wouldn’t let that interfere — go with what you have!
Hey Angela, I didn’t know you were a triathlete…I have friends that race professionally on the Ironman and 70.3 circuits. I compete in beach volleyball, semi pro level and masters tournaments now that I turned 40, and my three sponsors are heavilly involved in tri also. Are you still racing? I have promises my friends that when i retire, I will attempt a sprint tri…I teach spin and have swum all my life (not open water so much, but some) and have run track and cross country in high school, but never put all three disciplines together in one race…HELLO JELLY LEGS off the bike ?
This recipe sounds awesome, but I am sponsored by a sports nutrition company that uses honey as their only sweetner and energy enhancer in all their products. As good as this sounds, I am thankful not to have to toil in making my own energy bars, and snacks! Good luck in your race season if you are still competing!
Hi Paul,
I ended up not racing last year…life got in the way with starting another remodel, but, have a couple tris on the schedule this year. Though, I am by no means anything more than an average age grouper. I was part of the Honey Stinger hive a couple of seasons ago, but didn’t renew when I knew life was changing a bit. It is good to have sponsors though! The bike is truly my favorite leg, but I have promised myself to focus more on being a triathlete this year instead of just a bike racer that swims and runs around the bike portion. ?
How awesome that you compete at a high level in beach volleyball! That is a fun sport. I used to have a weekly game that I played in for a couple years — being 6 ft tall lends itself to volleyball quite nicely. Alas, the group eventually disbanded and along came triathlon.
Thanks for your note and I hope your friends get you into tris before you retire from volleyball! :):)
all the time i used to read smaller articles or reviews which also clear their motive,
and that is also happening with this piece of writing which I am reading now.
Thanks for the recipe Angela. Would love to try it out.