Energy Boosting Bites
Here Claire Grady, Nutritional Therapist tells us about growing her own little boys and recommends these no-cook energy bites, with seaweed sprinkles.
Why do you recommend this recipe?
This recipe is a hit with everyone in the family and I really enjoy making these
energy balls/bars with my oldest son who is only 2 years old.
The earlier you can
involve them in the food prep and cooking process the more I feel they will be
interested in foods and in turn eating a variety of foods. It’s a mainly enjoyable
process to bake / cook with your kids if you can get your head around all the
mess!
What do you find is the biggest challenge
in growing happy, healthy eaters?
The biggest challenge to growing happy, healthy eaters is to find the patience
and tolerance for their continuous change in tastes and preferences.
Like most things with parenthood patience is the key. If your child turns their
nose up at a certain food or meal, that you’ve spent ages cooking or taken the
time to combine foods to make a healthy and balanced meal please don’t be
disheartened.
Just like adults they have phases of foods that appeal to them and foods that
don’t. You aren’t always going to get it right and the children are allowed their
prerogative.
What’s the one thing you find works with your family
to help with this challenge?
I try and get feedback from the boys as to what they feel like eating in the phase
they are in. I continue to offer them everything that I eat and allow them to try
foods from my plate. This allows them a little more autonomy over their food
choices and it allows them to take ownership of the meals and the food they eat.
They’re not trying to be difficult around meal time however often it’s their only
way of expressing themselves and their individuality throughout the day and so
they want to make it their own.
Energy Boosting Bites Recipe
What you need
250g Almond Butter (Brands: Meridian, Lifeforce, Monki)
100g of Raw Local Honey / Maple Syrup / Agave Syrup
150g Oats – roasted in the oven with Himalayan or Sea Salt (180C for 8-
10mins)
100g Organic Milled Linseeds / Flaxseed
100g Chocolate Chips (Dark / Milk / White)
100g of Flaked Almonds
½ tsp of Seaweed Sprinkles (Brand: Wild Irish SeaVeg)
½ tsp Himalayan / Sea Salt
125g Ground Almonds
¼ tsp of Org Ground Cinnamon
*Optional Extras: Add a tsp of Manuka Honey to immune-charge your energy
balls/bars
What to do
1 Mix all of the wet ingredients (honey / almond butter) together in a bowl.
2 Add in all of the dry ingredients (oats / flaxseed / flaked almonds /
chocolate chips / seaweed / salt).
3 Stir all of them together to get a cookie dough consistency.
4 Using a spoon scoop out the mix and roll in your hands to form a ball.
5 In a separate bowl add the ground almonds and cinnamon – add in two
energy bites at a time and shake the bowl to coat the snack.
*Alternatively if you wish to make energy bars – add the cookie dough
mixture to a baking paper lined tray and flatten with the back of a spoon.
6 Sprinkle the ground almonds and cinnamon mixture over the top.
7 Chill the balls / bars in the fridge and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
8 Enjoy them with a mid-morning or mid-afternoon cup of tea