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With busy kids, it can be easy to choose convenience over health. And believe me; I get it. Constant meals and constant snacks get exhausting. How often do I need to feed these ravenous little humans? I have performed my best with this incredulous task when I am planned and prepared in advance. Now, I know us moms in the trenches are not always the best at the planning and the prepping, but we at least make an effort. I can get the most out of the day when my kids can be independent. What better recipe to have sitting in a bowl in the fridge than energy bites for kids on the go!
If you’re not familiar with energy bites, they are usually small bite-size snacks made from some combination of a grain and a protein. The recipe that follows is a great basic recipe with lots of variations.
Energy from Food
Energy comes from food, so what types of food can we put in these energy bites for kids on the go to help give them healthy fuels to eat? Oats, grains, and proteins. We can find all of those things in a simple recipe that even the kids could make by themselves.
Energy Bites Recipe Idea
This recipe takes about 15 minutes to make and about an hour to chill. (See below for some other option.)
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup mini semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips. I prefer dark chocolate and it does have less sugar.
- 1/2 cup ground flaxseed. This is the power source and it contains healthy fats and lots of fiber.
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter. For added crunch, you can use crunchy peanut butter.
- 1/3 cup local raw honey. You can add less if you want it less sweet. Raw honey is easily broken down by the body which makes it an ideal sweetener.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix up thoroughly. This is where the kids come in handy! Form into 1-inch balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for approximately one hour.
Add-in Options & Variations
(I have provided a few links to help!)
Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, peanuts, pecans. Be sure to chop them up!
Dried fruits: Raisin (Don’t forget golden!), cranberries, blueberries, shredded coconut.
Seeds: Hemp, ground flax, chia, sesame.
Nut butter: Peanut, almond, cashew, sun butter, soy butter.
Sticky sweetener: Raw honey, maple syrup, agave nectar.
This snack can stay in the fridge and the kiddos can grab them when they need a quick energy-filled snack. You can double the recipe if you have more kids so you don’t run out! These energy bites for kids on the go is essential down here in the trenches. It’s just one less thing to think about and I know they are getting something healthy in their bodies as we head out the door!
If you liked this you may also like How to Stop the Constant Need for Kids’ Snacking.
Do you have a favorite energy bite recipe? Share with us in the comments.
My daughter loves making all kinds of variations of energy bites. We use this recipe all the time.