Coconut Lemon Energy Snacks

by Angela Gallardo in Recipes, Sides & Snacks

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Such a simple combination of ingredients, a combo you’ve likely tried before.  But I swear by the ratios here.  The moisture from the lemon juice combined with the dates to make that perfectly juicy bite.

Naturally regulating your energy levels is something that I have been working on consistently for the past 6 months or so.  It’s a concept that eludes many people and eluded me for a long time, as well.  Aside from the important facet of becoming fat-adapted, there are other things you can do to help with energy levels, without resorting to caffeine.  One thing that has helped me TREMENDOUSLY in making improvements in naturally regulating energy levels is a small spoonful of coconut oil in the late morning or early afternoon (depending on how early I got up).  I take a bite of the oil, rest for a couple of minutes with some energizing essential oils, and get back to work.  But coconut oil is only so fun on it’s own so I occasionally like to mix it up with a recipe that incorporates a good amount, while providing other nutrients, as well.

As I’ve mentioned in past recipes, coconut oil is a source of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), which is treated more like a carb than a fat by your body, in that they bypass the liver and are metabolized by the lymphatic system.  This means they are carried straight to the bloodstream and provide a resulting (near-immediate) energy boost.  Coconut oil contains a number of other nutrients and health benefits, making it a great go-to for energy rather than addictive alternatives that are inevitably accompanied by an energy crash.

Protein, natural sweetness from dates, and omega3s & fiber from chia, these little guys make a very balanced snack.  The amount of dates used is slightly flexible so if you’re working to keep your diet very low carb, feel free to experiment with the taste and texture of half the dates recommended.

It’s important to note that if you are not fat-adapted, meaning you have still have grains and processed sugars in your diet to a moderate (or even small) extent, the sugar from the dates in this recipe will keep this snack from energizing you for a sustained period of time.  But we’ll talk more about that later.

Coconut Lemon Energy Snacks

Yields:  18 2″ balls

1 lemon, zest

2 lemons, juice

¼ c. chia seeds

1 ½ c. raw almonds

8 dates, pitted & chopped

½ c. unsweetened shredded coconut (plus for more garnish, if desired)

¼ tspn. sea salt

3 tbspn. virgin coconut oil

Directions:

1. Zest 1 lemon and set it aside.
2. Juice 2 lemons into a small bowl.
3. Add the chia and mix well.
4. Combine almonds and dates in the bowl of a large food processor.
5. Process until finely ground, about 60 seconds.
6. Add shredded coconut, sea salt, coconut oil, reserved zest, and chia/lemon juice mixture.
7. Process until the mixture is lumpy and moist, about 60 seconds.
8. Roll the mixture into 2″ balls.
9. Sprinkle with coconut, if desired.
10. Refrigerate 30 minutes to set.  Keep refrigerated in a sealed container.