"Cookie" bites
I have been LOVING these lately! Even though in normal life I don’t really eats sweets at all, with this pregnancy I have been craving them like none other (which supposedly means it’s a girl? We’ll see soon!). I have really struggled with this, because before I got pregnant, I always swore I would not let a morsel of unhealthy food pass through my lips, so my baby would be Super Baby, have no food allergies, autoimmune problems, or crooked teeth; also, it would be born potty-trained, speaking 5 languages, and walking. Added perks of optimal diet (in my mind). ;-) This ended up being much more difficult than I anticipated, as I found it was basically impossible to force-feed yourself steak and kale when experiencing 24/7 morning sickness.
With these Cookie Bites, though, I can satisfy my cravings, eat something that doesn’t make me want to throw up, and still feel pretty good that I am nourishing my little one in utero. They are low in carbs and sugars, and high in healthy fats and protein. And, they taste like peanut butter chocolate chip oatmeal cookie dough. Yes, you heard that right – peanut butter. Chocolate. Oatmeal. COOKIE DOUGH. My husband even thinks they are awesome! You should most definitely give these a try – they are super easy, and you won’t regret it!
As for the nutritional benefits for this recipe, which I love including, they are as follows:
Almond meal – high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats
Chia seeds – Aztec superfood – high in omega-3, fiber, antioxidants, and minerals; some protein
Pecans – added protein and good fats
Nut butter – more protein!
Dark chocolate – antioxidants and magnesium! haha :-)
Raw honey – antibacterial, soothing, healing properties – another superfood
Coconut oil- one of THE best superfoods you can eat – high in lauric acid, extremely healthy fat, antioxidant, antibacterial, good for your skin, your gut, your brain…basically, this will make you Superman.
PB Chocolate Oatmeal “Cookie Dough” Bites
These are great because they are super-versatile – switch out any dry ingredient (beside the chia seeds) for a different one, and any wet ingredient for a similar one. The possibilities are endless!
Ingredients:
1 cup gluten-free rolled oats (I use Bob’s Red Mill)
1/2 cup almond meal
1/2 cup chopped pecans (you can substitute 1 cup of another dry ingredient in the place of the almond meal and pecans)
1/2 cup ground chia seedsdash Himalayan or Celtic sea salt
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips/chunks
1/2 cup organic/all-natural peanut butter (almond or some other nut butter would be a healthier option, but I’m a sucker for chocolate and peanut butter!)
2 Tablespoons raw honey (add more if you want them sweeter)
3-4 drops liquid stevia
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine all dry ingredients and stir well
.Add wet ingredients and mix until well-incorporated. Texture should be similar to raw cookie dough. If it’s not, add more almond meal or honey/coconut oil.
Place in refrigerator to harden – approximately 30 minutes.Remove from refrigerator and roll into small balls.
Place in an airtight container and place back in fridge to re-harden. Store in fridge and enjoy anytime you need a little burst of energy, or to satisfy that sweet tooth without destroying your health!
