From the Mouths of Babes and "A Really Good Treat"

“Want a treat?” I asked my 4-year-old girls. Their eyes light up and they stuck to me like a little bear cubs as I reached into the refrigerator to get them each one of my quick, raw energy treats I’d quickly processed together with some of my favorite staples: raw oats, dates, nut butter, hemp and flax meal.

“Yummy,” Julia said smiling with bits of food around her mouth.“I want some more,” Ailish requested with big saucer eyes. And Julia echoed the same.

They each asked and with a “pleeease” so I gave them each another (and another after that).

“Do you like these as much as a cookie?” The answer: “NO” – in unison.“But these are REALLY good treats,” said Ailish. “Not a cookie – a TREAT,” Julia explained.

Well at least I can delight them with something a little healthier. (Maybe not on par with a cookie. But they did like them and asked for more.)

Here’s the recipe:

• 1.5 cups raw oats (or mixture of oats, barley, rye flakes)
• 1/2 cup of walnut halves
• 1/8 cup of hemp seeds
• 1/8 cup of flax meal
• 1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes (for dusting each treat)
• 1/2 cup of natural peanut butter (or any nut butter), no sugar added
• 1/2 pear
• 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon (or to taste) cinnamon spice
• 3 Deglect Noor seedless dates

In a food processor add all ingredients (except mini chips and coconut) and process until forms a dough. Mix in chocolate chips until well incorporated. Scoop individual bites using a mini icecream scoop or a Tablespoon to form little balls. Roll into a bowl of the shredded coconut. Enjoy! Keep refrigerated or freeze for longer preservation.

Makes 50 individual bite-size treats.

Nutrition info (one bite-sized treat): Cal 45, Fat 3g, Chol 0mg Sodium 10mg, Carb 4g, Fiber 1g, Sugar 1g, Protein 1g

Enjoy one for a quick energy bite. Or satisfy yourself with 3 for a 150 calorie snack. Either way, it’s sweet, satisfying and lower in sugars than many of your processed energy bars and snacks. A healthy alternative to a cookie – and you know exactly what is in it.

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