Every once in a while a healthy recipe comes along that you simply can't believe is healthy. Yes, these. The delicious natural (high-calorie) bars that helped get me through the early months of nursing. (When your appetite is so wild that you wake in at 3am of gnawing hunger. If you've been there, you know what I'm talking about.
These bars are by no means low calorie, but they're full of healthy fats and proteins, and though they'll curb your sweet tooth craving, they have no added sugar. (Just the sugars naturally occurring in dates.) And they're so easy peasy to make. Just four ingredients in the food processor.
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup almonds
3/4 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 1/4 cup dates
To make:
Pour almonds and coconut into the food processor and pulse until crumbled. (How fine or chunky you like them is a matter of preference, and you'll find yours after making them a few times.) Add dates and coconut oil, pulse until everything comes together and dates are well chopped.
Place in a 9x14 inch baking dish, patting down to make sure the mixture sticks together. Place in the fridge until firm, then cut and enjoy!
I cut these up and then keep a container of the bars in the fridge as they tend to droop if they get too warm. With less coconut oil, you may not have to keep them in the fridge, but I like the flavor and nutrients it adds. If you do choose to do less oil, you may want to up the dates in order to make the bars stick together well.
Try them out and report back!