Pumpkin Spice Energy Bites

Now that week one back into lifting and gyming is over I’m back in the mind set of trying to eat cleaner (I really suck at this one) and then there is the pre/post workout stuff. A group I’m in on Facebook talks a lot about pre workout drinks. Seems pretty much just a lot of caffeine. I think I drink enough coffee in the morning that I don’t need a huge shot of caffeine again before I go to the gym…but at the same time by the time I do get to the gym it’s in a weird not quite time to eat a meal again time but I could probably benefit from a little snack or something before lifting.

So I checked out Pinterest. Of course. I know I’ve seen recipes for protein balls and energy balls…so I searched and came up with this one that sounded pretty yummy.

Pumpkin Spice Energy Bites

18 pitted dates

1/4 cup 100% pure pumpkin

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup raw almonds

1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Place dates in a food processor. Process until dates are in little pieces.

Add remaining ingredients. Blend until mixture is well-combined.

Using a tablespoon, scoop out mixture and form into balls.

Store in refrigerator.

Makes about 20 balls.

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I made a batch of them yesterday….forgetting to take decent pictures along the way but managed a few phone snaps after the fact…

The Ingredients…without the spice. Oops.

My not quite an action shot because I forgot…but mix it all in a food processor. Dates first until they’re all chopped up tiny, then add the rest and mix.

I’ve never had a real food processor before. I had to have Thomo show me how to put it together. I think I’m in love.

And finally, spoon into balls. Original post said use a tablespoon to scoop out balls. I used a cookie scoop baller thing.

I only got half as many as I was supposed to get out of it but I really cant imagine them smaller :/ Oh well.

I entered all of the info into MyFitnessPal.com and made a serving size 3 balls and this is what it gave me:

  Calories: 203

Carbs  42

Fat:  4

 Protein:  4

Sugar: 27

I feel like that’s a ton of sugar since my ‘goal’ is only 28g a day…but then I’ve read that natural sugars from fruits don’t count. Are pitted dates still a natural sugar or are they sweetened? I should prolly check that out. And I obviously have a lot of learning to do still….but either way. They taste amazing and I will most likely make more.