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Yummy and fun; energy on the go…homemade protein bites! I get asked for this recipe at the club where I work all the time. I found it online ages ago; so I get no credit for creating it. It’s common to catch me with a baggie of homemade protein bites between teaching fitness classes or working out with personal training clients. Even my teen clients with their picky tastebuds approve of these little bites of heaven, and what’s not to love? They taste like dessert, yet are chock full of nutrients.

Me and my most recent batch!

It’s important to eat a healthy pre-exercise snack to give your body the fuel it needs to maintain high energy levels during your workout. You want to make sure your snack consists of complex carbohydrates, which will give you more lasting and sustained energy to get through your workout. Some protein should be included, too, for muscle recovery and repair. Similarly, when driving cross country and the “sleepies” start coming on, a snack like these Protein Energy Bites will keep you alert and on the road longer.

This recipe for Protein Energy Bites is packed with a great balance of complex carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and healthy omega 3 fatty acids. Not only do they taste delicious, you’ll also have the assurance of knowing exactly what healthy ingredients they are made from…unlike the “extras” added to the more expensive store-bought brands of protein bars.

You’ll get about two dozen energy bites with this recipe. Each bite has around 100 calories and up to 4 grams of protein.

Ingredients:

1 cup oats

½ cup nut butter (your choice…non-oily at the top works best)

½ cup unsweetened desiccated coconut

½ cup mini-chocolate chips

1/3 cup honey

¼ cup chia seeds

2 tablespoons protein powder

Mix everything together and roll into one and a half inch balls. Refrigerate them for about 30 minutes so they’ll get solid. And there you have it! A great pre-workout or roadtripping snack to keep up your endurance AND to tickle your taste buds. Yum.