In partnership with Chocolove.
Starting the New Year off with a bang! I want 2018 to be intentional. Let’s be driven, forceful, full of purpose in everything, from how we spend our time to how we love each other. Let’s do good in our worlds.Doing good starts with doing right by ourselves, and these healthy dark chocolate energy bites are definitely right! 100 calories and ZERO refined sugar is the perfect healthyish indulgence that’s high protein, low carb, gluten free, and vegetarian. 88% cacao makes them wonderfully sharp rather than sweet. I always try to be mindful of what we eat, but the stress of last year really got to me. These are my back-on-track promise to myself.
We know that dark chocolate is loaded with powerful antioxidants and several good kinds of fatty acids, but it’s tricky to balance all these naturally-occurring good things from the cacao bean with all the sugar that’s usually added to chocolate bars. Chocolove Extreme Dark is 88% pure cacao and contains zero refined sugars, perfect for anyone trying to reduce sugar in their diet while still getting all the great health benefits of cacao!
We’re pairing this superhero dark chocolate with almonds, chia seeds, and flaxseed for even more staying power. All three are packed full of antioxidants and vitamins, plus chia seeds and flaxseed are particularly great sources of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. In rankings of healthy nuts, almonds consistently make the top three because they have the highest protein-to-calorie ratio.
The bottom line is that good-for-you fatty acids and fiber keep you full and satisfied while naturally-occurring stimulants like caffeine and theobromine give you a little boost of energy – all while you get to indulge in a little dark chocolate.
I think it’s important to say that anything less than 100% cacao isn’t strictly sugar free. (And some programs, like Whole 30, strongly discourage even 100% cacao because it might be a crutch for poor habits.)
But if your goal is to reduce your refined sugar, or have more omega-3 fatty acids, or maybe you’ve joined Pinch of Yum’s fabulous Sugar Free January challenge? These bites have less than 1g of sugar, and that’s just fine with me. Do what feels right for you.
Healthy Dark Chocolate Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups raw or dry roasted almonds sliced
- 3.2 oz. Chocolove Extreme Dark Chocolate or other 85%+ dark chocolate, melted
- 2 T. chia seeds
- 2 T. ground flaxseed
- 1 T. vanilla
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Pulse almonds in a food processor until finely ground.
- Combine ground almonds with remaining ingredients and mix until very thick and sticky.
- Line a small dish with parchment paper. Press the mixture firmly into the dish, using the base of a heavy glass to press into the edges.
- Freeze for 1 hour.
- Slice into 16 bites and store at room temp.
Print Recipe
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