FoodTrients Energy Bars

You can easily make your own granola bars with your most favorite ingredients in the comfort of your home. These simple bars are sweet from dates and offer plenty of texture and crunch, not to mention heart-healthy omega-3s, from a variety of nuts. Be sure to use the variety you enjoy the most! Almond butter helps the mixture stick together while coconut flakes add depth of flavor and more texture to the mixture. These are perfect before or after workouts or for a snack at school or work. Feel free to roll these into balls instead of bars if desired.

Yields 10-12 bars

Ingredients
2 cups raw nuts: almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts
¼ tsp. sea salt
20 Medjool dates, pitted
¼ cup creamy almond butter (no sugar or oil added)
1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
½ cup oats (if needed)

Instructions
1. Pulse nuts and salt in the bowl of a food processor until finely chopped, then place in a separate bowl.
2. Using food processor again, pulse dates and almond butter until the mixture forms a sticky paste and rolls into a ball.
3. Pour date paste over nuts in mixing bowl, add coconut flakes and use your hands to knead the mixture together until blended. If mixture seems too sticky, add some rolled oats, ¼ cup at a time, until mixture is firmer and moldable.
4. Line a square 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper and press mixture evenly into the bottom. Cover with waxed paper and refrigerate for an hour before chopping into 10-12 bars. Store in an airtight container or the refrigerator, separating with waxed paper to avoid sticking.

FoodTrients
Biotin
Copper
Fiber
Iron
Manganese
Vitamin B6
Vitamin E