Peanut Butter Energy Bites – On The Go Care Partner Snack
Peanut Butter Energy Bites are the perfect snack for busy care partners on the go. Real ingredients, packed with lots of nutrients, fiber, and taste. These Peanut Butter Energy Bites are easy to make, very portable, and will help keep you going throughout your busy care partner day.
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These Peanut Butter Energy Bites have been one of my go to healthy snacks for years. I am all about having healthy nutritious snacks around the house so that when I am having a busy day, I can grab something quick, easy, and nutritious versus something processed and unhealthy.
When you are busy and stressed, your coping skills decline and your “will power” reserves basically go out the window. When you are in that state of mind, it becomes that much more difficult to make healthy choices. It becomes very easy to grab something desirable but maybe not too healthy, like a candy bar or sweet pastry.
Preparation Is Key
Although I am a care partner for my guy with Parkinson’s, I am also a Lifestyle Medicine Nurse, and I teach people how to take care of their health in order to best prevent disease.
Let me tell you what I tell all of my clients starting out. Someone who makes very good healthy food choices day in and day out, that is they have made it their lifestyle, they do not necessarily have more discipline or a ton of money (eating healthy doesn’t have to be expensive), and they are not more proficient at following a recipe or cooking in the kitchen. What they are good at, is being prepared.
Half the battle of eating well is preparation, that is where the conscious work come in. It would be easy to eat healthy if we had a chef preparing daily healthy meals for us, but if we have to shop, cook, and prepare healthy meals for ourselves and our loved ones, then preparation is key.
Someone who makes very good healthy food choices day in and day out, that is they have made it their lifestyle, they do not necessarily have more discipline or a ton of money. What they are good at is being prepared.
That is why I wanted to share with you my Peanut Butter Energy Bites recipe. They are one of my all-time favorite go to snacks. These bites only take minutes to make, do not spoil readily in the fridge or freezer, and you can take them anywhere.
Peanut Butter Energy Bites – Recipe Tips
These Peanut Butter Energy Bites take only about 15-20 minutes to make. So making these as part of your strong preparation plan to staying healthy is a snap. Some food prep can take a lot of time but for this recipe it is super quick and easy.
You can easily double this recipe if you want to make a bunch and then store them in the freezer. These energy bites freeze very well. In fact this is how I most often store mine.
When I am feeling like a bite or two, I will just pull out a couple from the freezer. You can eat the them right away, or let them sit for a couple minutes before biting into them. Your choice!
Peanut Butter Energy Bites – Recipe Notes
It is best to use regular or extra thick rolled oats versus the instant kind. I find using the regular or extra thick oats gives these energy bites a nice texture. However, if you only have instant on hand, that is perfectly fine. Just know your bites will have a smoother, finer texture.
Walnuts or pecans are a nice choice for this recipe but you can use any nut of your choice. If you are allergic to nuts, feel free to use pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
Feel free to swap out peanut butter for almond butter if you wish. And again, if you have a nut allergy, tahini, sunflower or pumpkin butters work great!
Instead of honey, feel free to use maple syrup, brown rice or yacon syrup, or even molasses.
When stored in the freezer, it is easy to pull out 1-2 individual servings and eat right out of the freezer. These bites do not freeze completely OR you can also let them sit for a minute or two to soften before eating.
Handy Kitchen Tools To Consider
- food processor
- silicone spatula
- parchment paper (look for unbleached)
- glass container with lid (for storage)
Peanut Butter Energy Bites Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats (preferably regular or extra thick oats)
- 1 cup walnuts (or any other nut of your choice. you can also use seeds if you have a nut allergy)
- 1/4 cup peanut butter (or almond butter if you prefer. Use sunflower or pumpkin seeds if you have a nut allergy)
- 1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup if you prefer)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 2 tbsp filtered water
optional ingredients you may want to consider
If you’d like, you can add about 1/2C of dried fruit such as dried cranberries, mango, cherries etc.
You can also roll these Peanut Butter Energy Bites in shredded coconut. I like to use a unsweetened reduced fat shredded coconut. THIS is the one I use if you are interested.
Peanut Butter Energy Bites Directions
Combine oatmeal, walnuts, and sea salt in a strong food processor, and blend until finely crumbled.
Add peanut butter, honey, vanilla and water, blend until smooth and a large dough ball starts to form.
If the dough is still too dry, add water 1Tb at a time to the mixture. Be careful not to add too much water however. Your dough should just come together. Not too dry or too wet.
NOTE: You will need to stop the processor and scrape down the sides a few times before the dough ball starts to form.
Scoop by large tablespoon full, roll in the palm of your hand to form a tight ball, place on a parchment paper lined glass container with a lid. Continue rolling out dough until complete.
How To Store
These bites store well in the freezer and will last for weeks.
You can also store them in a tightly sealed glass container in the fridge for about one week.
check out these other nourishing recipes and joyful living tips for busy care partners
Beautiful Quinoa Cranberry Salad – The Perfect Holiday Side Dish
Something Beautiful About Harvesting Cranberries On Cape Cod
Baking Is Good For The Soul & Dairy Free Scone Recipe
FREE Guides for Care Partners
I am offering several FREE Guides to help care partners stay healthy while caring for their loved ones with chronic disease. It takes a village, and I want to be a form of support for you.
Check these out and click on the links for details.
Care Partner Wellness Guide
Care Partner Smoothie Guide
Care Partner Resource Guide
Let’s be social
If you make and enjoy these yummy Peanut Butter Energy Bites, I would love it if you give this recipe 5 stars and/or comment below.
You can also follow me, and my life on Cape Cod, on my Instagram page @parkinsons_and_us.
VIDEO: Step by step directions on how to make Peanut Butter Energy Bites
Printable Recipe For You To Enjoy
Peanut Butter Energy Bites – On The Go Care Partner Snack
Equipment
- Parchment Paper (look for unbleached)
- glass container with lid (for storage)
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats (preferably regular or extra thick oats)
- 1 cup walnuts (or any other nut of your choice. you can also use seeds if you have a nut allergy)
- 1/4 cup peanut butter (or almond butter if you prefer)
- 1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup if you prefer)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 2 tbsp filtered water
Instructions
- Combine oatmeal, walnuts, and sea salt in a strong food processor, and blend until finely crumbled.2 cups rolled oats, 1 cup walnuts, 1/4 tsp sea salt
- Add peanut butter, honey, vanilla and water, blend until smooth and a large dough ball starts to form.NOTE: You will need to stop the processor and scrape down the sides a few times before the dough ball starts to form.1/4 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup honey, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, 2 tbsp filtered water
- If the dough is still too dry, add water 1Tb at a time to the mixture. Be careful not to add too much water however. Your dough should just come together. Not too dry or too wet.
- Scoop by large tablespoon full, roll in the palm of your hand to form a tight ball, place on a parchment paper lined glass container with a lid. Continue rolling out dough until complete.
- Cover and store either in the refrigerator for 3-5days OR in the freezer for weeks.
Notes
- It is best to use regular or extra thick rolled oats versus the instant kind. I find using the regular or extra thick oats gives these energy bites a nice texture. However, if you only have instant on hand, that is perfectly fine. Just know your bites will have a smoother, finer texture.
- Walnuts or pecans are a nice choice for this recipe but you can use any nut of your choice. If you are allergic to nuts, feel free to use pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
- Feel free to swap out peanut butter for almond butter if you wish. And again, if you have a nut allergy, tahini, sunflower or pumpkin butters work great!
- Instead of honey, feel free to use maple syrup, brown rice or yacon syrup, or even molasses.
- When stored in the freezer, it is easy to pull out 1-2 individual servings and eat right out of the freezer. These bites do not freeze completely OR you can also let them sit for a minute or two to soften before eating.
- If you’d like, you can add about 1/2C of dried fruit such as dried cranberries, mango, cherries etc.
- You can also roll these Peanut Butter Energy Bites in shredded coconut. I like to use a unsweetened reduced fat shredded coconut. THIS is the one I use if you are interested.
