Are you looking for healthy snack ideas that also quenches your chocolate craving? When choosing a healthy snack it’s important to get a mix of protein, fat, fibre and carbohydrates to help keep you full and satisfied until your next meal. Snack time is also not the time to overeat, which makes it helpful to have snacks in pre-made portions.
We’ve developed these two tasty snack treats - Choc Chia Energy Bites & Chocolate Chia Mousse - to curb those chocolate cravings and give you all the components of a healthy snack food.
Here’s the run down on some of the ingredients we’ve used:
Oats
- A great source of fibre, including beta-glucan
- Rich in nutrients manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, folate, vitamin B1, vitamin B5
Dates
- Highly nutritious with high levels of potassium, magnesium, copper and vitamin B6.
- Rich in the antioxidants flavonoids, carotenoids and phenolic acid
- Packed full of fibre to maintain healthy digestion
Nut butter
- They are a great source of nutrients and depending on the nut can include high levels of magnesium, vitamin E and selenium
- Antioxidant powerhouses
- Contain ‘healthy’ fats and are a great plant protein
Chia seeds
- Another ingredient that packs a nutrient punch! High in magnesium, calcium, zinc and B vitamins and when soaked provide a good level of omega 3 fatty acids
- Contain a decent amount of protein with a good balance of amino acids.
- High in soluble fibre to help regulate the bowels and keep you feeling fuller for longer
Cacao
- Chocolate always makes you feel good and these are some of the contributing chocolate constituents: anandamide, theobromine and phenethylamine
- Rich in antioxidant flavonols and polyphenols
- Loaded with magnesium and calcium and a great plant source of iron
Coconut milk yoghurt
- A great dairy alternative
- Packed with fibre
- A good source of calcium, magnesium and vitamin B12
Choc Chia Energy Bites
- 1 ½ cups wholegrain oats
- 1 cup dates
- ½ cup nut butter (almond, peanut or ABC work well)
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- 3 tablespoons cacao powder
Optional for rolling – sesame seeds, crushed nuts, shredded coconut, extra cacao powder
- Soak chia seeds in ½ cup water for 20 mins
- Place dates in a food processor and chop until they are fine
- Add in oats, nut butter, cacao powder and chia seeds (remove excess liquid from soaked chia seeds) and pulse until combined. Try not to over process the mixture
- Form the mixture into bite-sized balls (approximate size of ice cream scoop spoon). If the mixture is too dry to form the balls you can add in a teaspoon of water at a time until the mixture is desired consistency.
- Roll the balls in a coating of your choice or leave plain. Refrigerate immediately, they will keep up to 4 or 5 days.
Chocolate Chia Mousse
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- 2 tbspn raw cacao
- 1/3 cup coconut milk yoghurt
- 1/3 cup water
- Handful of blueberries
- Honey or maple syrup to taste (optional)
- Mix all ingredients together in a jar until completely combined and leave in the fridge overnight. Then enjoy!
