Amaretto coconut energy bar

These are my new favorite energy bars! I am loving using almond extract lately. I made these to be a DIY Larabar and they turned out really delicious! I am trying to eat more anti-candida foods lately and coconut products are a good source of caprylic acid which is a great anti-candida fatty acid.

Amaretto coconut energy bar

4 soaked medjool dates

1 cup shredded coconut

1 tablespoon melted coconut oil

2 tablespoon sunbutter

1 tablespoon ground chia seeds

1 teaspoon almond extract

*Mash ingredients together and form bars or balls. Makes about 4-5 bars.

These are also seen here http://www.allergyfreealaska.com/2013/08/01/whole-food-fridays-8-2-13/ with many other gluten free recipes.

Chocolate spirulina energy bar

This would be a good bar for that busy morning that you don’t have time to make breakfast and you want to just grab it and go. It is high protein and has a little chocolate kick to get your day started.

Chocolate spirulina energy bar

1 cup ground blanched almonds

1 cup ground (partially) walnuts

1 tablespoon ground sprouted buckwheat groats

1 mashed banana(optional for extra potassium)

10 chopped red dates

1 tablespoon ground black sesame seeds

1 1/2 tablespoons spirulina

1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder

2-3 tablespoons honey or maple (or about 6 soaked and mashed dates)

pinch cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

* Optional: handful of chocolate chips or raisins

* Mix ingredients together and sprinkle whole black sesame seeds over the top to prevent stickiness.(If it is overly sticky just add a little more almond or buckwheat flour to the mix)

* Dehydrate for a few hours to make it more firm or leave as is.

* Keep in the refrigerator and eat within 2-3 days

* Makes about 4 bars

Don’t eat red meat? Here’s 10 great sources for iron and blood building nutrients and a goji energy bar recipe

I have always had problems with being anemic even when I was eating red meat. I especially had to stock up on iron foods when I was pregnant with my kids.  When using non animal sources of iron you need to take in double the amount than you would with an animal source because the type of iron (non heme) does not absorb as well as heme iron. Also it helps to have a vitamin C rich food with your iron for extra absorption.This is especially important for vegetarians and pregnant women. I also put below a recipe for fruit sweetened goji energy bars with some of these iron rich foods in the ingredients.

Here are 10 great foods for building iron stores:

dates

figs

black beans

molasses

goji berries

clams

spirulina

beets

prunes/plums

nettles

 

Goji energy bar

1/2 cup ground sunflower seeds

2 tablespoons juicer beet pulp(or shredded beets)

2 tablespoons pistachio /3 seed butter(recipe below)

3 tablespoons dried goji berries

4 soaked and processed figs

1 tablespoon flaxseeds partially ground

1 tablespoon black sesame seeds partially ground

1 tablespoon pumkin seeds partially ground

1/2 teaspoon spirulina powder

1/2 teaspoon molasses

1 teaspoon orange zest

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

pinch of sea salt

Mix ingredients together and shape into bars., You can sprinkle some ground sunflower seeds on the outside if they are too sticky. Makes about 4-5 bars.

Pistachio/3 seed butter

3 1/2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

1/4 cup unsalted pistachios

3 tablespoons sunflower seeds

2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds

1 tablespoon black sesame seeds

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

pinch of sea salt

Makes about 4 servings worth.