You try to eat right, but when you’re feeling beat or in a rush, it is easy NOT to make healthy food choices. We know, but here’s a tip: Super portable energy bites are *just* the thing to have on hand. From post-workout fuel to an energy-boosting snack, each of these yummy recipes packs a small but might punch. They’re loaded with protein-packed nuts, whole grains, and plenty of dried fruit for a natural sugar boost. And they’re all no-bake recipes that you just whip up, shape into bites and have at the ready to fuel your next adventure. Load up on one of these 19 energy bites for your next five-mile hike or to tackle an extra hour or two at the office.
1. Oatmeal Raisin Energy Bites: Like their cookie namesake, these bites are loaded with oats, raisins and cinnamon, but are sans all the butter. Protein and even more cookie-licious flavor comes in the form of vanilla protein powder. (via Amy’s Healthy Baking)
2. Matcha Pistachio Bliss Balls: These blissful little treats are packed with antioxidants from matcha and protein from pistachios and cashews. To sweeten all that up, Medjool dates and coconut are also in the mix. (via The Body Book)
3. Cherry Chia Energy Bites: So many good things in one nutritious little package — chia, dried cherries, flax seeds, coconut, oats, CHOCOLATE. Any nut butter can be used to hold it all together so you can change the recipe up to suit your mood. (via Some the Wiser)
4. No Bake Pumpkin Spice Latte Energy Bites: Here you have all the deliciousness of a pumpkin spice latte, but you definitely can’t call these energy bites basic. They’re made by combing pumpkin puree with gluten-free flour, brown rice syrup and, of course, a hefty pinch of pumpkin pie spice. (via The Big Man’s World)
5. No-Bake Almond Joy Energy Bites: All that joy will make you feel like you are indulging, but all the sweetness in these bites comes from pureed dates. You can probably guess the other lead players: almonds, coconut and chocolate by way of antioxidant-rich cocoa powder. (via The Healthy Maven)
6. Cranberry Vanilla Energy Bites: Toss dried cranberries, almonds, cashews, dates and vanilla in a blender, add a pinch of salt and hit the power button. That’s exactly how easy it is to make these. (via Recipe Runner)
7. Chai Latte Energy Bites: Sipping on a chai latte with a little chocolate may have been the old way you’d get an afternoon boost, but all of that comfort is now crammed into these little grab-and-go bites. They also have protein powder to keep you going. (via The Cinnamon Scrolls)
8. Carrot No Bake Energy Bites: Shredded carrots are not your typical energy bite ingredient, but that’s what makes this recipe so much fun. The carrots not only add moisture and flavor but nutrients and fiber too. The veg is stirred together with coconut, oats, nuts, dried fruit and cinnamon for that *almost* carrot cake taste. (via Vegan Heaven)
9. Lemon Poppy Seed Energy Bites: If you tend to crave a muffin in the afternoon, you can skip all the sugar and still get your fix with this energy bite. The lemon flavor comes from lemon zest and lemon juice, so it has some pucker power. (via Amy’s Healthy Baking)
10. Cranberry Pistachio Energy Bites: Following the general energy bite formula, these are loaded with dried fruit, nuts and oats, but what makes them stand out is that they are studded with buttery white chocolate chips for something all around different and delicious. (via Gimme Some Oven)
11. Apple-Cinnamon Energy Bites: When apples and cinnamon come together, they make comfort food magic. Here the sweet-tart spiciness of the combo is nicely matched with oats, flax seeds and almond butter. (via Kristine’s Kitchen)
12. Sea Salt + Dark Chocolate Quinoa Energy Balls: Protein-packed chewy quinoa meets dark chocolate and sea salt to make our healthy afternoon snack dreams come true. Almond butter, maple syrup and walnuts are in there too, to make these a superfood treat. (via Simply Quinoa)
13. No Bake Almond Butter Coconut Bites: Almond butter brings the salty while coconut and maple syrup bring the sweet to these little nibbles. There are also plenty of other nutritious goodies hiding in these small packages, like flax seeds, oats and chopped almonds. (via Beaming Baker)
14. No Bake Maple Vanilla Nut Latte Protein Bites: The makings of a protein bite *and* a latte are all here to create the ultimate energy bite. For the protein, there are chopped nuts, nut butter and vanilla protein powder, while ground coffee means there’s a whole latte energy-boosting going on. (via Cotter Crunch)
15. Healthy Fudgy Pumpkin Pie Energy Bites: With fall just around the corner, tempting pumpkin sweets will be EVERYWHERE, so come prepared with this healthy alternative. These bites get their fudgy texture from pureed pumpkin that is mixed with almond butter, oats and quinoa flakes. (via Desserts With Benefits)
16. Blueberry Almond Energy Bites: Superfood blueberries make these super delicious. To start this recipe, almond butter and agave are warmed together in the microwave. That heat helps to soften the dried berries and the other ingredients so they come together into balls in a cinch. (via Recipe Runner)
17. Pecan Pie Energy Bites: How yummy does this one sound?! Of course, in traditional energy-bite fashion, it has lots of protein and nutritious goodies packed in, like oats, wheat germ and nuts, so it only *sounds* down-right decadent. (via Baker by Nature)
18. Raspberry Coconut Breakfast Balls: If your mornings tend to be an exercise in chaos, then breakfast balls are just the thing. They’re made with just five ingredients, with one of them being crushed frozen raspberries to give them that irresistible color. (via Feeding Finn)
19. Cranberry Almond Energy Bites: These are like the LBD of energy bites. The flavors of sweet-tart cranberries with the crunch of almonds make a good base for adding in other nutritious staples you have on hand. For this recipe, those come in the form of chia and flax seeds. (via The Creative Bite)
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Erin Simpson Lozier is a writer and food stylist. She was a food editor for Better Homes and Gardens for five years, contributed to a James Beard Award-winning cookbook, and traveled extensively reviewing restaurants for Forbes Travel Guide, so you could call her a foodie. She also loves inspiring others to create through her seasonal Makery workshops and dinners. When she's not working, she can be found getting crafty with her toddler, crocheting, or dreaming about living in the mountains with her husband. For more on Erin, her recipes, and the Makery series, visit ErinSimpsonLozier.com.
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