Before you peel off, I feel like it's worth noting that these aren't your average energy balls (meaning, they don't contain medjool dates!). I have nothing against medjool dates. In fact, I love them! But I think with the big energy ball craze that hit back in 2016-ish, people grew tired of the standard nut and date combo; which is why I'm excited to bring you my new recipe for these Lemon Coconut Bites!

Dates or not, energy balls make for a perfect snack! They're typically packed with protein, fat and fibre which is the ideal nutrition profile to look for in a snack. That's because protein and fat burn slower than carbohydrates and keep you satiated for longer. So if you're like me and find yourself ravenous at 10:30am (usually on days that I work out in the morning), this is the perfect snack to pop!

On the snacking note, I do just want to remind you that if you are snacking throughout the day, to do a little check in beforehand. A lot of us eat on a clock, thinking we must eat breakfast at 7am, snack at 10am, lunch at noon, another snack at 3pm and dinner at 6pm – but are you actually hungry? Or are you eating by the clock?

I don't want to victimize snacking or snacking if you're not hungry, but just hang on to that as a gentle reminder. If anything, you might discover something new about yourself or the way you may be relying on food in the day other than satisfying hunger (which a lot of us do).

Now I know these look like cute little snowballs and we're just a few weeks away from Spring, but these Lemon Coconut Bites are really suitable all year round. The lemon and coconut flavour bring a refreshing and light zesty taste, making it a perfect snack to welcome Spring.

I also incorporated one of my favourite new ingredients – coconut butter! Coconut butter differs from coconut oil in that coconut butter is made from the whole coconut flesh, including the oil. Coconut oil, on the other hand, is the oil extracted from the meat of the coconut. Most people enjoy coconut butter on things like pancakes, toast, scones, in smoothies, coffee (bulletproof-style) or by the spoonful! I'm still trying to figure out how I enjoy it the most, but I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with how they turned out in this recipe.

You might look at this recipe and think "yikes, those puppies are loaded with fat!" from the cashews, coconut, hemp seeds and coconut butter. But you'll be happy to know you don't have to fear fat anymore! Fat is a vital macronutrient and is responsible for so many things in our body, from moisturizing our skin from the inside out, balancing hormones, lower inflammations, aiding in nutrient absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, cushioning our organs and nourishing the brain!

When I don't incorporate enough healthy fats into my diet, I notice a difference in how I feel and my hunger levels. I don't feel entirely satiated or I need to lean on my snacks a bit more because my meals aren't balanced enough. A good rule of thumb is to incorporate a little bit of fat at each meal, be it in the form of a sprinkle of hemp seeds, a handful of nuts, 1/2 an avocado or making a homemade olive oil-based salad dressing!

If you feel like you could use a bit more fat in your diet, try out some of the suggestions above, or take these Lemon Coconut Bites for a whirl, and let me know how you feel!

Okay guys, it's snack time :)

Lemon Coconut Bites

Makes 20 Lemon Coconut Bites

Ingredients

1 cup raw cashews
1 lemon, freshly squeezed
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut + 1/4 cup for rolling
1/4 cup hemp seeds
1/4 cup coconut butter
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of sea salt

Directions

Put all ingredients (except for the 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut) into a food processor and pulse until fully blended. It should be a sticky paste.
Put remaining unsweetened shredded coconut on a plate.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls and rolls in shredded coconut and set aside on plate.
Store in fridge or freezer.