Omega 3 No Bake Energy Bites for Kids.
If you try hard enough, you can convince your kid that hemp seeds are sprinkles. <---Tentative title for my memoir as a Mom.
I'm writing to you from the beach in Laguna (the most wonderful sentence I've typed all year).
My husband and I are here, taking a break from the drama surrounding our home sale, and trying to relax and give Camille 100% of our attention.
We're here for the next 14 days, and as I was packing, I realized that I had no idea what I was going to do when my kid asked for a snack 37 times a day. For the next 14 days. So, I packed some carefully selected store-bought snacks (see the inside of my diaper bag below), and decided to make some energy bites to supplement.
My diaper bag for the plane:
While I made these energy bites for Camille, when I realized the nutritional profile was so stellar, I knew Mom & Dad would be eating them, too.
I've been vigilant about Camille's omega-3 consumption since she was in utero: I ate tons of salmon, chia seeds, flax seed, kidney beans, hemp seeds, walnuts, and omega 3 fortified eggs when she was in my belly.
When she was on the outside and eating solids (~10 months), I made her Salmon + Potatoes Colcannon, Mango Chia Pudding, and the same fortified eggs at breakfast (see: Breakfast Ideas for Babies).
Now that she's older, she eats salmon right along with us, chia pudding is still a great snack, and this kid-friendly granola recipe is on heavy rotation.
The one omega-rich food that I can't quite slip into her diet (no matter how hard I try) is walnuts. I've candied them, I've finely chopped them, and I've sprinkled them into trail mix. Rejected, every time.
I had an idea to blend walnuts until they're creamy (read: undetectable to toddlers), and then all I had to do is sit back and smile as she gobbled up these omega 3 no bake energy bites for kids. Oh, and update my address so that my 'mom of the year' medal would be delivered on time.
This kid is a chocolate fiend (something she did not inherit from me because I'm all about the lemon desserts for two), I started with cocoa powder.
Then, I made a sticky base from walnuts and honey. I thickened it with oats, nut butter, hemp seeds, and pepitas (for iron!). And just when I thought my level of genius couldn't soar any higher, I poured hemp seeds in a bowl, called them sprinkles, and asked if my sweet little babe wanted to get sticky with me in the kitchen. She made a mess rolling the balls in 'sprinkles' and gobbled the bites up.
We packed an extra tray for the plane, brought about world peace, and slept very well that night. The power of omega 3 is undeniable.
Make these for your kids' after school snack, or make them for yourself--we could all use a little extra omega 3 in our diets.
Omega 3 No Bake Energy Bites for kids are the best way to serve your kids a healthy snack. And Mom & Dad can totally enjoy them, too! I added 2 scoops of collagen powder to these energy bites for fun. I use Vital Proteins collagen powder (the blue can).Energy Bites for Kids
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 123Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 30mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 9gProtein: 3g
Jane says
Strangely enough, I made energy bites TODAY from another blog that I bookmarked years (literally) ago. BUT I want to try your recipe because I really like your additions of walnuts, oats and coconut oil, none of which the other recipe had. I can't wait to try yours, since I love everything of yours that I've made!
Christina Lane says
Thanks, Jane! I hope you loved them :)
Rebecca Corman says
A few quick questions: (1) about how many bites does this make? (2) how should I store them? Fridge? (3) would this keep in the freezer? (Assuming I have any ounce of self control and they make it that far)
Christina Lane says
About 20! I store in the fridge. I just pulled some out of the freezer from last week, and they're great!
Agness of Run Agness Run says
These awesome bites seem so palatable and finger-licking, Christina! Can I also add some other nuts to this recipe?
Bethany says
Definitely using your recipe! Do you think it would be weird if I lowered the honey and upped the nut butter?
Christina Lane says
I think it would be totally fine! As for me, I had to use the honey to make them sweet enough that a kid would eat them, you know? You could also do dates?
berenice says
Parece brigadeiro, as crianças vão adorar elas amam doces e sempre estou inovando esses ttenho certeza que farão sucesso por aqui.
parth rathod says
Good one for kids, my kids loved it
thank you for sharing
Christina Lane says
So glad you liked them! :)
Lacey Fisher says
These look awesome! I must commend you...you have done a fantastic job with expanding your daughter's food palette. We are struggling in that dept in our home. I have a soon-to-be two year old who is super picky these days. I barely can get a vegetable in him. He does love energy bites and these you've created are much healthier in my opinion with all of the Omegas added. Can't wait to try them out on our little one!! :)
Elsie says
Do you have the nutritional value for these?
Melissa Shultz says
I just recently discovered the fact that chocolate helps you sleep. As well as bananas, oatmeal, cherries and any type of protein. It is ironic that these are called energy bites since they help one sleep. ;) I can't wait to try them. Hoping to have some time later this week to make some. Thanks for sharing all your yummy recipes.
Laura says
Chocolate does not help me sleep! Chocolate contains caffeine, and it keeps me awake if I eat it too close to bedtime...but lucky for you if it helps you sleep! :)
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen says
These look like a PERFECT sweet yet healthy snack :)