Now that many kids are doing school remotely, this is the perfect snack to keep them going!

When I originally wrote this post, it was to make something for kids that was healthy after visiting the school cafeteria and seeing all the sugar almost all the kids were eating

Would you believe me if I told you that the majority of these 10 year olds were eating sugar as the majority of their calories?

This is what inspired me to make an energy balls recipe with oats that would be sugar free, peanut free, full of healthy fiber and taste good.

I witnessed nearly every kid started lunch with dessert. Probably 80% of the chicken patties go in the trash and 90% of the baked potatoes get thrown away. That was the school lunch!

I’m not going to throw blame around, because as I see it, it belongs to everyone. The bigger problem is that no one “blames” anyone, because clearly, no one sees a problem.

The kids that brought their lunches were not much better, as at least 50% of the calories were pure grocery store, sugar snacks.

One of  boy’s at the table had a lunch that was 69 grams of sugar and the only thing remotely not junk food was apple sauce! He licked the jelly off his peanut butter and jelly sandwich and threw the rest away.

I left inspired to try to make a snack that could sustain energy and still be sugar free and tasty. This energy balls recipe tastes like oatmeal cookies, but has no refined flour or sugar. Swerve doesn’t spike blood sugar so there is no crashing. The oats, almond butter and grass-fed butter serve as healthy fats and let me say again, these are delicious.

My Process Energy Balls Recipe with Oats

I always toast the oats first in grass-fed butter and a little brown sugar. I used Swerve’s new brown sugar (amazon) which is going to make baking such a joy this Fall. If you don’t have that, just use all Swerve granulated. If you happen to have some Choc Zero maple syrup, you could add a tablespoon of that in for extra flavor.

I personally like them with one or two tablespoons of  chopped golden raisins for added texture (and a bit of sweetness).

These are great “pick me up” bars, the kind you can keep in the freezer when you need a little pick up or a bite of food in between meals that is also healthy and fast.

Sugar Free Energy Balls Recipe Using Nuttzo or a Chunky Almond Butter

These are sugar free, made with Swerve’s new brown sugar and granulated sugar. Swerve is a powdered erythritol.

I love Nuttzo (Amazon) which has 7 nuts and seeds, including chia seeds, flax seeds, and pumpkin seeds and is extra high in fiber.

If you don’t have Nuttzo, you can use an almond butter and add in some chopped nuts and a tablespoon of chia seeds for that added texture. You could also make these just with almond butter. I like the Maranatha brand.

More Grain Free Baking Recipes from Spinach Tiger

More Paleo Recipes from Spinach Tiger

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Energy Balls Recipe with Oats

Energy bars with coconut almond butter for a quick pick me up.

Course Healthy Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Calories 116kcal

Author Angela Roberts

Ingredients

• This Recipe contains Amazon Affiliate Links which earn a small commission.
• Preheat oven to 350 F. 180 c, gas 4
• 1/4 cup grass-fed butter
• 1/2 cup gluten free oats
• 4 tablespoons granulated Swerve Sweetener
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• dash freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 cup dried unsweetened coconut
• 1/3 cup coconut flour
• 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 4 tablespoons crunchy Nuttzo or almond butter ORDER HERE
• 2 tablespoons dried cranberries or golden raisins chopped (optional)
• 1 small egg beaten

Instructions

• Melt butter in frying pan. Add oats and sauté until golden. Mix with 1 tablespoon Swerve.
• Once oats are toasted, remove from heat. Allow to cool for at least ten minutes.
• Mix flour, baking powder, xanthan gum, nutmeg, sea salt cinnamon, remaining Swerve.
• Mix flour mixture with toasted oats.
• Add nut butter.
• Add cranberries or golden raisins if using.
• Add in just enough beaten egg to bring the mixture together. It will still be loose.
• At this point you can refrigerate overnight and make later.
• Roll into 12 balls.
• Bake for ten to 15 minutes. (Mine were done at 12 minutes)
• Store in a cookie tin to keep texture. You can store in plastic bag, which will soften the energy balls.

Notes

Nuttzo is a 7 nut & seed butter. You can use an almond butter and add in some chia seeds for extra texture.

Nutrition values are with almond butter and no raisins.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 116kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g

The post Energy Balls Recipe with Oats, Gluten Free, Sugar Free appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies made with almond butter and no flour are the ultimate easy cookie that tastes decadent. We keep them in the freezer for quick snacks or after dinner mini-desserts and I find I’m making them at least once a week!

Good News Friends

Big fat healthy food that never ever feels like a diet, but is more of a lifestyle of feeding yourself healthy. This recipe was created for the book.

I’ve been putting together recipes for a ebook cookbook for a weight loss/fitness training program that is conducted on-line. I’ll tell you more about that later, but it’s super exciting to be a part of something so near and dear to my heart. I’m a huge believer in weight resistance training and healthy eating.

Part of the plan includes a few treats. The program doesn’t allow for dairy, grains or sugar. But that doesn’t have to mean, it won’t be great. This is one of the recipes going in the cookbook.

Paleo Chocolate chip cookies will be good for everyone, because first of all, it’s enjoyable, and second of all, it will keep the appetite to overindulge in sweets at bay.

Paleo Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookies made with almond butter are not a diet cookie, but they are low in carbs, high in fat and satisfying.

They can help to keep you on your plan and keep you from eating a big fat cake!

We are hoping to get people slimmer by putting the fat back in and reducing the sugar. This paleo chocolate chip cookie does that.

We have chosen two treats for the diet plan. These paleo chocolate chip cookies and these brownie bites.

This is not the most unique recipe. I’ve seen versions of it all over the web. This is probably the most “honey” reduced and most workable for the plan. It’s one of the easiest recipes for cookies I’ve ever seen, outside of measuring out the almond butter. I highly recommend using a food scale, which makes it so much easier.

We LOVE these cookies, probably a little too much, and I don’t usually like cookies.   I have to put them in the freezer to not have them right in my face. I  have this feeling we will be fighting over the last one, and I’ll have to keep a batch in the freezer at all times.

So tell me, do you snack, and do you have something ready for when the chocolate urge hits.

More Paleo Recipes

More Chocolate Chip Recipes

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Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies

Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies, easy to make using almond butter, dark chocolate chips and a little honey. Makes 12 Cookies. Protein 4, Fat 11, Net Carbs 6

Course Snack/Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Calories 143kcal

Author Angela Roberts

Ingredients

• 12 tablespoons Crunchy Almond Butter 186 grams (or regular almond butter)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• Tools
• Baking Sheet
• Plastic Wrap
• Kitchen Scale
• Cookie Spatula

Instructions

• If you have a food scale, weigh your almond butter to 186 grams. This is much easier than measuring out.
• Mix everything together. You can do this easily by hand.
• Using a long sheet of plastic wrap about 16 inches, place mixture on sheet and spread out to 12 inches. Wrap in a rolling fashion. Freeze for one hour. This is not absolutely necessary, but makes it easier as the almond butter, honey mixture can be sticky.
• Cut into 12 pieces. You may find you still need to roll out and press down a little.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees F.
• Active Prep time: 10 Minutes
• Bake Time: 8-10 Minutes

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Fiber: 2g

The post Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies Made with Almond Butter appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

Green beans have a place at the table, not as the left over or unwanted dinner guest, but to shine for their fresh, grassy, vibrant flavor when roasted, sautéed or for their softened cooked down comfort food.

Here’s the skinny on green beans. No matter what anyone says, green beans taste best when softened up, not to mush, but not too crispy either. That doesn’t mean you can’t have that gorgeous bright green color. Boil them properly, and slip a little butter and salt and pepper and not one bean will be left at the table.

How to Cook Green Beans

Buy brightly colored green beans that aren’t shriveled, or have brown spots. You also don’t want them too large or they can be stringy.

Trim the ends. Boil in unsalted water just until the crispness is gone. You may have to give a taste test for this. I have the kind of pot that requires very little water, so my beans aren’t water logged. You might not have that, but still don’t use a lot of water, or steam them.

Once cooked to just tender, immediately drain and shock in an ice bath to maintain that green color.

You can skip boiling and go straight to sautéeing, but in most recipes, I like to pre-cook them.

Ideas for Fresh Green Bean Recipes

Cut in half and put in a pasta dish like this classic Italian Genovese pasta dish. 

Drizzle with walnut oil and top with toasted walnuts.

Drizzle with sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds.

Instead of making green bean casserole, make this tart an interpretation of that famous dish.

Mix with fresh corn. You can add boiled potatoes to that for a real old fashioned meal.

Of course, you can cook them to death and make Green Beans, Southern Style with Salt Pork. Sometimes I do like this too.

Braise green beans in this special tomato butter onion sauce for two hours or until very soft. You will be surprised how delicious this is. You can also use this simple tomato sauce. I’ve been known to eat the whole pot. Growing up we had this with porkchops braised in the sauce. One day, I’ll bring you that recipe.

Boil, steam or roast  them with olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper. This was the most frequently prepared in our house growing up, and often green beans found their way into Italian style salads.

Sauté Green Beans in a Spicy Szechuan Sauce. I used yard long green beans for this recipe. (no pre-boiling).

Boil them and serve them cold in a nicoise salad or this fresh salad with pears and citrus vinaigrette.

Make one of my favorite recipes, my interpretation of green beans almondine, Green Beans made with Almonds and Almond Butter. This is so easy, yet so decadent. I don’t know why I never thought of this before.

A few weeks ago I made this dish and once I ate one bean, I ate them all. It’s that kind of dish, so make plenty. In the recipe below, I give you an idea of how much almond butter and sliced almonds. You can make your own adjustments.

I’m not including that dreadful green bean casserole. Green beans should still taste like green beans, not canned soup. Make this recipe instead. It’s easier, healthier and just damn delicious.

More Vegetable Side Dishes from Spinach Tiger

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Fresh Green Bean Recipes and a Unique Green Beans Almondine Recipe

How to cook fresh green beans, and ways to prepare them, including a green bean almondine recipe made extra special with almond butter.

Course Vegetable

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Angela Roberts

Ingredients

• 1 pound green beans
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds order here
• 2 tablespoon almond butter order here
• 1 teaspoon butter
• sea salt
• pepper

Instructions

• Trim the ends of the green beans.
• Place in cold water, allowing water to come 2 inches above.
• Bring to boil and cook about ten minutes or until just tender. You may have to taste.
• Immediately drain, and put in ice bath to shock. This will keep the green color.
• In a medium frying pan that will fit the green beans, melt butter, add in almonds until toasted. Put into a bowl. Set aside.
• Add in green beans and continue to stir on low heat until heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Add in almond butter until it melts over the green beans.
• Put in serving bowl. Top with almonds.

The post Fresh Green Bean Recipes and a Unique Green Beans Almondine Recipe appeared first on Spinach Tiger.