Most people are familiar with the 3 pm slump. Lunch starts to wear off, your energy levels start to dip, and you need a little something to tide you over until dinner. It's snack time!

I often face this issue when I want to head to the gym after work/school. By 3 or 4 i'm hungry, but I don't want to bounce around on a treadmill on a full stomache. I need something portable and light, but that will give me enough energy to get through a workout. I feel that these energy bites are designed just for situations such as this. 

These little bites are simple to make, with no weird ingredients or added sugar, keeping them on the healthier side. Just oats, nuts, and dates.

I always use medjool dates when baking, and there is really no comparison. Medjool dates are plump, soft, and have a delicious caramel flavour that other varieties just don't have. If you use other dates I would recommend soaking them in hot water beforehand to soften them up. 

Process the dates until they begin to form a ball, then add in the other ingredients. The mixture will resemble the texture of course crumbs, and will stay stuck together when you press it between your fingers. Continue pulsing it and it will begin to fall away from the sides of the food processor. if this doesn't happen try adding a splash of almond milk, that always does the trick for me.

I also like to roll mine in shredded coconut for a little something extra. At around 100 calories a pop these give you just the jolt you need, plus they taste like oatmeal cookies. Yum!

3- Ingredient Energy Bites

makes 12-15

3/4 cup walnuts

1 cup medjool dates, pitted (about 12)

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 tsp cinnamon

unsweetened, shredded coconut, optional

almond milk, as needed

1. Place the pitted dates in a food processor and process until they form a paste that pulls away from the sides of the processor.

2. Add in the walnuts, oats, and cinnamon and process until everything is ground into small peices and is the size of crumbs.

3. Pulse a few more times until the mixture starts to fall away from the sides of the bowl, adding almond milk, 1 tsp at a time, if necessary. The mixture should hold together when pressed between your fingers.

4. With damp hands, roll into 12-15 medium-sized balls, and roll in shredded coconut if using. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.