Carrot Date Bites
I think, of all the healthy sweet alternatives, dates have to be my number one favorite!
My heart is ever so happy when I can get my grubby little paws on delicious Medjool dates, but when not, the regular cheaper dates are just as good! They’re such a versatile ingredient, and can be used in savory and sweet dishes and desserts.
They’re also a great staple to have in the cupboard for when you feel like throwing something together to satisfy that sweet craving. These Carrot Date Bites are great to make for those such moments.
I’ll never forget the first time I was introduced to dates. My best friend had bought one of those blocks of compacted dates (usually used in baking) and began nibbling on it as a snack. I had a taste and yummmeeeeee! How could I have never been introduced to this delicious naturally sweet fruit before.
Moving on, my best friends mum used to make the most insanely delicious date squares! Gawd! Those squares! Laden with butter, biscuits and delicious dates. Is’t wonderful though to be able to re-create healthy versions of our childhood favorites! So lucky and so grateful!!
Now, these bites aren’t a re-creation of those date squares mentioned before, but tasty non-the-less. I experimented, played around and came up with these little bite size cubes of deliciousness. Super easy and super tasty! Great option for a little sweet pick me up! They are vegan, refined sugar, dairy and gluten free and 100% raw.
Why are dates so good for you?
When it comes to the number of minerals, vitamins, and health-benefiting phytonutrients in dates, suffice it to say there are a lot of them. First and foremost, they’re easily digested, allowing your body to make full use of their goodness.
Dietary fiber in dates helps to move waste smoothly through your colon and helps prevent LDL (bad) cholesterol absorption by binding with substances containing cancer-causing chemicals. The iron content, a component of hemoglobin in red blood cells, determines the balance of oxygen in the blood. Potassium, an electrolyte, helps control your heart rate and blood pressure. B-vitamins contained in dates, such as the carotenes lutein and zeaxanthin, absorb into the retina to maintain optimal light-filtering functions and protect against macular degeneration.
Want more? They contain vitamins A and K. Vitamin A protects the eyes, maintains healthy skin and mucus membranes, and even protects the lungs and mouth from developing cancer. Tannins, which are flavonoids as well as polyphenolic antioxidants, fight infection and inflammation and help prevent excessive bleeding (anti-hemorrhagic). Vitamin K is a blood coagulant that also helps metabolize your bones.
Copper, magnesium, manganese, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), niacin, pantothenic acid, and riboflavin are also present in dates and provide their own unique preventive and healing functions.
Together, these cofactors help your body metabolize carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Eating dates in moderation can contribute to many health benefits, such as protecting against damage to cells from free radicals, helping preventing a stroke, coronary heart disease and the development of colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers.
- 1.5 Cups Dates (Pitted)
- 2 Medium Carrots (Grated)
- 1/2 Cup Sunflower Seeds
- 2 TBS Ground Flax Seeds
- 3 TBS Cold Pressed Organic Coconut Oil (Melted)
- 1/4 Tsp Celtic Sea Salt
- 1/2 Tsp Ginger Powder
- 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
- Place the dates, carrot and ground flax into a high speed blender or food processor.
- Blend a couple of times until roughly combined.
- Add the remaining ingredients and blend until a large ball begins to form and all ingredients begin to stick together.
- If you're mixture is too dry you may need to add a little more coconut oil, and if too wet add a little more ground flax.
- Once you're happy with the consistency, remove and press into a baking paper lined tray. Place into the fridge to set overnight.
- Cut into bite size cubes and store in an airtight glass container for up to 3 days.
- Use Organic where possible
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