Date, Cashew, and Apricot "Brownie" Balls (How to maintain a healthy weight)

Sometimes people ask me how I keep up with this blog and maintain a healthy weight.

The key, for me, is to incorporate healthy foods and moderate exercise.


I also try to control my portions... most of the time. Yeah, sometimes I'll eat an entire pan of brownies, but mostly I stick to one or two servings (and some tasting throughout the process).

I'm definitely not a crazy exercise-er. I exercise about thirty minutes a day 2-5 days a week. I don't do it to lose weight, I just do it stay healthy. I also go through periods of time when I don't exercise at all. It just depends. What's most important to me is how I feel. If I'm happy, that's all that matters, because what's the point of life if you're miserable?

My main rule is super cliche, but whateva: do what makes you happy. Everyone's ingredients for that are different, so don't compare yourself to others.

When I'm not eating what I'm baking, I'm eating healthy and when I'm not reading baking blogs, I'm reading healthy living blogs.  I like to throw in some of my healthy recipes on here every once in a while, so here ya go.  This recipe is one of my favs.  It proves that you can eat healthy and make it taste good...super good.  A lot of "health food" recipes tastes like just that, health food.  These are definitely not in that category.  Good luck remembering the "everything in moderation" rule with these.

Date and Apricot "Brownie" Balls
Adapted from:  Snack-Girl 

Ingredients:10 pitted dates
10 dried apricots
1/2 cup cashews (I used YumNuts Coconut Cashews. Omg they're awesomely good.)
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (plus extra for rolling)
1 tablespoon honey
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
2 tablespoons water

Directions:1.  Add all ingredients to food processor and pulse until ground.
2. Mix until it just forms a sticky mass.
3.  Form dough into balls.  (It may need more water to get to the perfect consistency).
4.  Put a tablespoon of cocoa in a shallow bowl . 
5.  Roll balls in cocoa. (or just drop the balls straight into the cocoa can like me)
6.  I like to store these in the freezer and eat them frozen...yum! Or you can keep them in the fridge for up to 1-2 weeks.