Friday, January 20, 2012

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 healthliving 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.

17 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh these look AMAZING! I can't believe those ingredients...too delicious.

    These are saved :-)

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  2. I love you Katie! And I love your philosophy...happiness IS what really matters :-) Your little chocolate nuggets of goodness look nutritious and delicious. <3

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  3. These look yummy...kind of like Larabars which I am a big fan of.  I like your philosophy...when you are not eating the goodies you eat on the blog you are eating healthy.  I always say the same thing.  Moderation is key to maintaining a healthy weight.  Being happy really does play a part too!

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  4. yess! they taste like larabars! thanks, i'm glad you agree with me :)

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  5. love you, too, alaina!! thank you :)

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  6. thank you!! i know... you seriously would never guess how healthy they were!

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  7. oof, these look SO good. I've gotta give these babies a try!

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  8. I totally agree with you, do what makes you happy! And your brownie balls look fantastic!

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  9. thanks, alyssa! :) dooo iittt!

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  10. thanks! i'm glad you agree, gen :)

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  11. Yum!  I make these, but with dates instead of apricots.  I think you and I really share a philosophy!  I taste just about everything, but there's no way I eat three full-course meals, plus snacks and desserts everyday.  It'd be really hard to maintain weight that way.

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  12. yess, me too!  that's great, i could never do that either.  but you have to try everything!:)

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  13. these thingys look really gross... but they've got to taste better than they look!

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