These Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Bites basically taste like cookie dough, but they have NO butter, NO sugar, NO flour. And last I checked, dark chocolate was totally healthy, so basically you can eat these for breakfast.Â
I was a lifeguard in high school. In retrospect, all I can say to the mothers of young children out there is this: DO NOT TRUST 16 YEAR OLD LIFEGUARDS. They have no idea what they are doing and your children will drown.
Okay so maybe it was just me. I’m a terrible swimmer, I always have been. But most of my siblings worked at the city pool, so I did too. Even though exposing my lily-white skin to 8 hours of sun a day was pretty much guaranteeing me a 3 month long sunburn every summer.
I only saved one kid during my 3 summers there. It was my first day of work. MY FIRST DAY. I wasn’t even on duty yet. My manager (also in her teens) was showing me around the pool. There were swim lessons going on, and we were observing a small class of 5 swimmers. The teacher was out teaching a kid, and the other 4 kids had ONE JOB: don’t let go of the wall. Well of course this one kid lets go. So I panic and look at my new manager, who’s like, well, get him!
He was literally a foot away from the wall, sputtering and flailing. I could have reached out and grabbed him, but instead I jumped in, fully clothed.
Needless to say my lifeguarding/swimming career has not continued into adulthood. But you know what is way easier than actually swimming? Watching people swim. I barely break a sweat when I’m watching swimming on TV. I highly recommend it. It’s even better when you’re snacking on these babies:
This year, Blue Diamond (my favorite sponsor here at The Food Charlatan) is the official snack nut of the USA Swim Team. It’s kind of perfect, because swimming takes so much out of you, you NEED a snack like almonds: super healthy and super portable. (Check below the recipe to find out about their $5000 contest! (!!)
I decided to add some almonds to these Energy Bites. I’m not kidding when I say they taste like cookie dough. But instead of feeling like a cow after eating half the bowl, you can feel energized! Just kidding, don’t eat half the bowl.
These energy bites are a great summer snack, especially if you and the kids are at the pool a lot. They are packed with oats and almonds and peanut butter (protein!), and kids love them because they are sweet. Plus they have dark chocolate chunks. I mean, hello.
I dipped a few of mine in more dark chocolate. For the antioxidants, you know.
If you make these, be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see it!
Here are some other “skinny” recipes you might like!
Skinny Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies << these are legit.
2-Ingredient Sugar Free Fruit Dip:
Tropical Mango Coconut Granola:
Oatmeal Raisin Energy Bites from Amy’s Healthy Baking
Cranberry Almond Energy Bites from The Creative Bite
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No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup oats, I like old fashioned
- 1/4 cup Whole Natural Blue Diamond Almonds, chopped
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate, chopped
- 6 tablespoons peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon honey
- pinch salt, optional
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the oats, chopped almonds, and chopped chocolate.
- Add the peanut butter and honey. Stir until it comes together. (I used my hands)
- Taste it and add salt if you like.
- Refrigerate the bowl for about a half hour, or freeze for a few minutes.
- Once the mixture is cold, use your hands to shape the dough into 1 or 1 and 1/2 inch balls.
- Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds. Blue Diamond Almonds understand what it takes to be the best. That’s why we’re proud to be an official sponsor of USA Swimming.
My cousin gave me this recipe. Â Her family LOVES these. Â I just made them. Â Super sticky hands. Â Will taste tomorrow. Â Loved reading your blog!
I’m so glad you tried them Kathleen! And glad you are enjoying the blog. Thanks for chiming in!
After QUADRUPlING this receipe for my family because they go through them so quickly, I had to sit down and write a review. These energy bites are amazing — not only in taste (yes some of my family members say they taste like cookie dough — personally, if I’m going with cookie dough, I want the real thing) but also they hold your appetite for hours when in a pinch or when you need a snack . The bonus is every ingredient is good for your body, all natural, no chemicals or preservatives. I literally have them stocked in the frig at all times, with back up in the freezer in baggies. I have not purchased protein bars since I found this recipe, and I have college athletes in my home where I previously purchased protein bars by the case. A few of these are my husbands favorite breakfast when in a hurry. The reviews are somewhat old (2016) that I just had to give credit to this recipe. With today’s focus on healthy eating, you can’t get much healthier than this and still have something that tastes really really good. We are all addicted.
I’m so happy to hear these energy bites have been such a success for you Janice! That is awesome! You are an amazing mom to keep all those athletes fed and even more stocked in the freezer. They are a lucky bunch to have you :) Thank you so much for taking the time to review the recipe!
peanut butter is something i can eat anytime of day. so these little energy balls are perfect for me to make! lovely recipe!
Any time of day is right, right? PB. It never gets old :) Thanks Thalia!
Me and swimsuits just don’t work out well. So, yeah I would much rather watch swimming on tv and munch on these super tasty looking snacks to re-energize me. And totally agree that chocolate is for breakfast!!
haha! It’s always easier to sit back and watch someone else swimming that to deal with all the spandex and sunscreen ourselves, right? :)
haha yeah I was a lifeguard in high school too at this water-park … my fondest memories are of all the times we had to shut down the lazy river thing because oh, um, let’s say kiddo accidents lol
PS these bites sound delicious!!
ohhhhh yeah the shut down days, those are always fun. haha! at least we got off early! :) Thanks Ashley!
My also pale boyfriend seconds your sentiment – do NOT let 16 year old kids be responsible for the lives of other people. He did manage to save an older gentleman that was drowning because he was having a heart attack…scary stuff! I’d much rather stay inside with a handful of these little lovelies!
Wow that IS super scary! I’m so glad nothing crazy happened while I was a lifeguard. Can you imagine the guilt? Thanks for stopping by Jessica!
I’d really have to restrain myself with these. I’d grab for one and end up eating them all. They sound wonderful!
That’s basically what happened to me :) These were gone so fast!
I love Blue Diamond Almonds! These PB energy bites look amazing :)
Thanks Medha! Blue Diamond is the best right? So many flavors these days, I love it, but sometimes whole natural is all you need. :)
I love these things but I don’t usually dip mine in chocolate. Why in the world not? Sounds like it would make them 100 times better!
That’s what I was thinking, Karen! I mean they are good all by themselves but pretty much everything is better dipped in chocolate, amiright??
Ha! I’d be up for a cherry red burn with that long in the sun right now too! (Except for my feet – with all this baby walking, I’ve been working on my top-of-the-foot tan.)
A snack that tastes like cookie dough? SIGN ME UP! (But srsly. I’m making these).
The top-of-the-foot-tan!! Bane of flip-flopped mothers everywhere. And yes, totally make these, they are even gf! (That’s short for gluten free, in case you didn’t know. I’m so hip with my acronyms.) :)