Power packed chocolate date bars
By Mercedes Kay Gold, CNP, CPT
Pumpkin spiced love is in the air! Healthy snacking should be nutrient dense. Power up on plant-based perfection.
Social media is buzzing with a protein-packed, healthy fat snack. It’s a naturally sweetened decadent date delight. There’s a zillion ways to switch it up, but spiced pumpkin love is my twist!
Dates are fiber-rich, liver-loving sweetness.
Almond butter is high protein, loads of vitamin E, full of fabulous fiber, and heaps of healthy fats.
Pumpkin seeds may be small, but they are mighty, and are mounds of magnesium. Pumpkin seeds are immune boosting and prostate support thanks to the trace mineral zinc. High protein and low carbohydrate pepitas stabilize blood sugar and promote fullness. Chocked full of copper and piles of phosphorus are two more reasons to fall in love with this super salad topper.
Dark chocolate is a dessert dream at 85 per cent. It’s super high in magnesium and a real mood lifter thanks to flavanols!
Chocolate pumpkin spice date delight
Ingredients for 3 to 6 snacks
9 large Medjool dates with the pit removed
4 tbsp natural almond butter
2 tbsp raw pumpkin seeds
40 grams of chocolate (I used 85% pant-based organic free trade)
Blend of (¼ tsp of each: cloves, ginger and nutmeg and ¾ tsp cinnamon)
Sea salt
Directions:
- Flatten the dates onto parchment paper
- Mix the spices into the almond butter
- Spread the almond butter evenly on top of the dates
- Spread the pumpkin seeds out evenly and lightly press down
- Melt the chocolate and spread over the top
- Sprinkle with sea salt
- Freeze until hardened
- Cut into 3-6 pieces
Mercedes Kay Gold is a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Holistic Nutritionist who loves helping others live their best life when not spending time with her children and grandson, Theodore. She can be reached at mercedeskaygoldfitness@gmail.com
