Yes, our diets absolutely DO impact our skin! Because guess what? The skin is the body’s largest organ and everything in the body is SO intimately connected. Not only does the skin require certain key nutrients to build, protect, and repair itself, but a number of common internal imbalances – which our diets greatly influence – often manifest in the skin, causing premature aging and triggering skin issues like acne, eczema, and pre-mature aging.
While the connection between nutrition and skin health is missing from most conversations regarding skincare and in Western medicine, I’m on a mission to change that with my new book Glow: The Nutritional Approach to Naturally Gorgeous Skin. And to help you get your glow on with yummy recipes like these Coconutty Snack Bites!
These bite-sized treats aren’t just filled with skin-loving nutrients, but also help to remedy some of these imbalances. They’re rich in healthy fats to keep the skin moisturized and supple. More importantly, these fats prevent the skin-sabotaging, inflammatory spike in blood sugar that follows sugary or carb-rich snacks. They also contain anti-inflammatory omega-3 essential fatty acids and gut-supporting lauric acid.
Coconutty Energy Bites
Shared from the book Glow: The Nutritional Approach to Naturally Gorgeous Skin
Yield: 30 1-tablespoon bites
Ingredients:
- 3/4 Cup (192 g) Coconut Butter
- 2 Tbs (30 mL) Pure Maple Syrup
- 1/2 Cup (48 g) Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
- 1/2 Cup (45 g) Gluten-Free Rolled Oats
- 1/2 Cup (28 g) Ground Flaxseed
- 1/3 (40 g) Cup Chopped Walnuts
- 1/4 Tsp (1.4 g) Mineral-Rich Sea Salt
Directions:
- If the coconut butter is solid: place an oven-safe measuring cup in a small pot filled with shallow, boiling water, and scoop the coconut butter into the measuring cup. Keep adding coconut butter until it reaches the ¾ cup measurement.
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.
- Stick the mixture in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes so it will harden a bit (this will make it easier to form into bites).
- Once the mixture has cooled slightly, form the bites using your hands or a ½ tablespoon cookie scoop (be sure to push the mixture into the scoop to compact it).
- Enjoy and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- TIP: If you’d rather save the time and keep from getting your hands dirty, you can simply press the mixture into a baking dish lined with parchment paper, set it into the refrigerator to cool and then cut it into bars.
- ¾ Cup (192 g) Coconut Butter
- 2 Tbs (30 mL) Pure Maple Syrup
- ½ Cup (48 g) Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
- ½ Cup (45 g) Gluten-Free Rolled Oats
- ½ Cup (28 g) Ground Flaxseed
- ⅓ (40 g) Cup Chopped Walnuts
- ¼ Tsp (1.4 g) Mineral-Rich Sea Salt
- If the coconut butter is solid: place an oven-safe measuring cup in a small pot filled with shallow, boiling water, and scoop the coconut butter into the measuring cup. Keep adding coconut butter until it reaches the ¾ cup measurement.
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.
- Stick the mixture in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes so it will harden a bit (this will make it easier to form into bites).
- Once the mixture has cooled slightly, form the bites using your hands or a ½ tablespoon cookie scoop (be sure to push the mixture into the scoop to compact it).
- Enjoy and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- TIP: If you’d rather save the time and keep from getting your hands dirty, you can simply press the mixture into a baking dish lined with parchment paper, set it into the refrigerator to cool and then cut it into bars.
About The Author
Nadia Neumann is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, founder of the healthy living blog Body Unburdened, author of Glow: The Nutritional Approach to Naturally Gorgeous Skin and The Home Detox Guide, and a shameless natural-beauty junkie. Nadia believes that the greatest investment you will ever make is in your health, that chocolate is a health food (and therefore a great investment), and that unhealthy chemicals have no business being inside our bodies or homes. She takes a holistic approach to health rooted in real food and nontoxic living.
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I tried them but don’t think my children will eat them. It’s not going to be anything I’d crave and I probably won’t make again. They aren’t sweet even with real maple syrup. Healthy but not that great a tasting. I’m going to have to add something to make the flavor better. Maybe I’ll drizzle with chocolate.
What is coconut butter avid where is it found? I’ve never heard of our seen it before.
Rebecca, you can buy it at health food stores or online at Amazon or Thrive, or even better, you can make it yourself.
2 Cups Organic Shredded Coconut
Directions: Process shredded coconut in food processor or vita-mix for 15-20 minutes until it becomes smooth and creamy
if needed, you can add 1 tsp of coconut oil
Is honey ok instead of maple syrup? I seem to metabolize honey without sugar crashes the spikes I get with sugar and even maple syrup.
Yes, honey will work just fine. 🙂
Is there a substitute for the coconut butter?
I think almond butter would work in place of coconut butter.
Any recommendations for a walnut substitution? Preferably nut free, so my kids could take them to school. Other types of nuts would work for our use at home 🙂 thank you.
can additional flax meal be substituted for the oats? any other non grain substitutions?
I have the same concern. I’m hoping there is a grain free option to the oats.