Apricot Bites

Apricot Energy Balls Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup pitted dates (soaked in water about 20minutes to soften)

• 1 Cup dried Apricots

• Zest of half a lemon

• Dash or two of cinnamon

• 1/2 cup Almonds, raw unsalted

• 1/2 cup rolled oats

• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

*option to add coconut in to the mix or just use for dusting. I added it in and rolled them in more coconut afterwards as well.

Directions:

Pulse almonds in food processor until they are coarsely chopped. Then add the rest of the ingredients and process until a ball forms in the processor. Using your hands, roll the mixture into desired size bites/balls and then option to roll in more shredded coconut. Place in a container and pop them in the Freezer!

Apricot benefits:

Apricots are rich in beta carotene, aka vitamin A! An important vitamin that is crucial to your immune health. Another antioxidant along with vitamin A in apricots is vitamin C. So the take away from this delicious orange fruit, is they are high in antioxidants to help us fight off sickness. What els is so great about apricots? They are also a wonderful source of iron, if you are a vegetarian, vegan, or struggle to consume enough iron. As an endurance athlete, adding apricots into my diet has been a wonderful fatigue fighting source of fuel. Loaded with potassium, they help maintain my electrolyte levels and muscle functionality. With apricot's perfect combination of calcium, phosphorus, manganese, iron and copper, they provide the nutrients our bones need for bone strength, development, and health. Having them dried with some nuts is a great power snack, or eaten fresh as a hydrating choice of fruit. You can get creative with apricots in the kitchen. The benefits of this little orange fruit are tremendous, so dont be so quick to walk past them next time your in the produce section of your market!