01 Mar Brain Bites

At the risk of sounding self serving, the idea of cognitive decline absolutely terrifies me. I had a brilliant academic grandmother who was a trail blazer in the world of education, however I never knew her that way. By the time I came along she was unfortunately spiraling downward. I loved hearing stories about her academic prowess and the many papers she authored. She was spunky, brilliant and talented, and I so wish I knew her in her prime. Cognitive decline does not discriminate, and we should all do whatever we can to keep this beast at bay.

With this in mind, I stood at my pantry and thought, “Hmmm….what can I put together that has brain-boosting ingredients that will also be tasty?” Walnuts, hemp hearts and coconut oil are “go to” ingredients when it comes to nourishing the brain. They’re full of the healthy fats the brain needs to flourish. Raw cacao powder is a rich source of magnesium and antioxidants, and I really like the fact that no added sugars were added to sweeten.

I was also motivated to have snacks on hand to feed the “boys” who seem to be constantly hungry. These are easy and quick to make and I hope you enjoy them.

Brain Bites

1 cup raw walnuts
1/2 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup hemp hearts
1 cups coconut (I used a combination of coconut flakes and shredded)
2 T raw cacao
2 cups pitted dates
3 T coconut oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine nuts and seeds, salt and cacao in food processor and pulse until well combined. Add remaining ingredients and pulse until mixture sticks together when “pinched”. Roll into balls and place on parchment-lined tray and place in freezer for at least 30 minutes. Store in fridge or freezer.