A Healthy Snack from Healthy-Steps

I can prepare these Raw cacao treats in a nano second, perfect for when friends drop by or I am off to a potluck with no prep time available. INGREDIENTS: A handful of dates, A handful of raw walnuts, pecans or any other nuts. 1 T. raw cacao 1 T. raw agave nectar shredded coconut For a good squidgy consistency I recommend an overall blend of 60% dates to 40% walnuts. 1. Blend the agave nectar with the pitted dates in a blender until they form a smooth paste. Add 1 T. of orange juice if the mixture is too dry to help the blending process. 2. Use a coffee grinder or a good blender to grind the walnuts. 3. Add the walnuts and some cacao to the agave-date mixture and blend for another 30 seconds. 4. Tip the crumbly mixture and the raw cacao into a bowl, large enough that you can get your hands in, and squeeze the mixture into balls. 5. Roll in coconut. That's it, you're done!

For added sophistication if you have a little extra time, add some finely grated orange zest and a drift of cinnamon powder. Ideal companion for travelers as those do not need refrigeration and a great energy boost. Contrary to popular opinion, cacao is a poor source of caffeine. A typical sample of cacao nibs or cacao beans will yield anywhere from zero caffeine to 1,000 parts per million of caffeine (less than 1/20th of the caffeine present in coffee). Cacao contains the highest concentration of antioxidants of any food in the world. These antioxidants include polyphones, catechism, and epicatechins. By weight, Cacao has more antioxidants than red wine, blueberries, acai, pomegranates, and goji berries COMBINED. Enjoy! Elena Gaynes, CLM and Healthy-Steps Creative Director