Paleo Playdate Bites

Made with simple and real ingredients, these Paleo Playdate Bites are the best healthy snack for you and the kids! 

If your kids are like mine, they’re snacking….like, All. The. Time. With 3 ravenous appetites to feed, it can often be a struggle to keep snack time fun, tasty, and healthy. In these times, pre-packaged, sugar-filled, store bought items are so tempting. 

In an effort to add more health into my boys’ diets, I went on a mission to find and create simple healthy snacks they love. Thus was born, Yogurt Bark, Mac and Cheese Bites, these 9 Healthy Toddler Snacks, and last but not least, these Paleo Playdate Bites!

They’re made with 9 healthy ingredients and are high in protein for a healthy snack you can feel good about. Even better, they’re an easy way to get your kids involved in the kitchen. They love helping to press the food processor and rolling the ingredients into BALLS. Haha! Ahhh … boy mom problems! 

To make this recipe, combine the sliced almonds, shredded coconut and half of the salt into the food processor. Pulse the ingredients 3-5 times to break up the larger almond pieces and place it onto a plate. 

Next, in the same (dirty) food processor combine the dates, almond flour, and coconut flour. Pulse these ingredients a few times until the dates are coarsely chopped. Then, add in the almond butter, collagen, maple syrup, and remaining salt. Pulse until it forms a dough like consistency, and use your hands to roll the “dough” into 10 bite-sized balls. 

Tips to Create the Perfect Paleo Playdate Bites:

1. Test your dough. – Before rolling the dough into balls, test its stickiness by rolling a small amount in your hands before removing the entire batch from the food processor.
   
2. Add maple syrup. – If your Paleo Playdate Ball dough is too crumbly, add a little more maple syrup using 1 teaspoon at a time and mixing thoroughly until it easily sticks together.
   
3.  Use a scoop. – Ensure that all your bites are the same size  by using a cookie or ice cream scoop to form your balls.
   
4. Freeze them. – If you’re worried about your Paleo Playdate Bites falling apart, pop them in the freezer for a bit after making them. This should ensure the ingredients fuse together and hold their shape.

Ingredients

• Medjool dates – To save time and energy, make sure your dates are pitted. Alternately, feel free to use any dried fruit such as raisins, cranberries, etc. |
  
• Salt. – Salt is a crucial ingredient in recipes to bring out flavor. 
  
• Sliced almonds – Almonds have tons of health benefits including vitamin E and magnesium. Plus, they add a delicious crunch and texture to these bites! 
  
• Shredded coconut – Coconut is full of healthy fats and adds a satisfying, chewy texture to any recipe. 
  
• Almond flour – Almond flour is a great gluten-free option to all your baking needs. 
  
• Coconut flour – Like almond flour, coconut flour is also a great gluten-free substitute that adds delicious flavor to these bites. 
  
• Collagen protein – Collagen is so important for your hair, skin, joints, and more! Take a look at this article to find out why you should be including it in your diet. 
  
• Maple syrup – Maple syrup acts as glue within this recipe to bind all of the ingredients. However, it also comes packed with tons of vitamins and minerals for a healthier sugar alternative. 
  
• Almond butter – Providing more nutritional benefits than peanut butter, almond butter adds an extra layer of stickiness to hold these bites together.

Storage & Meal Prep Tips

If your house is like mine, I strongly recommend making a big batch of these Paleo Playdate Bites ahead of time. Then, keep them stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. 

Or, pop them in the freezer for up to a month for a quick, healthy snack to grab and go whenever you need them! If you do store them in the freezer, I highly recommend letting them thaw for an hour or two before digging in. Otherwise, they might be a little on the crunchy side!

Ingredient Add-Ins

These Paleo Playdate Bites are delicious in their original state. However, this recipe is so fun because of how versatile it can be! Of course, adding more ingredients is likely to make this healthy snack a little less healthy or not quite so allergy-friendly. If this is of no concern to you and your family’s needs, feel free to experiment and get creative. A few of my add-in ideas are listed below, but I’d love to know what you would include!

• Chocolate chips: Whether you opt for white chocolate, dark chocolate, or milk chocolate, chocolate chips are a perfect way to add a hint of sweetness to this snack.
  
• Peanut butter chips: Similar to chocolate chips, peanut butter chips are a fun way to add a bit more flavor and creaminess to these bites.
  
• Yogurt bites: Sometimes hard to find, little yogurt bites can be an easy way to add some calcium to your snack.
  
• Pretzel pieces: If you’re looking for a bit more crunch, crush up pretzels and add them to the batter. Just be sure not to over-pulse and pulverize the pieces! 
  
• Cocoa powder: Not only does cocoa powder add a delicious hint of chocolate to these bites, it’s full of fiber, anti-inflammatory properties, and more. 

So there ya have it – my ultimate allergy-friendly, easy meal prep, healthy snack bites! Honestly, these are so good you might have to hide them from the kids. Do you have any snack recommendations or recipes I need to know about? Let me know in the comments below! 

Also, if you do make this recipe or any of my other meals, be sure to tag me in a photo on Instagram. I love to see your recreations and cheer you on.

In the meantime, enjoy!

Karin

Inspired by: Healthy Seasonal Recipes

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