A gift from The 5 GOOD. minutes

Five flavours, one base

Sweet bites made from dates and almonds for the weeks when there are treats everywhere. They take 15 minutes and keep for 2 weeks in the fridge.

Five kinds of homemade date balls on colourful plates, with mandarins and small spiced treats
15 minand done
Makes 10of 25 grams each
2 weeksin the fridge

The base

  • 150 g Medjool dates, pitted
  • 80 g almonds
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • a pinch of sea salt
  1. Blitz the almonds in a food processor to coarse crumbs.
  2. Add the dates and the rest and blitz until the mixture sticks together when you pinch it. Soak dry dates in warm water for 10 minutes first.
  3. Roll into 10 balls of about 25 grams each. Or make 20 small ones, as a stand-in for the treats.

Pick your flavour

Per ball of 25 grams

1Cinnamon truffle

Blitz in 2 tbsp cocoa powder and add 1 drop of Cassia. Roll the balls in cocoa powder.

97 kcal2 g protein14 g carbs5 g fat3 g fibre

2Pistachio

Swap half the almonds for unsalted pistachios. Roll the balls in finely chopped pistachios.

104 kcal3 g protein14 g carbs5 g fat3 g fibre

3Lemon

Blitz in the grated zest of 1 unwaxed lemon and 2 tbsp desiccated coconut. Roll the balls in desiccated coconut.

108 kcal2 g protein14 g carbs6 g fat3 g fibre

4Peanut truffle

Blitz in 2 tbsp peanut butter (100% peanuts) and roll the balls in finely chopped unsalted peanuts. This makes 12.

103 kcal3 g protein12 g carbs6 g fat2 g fibre

5Cardamom raspberry

Blitz in 1 tsp maca powder and add 1 drop of Cardamom. Roll the balls in crushed freeze-dried raspberries.

98 kcal2 g protein14 g carbs4 g fat3 g fibre
2 or 3balls are enough, or 4 to 6 small ones. Dates are sweet, and fruit sugar raises your blood sugar too.

How to keep your blood sugar steady

For shop-bought treats and for your own bites

1Eat some fibre firstA small handful of almonds is enough.
2Have sweets for dessertAfter dinner, and not at four o'clock on an empty stomach.
3Move afterwardsA walk round the block, or up and down the stairs 3 or 4 times.

Cassia and Cardamom are strong: 1 drop is enough for the whole batch.

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Tanja Thielen, health strategistyour-good-life.com