Our kids are always hungry.  Instead of having them snack on sugar-laden treats, we ususally prefer they stick with fruit or cheese. Like many kids, they crave snacks on the sweet side. To combat thier sugar cravings and keep thier hunger at bay, we came up with a quick, no cook snack that costs less that those prepacked protein bars at the store. This recipe is full of healhy, monounsaturated fats, fiber and a dash of sweetness any kid or grownup will love. 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 cup of old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons chia seed (optional)
• 2 tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix the honey and peanut butter together. If you are allergic to nut butters, you can substitute the peanut butter with soy or seed butters. The other butters may be a bit thicker/stiffer, but you can add a bit more honey to loosen it up.

Mix in the cup of old fashioned oats and mix thoroughly.

Add the rest of the ingredients into the bowl and mix until they are incorporated.

It might get a little stiff with all the ingredients. If it seems too dry, add a bit more peanut butter.

Use a small spoon or a one-inch cookie scoop to portion out the the mixture. You can roll the mixture between your palms if you want to make a perfect ball. Put the balls on a lined cookie sheet and pop them into the refrigerator to firm.