PCOS Energy Bites
These power bites were created to help keep women who struggle with infertility and weight loss. I selected supportive ingredients as a snack between meals. As someone with a sweet-tooth that has PCOS, these bites I created are intentionally packed with great anti-inflammatory ingredients, protein and is low sugar(important for insulin resistance) to help symptoms of PCOS and nourish her!
This recipe I created a few years back when I was exploring making the perfect energy bites for my busy PCOS life. I created this PCOS supportive recipe after understanding foods that served PCOS – my love dark chocolate, sunbutter and dates made me curious how I could create something that felt like a treat, and had other healthful ingredients, but did not taste like tree bark! Using a base ratio of oats and seed-butter I explored ingredient combinations, this has been a favorite. My friends request them now at work! Some of the first batches did not have coconut oil, making them sticky and hard to work with, so adding a small amount did wonders to bond all the ingredients together and make it easier to form. Experiment with rolling final bites in both toasted coconut and cocao powder, I personally love how they turned out!
Three main ingredients and their health benefits for PCOS:
Gluten Free Oats – Oats are a great source of complex carbohydrates to help in stabilizing blood sugar level and rich in fiber1. Oats can also help you feel full longer helping with weight loss. Sunbutter – Aid in infertility with Vitamin E, helps improve progesterone levels and help regulate inflammation2.
Cocao – Contains flavonoids which help inflammation and increases insulin sensitivity3.
Ingredients:
1 Cup Gluten Free Oats
1/2 Cup your favorite seed butter * I prefer unsweetened Sunbutter*
1/4 Cup Toasted sunflower seeds (other toasted seeds you enjoy!)
2 Tbsp Flax Meal
2 Tbsp Local Honey or Super Maple Syrup
2-3 Dates chopped into small chunks (*tip: I like to softened in warm water and drain well)
2 Tbsp Hemp Seeds
2 Tbsp Cocao powder
2 Tbsp Cocao Chips
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1/2 tsp room temp/melted coconut oil
1/2 – 1 tsp cinnamon
Optional “Toppings” – Toasted unsweetened shredded coconut or Cocao powder.
Directions:
Add all ingredients expect coconut oil into a medium bowl. Mix well, using spoon (or hands) until evenly mixed. Drizzle room temp coconut oil over mixture and mix until completely incorporated(I use my hands for this part too and oil will keep it from sticking!). Wipe any excess from hands back into the bowl and wash hands. Using 1Tbsp Measuring Spoon, scoop level amounts of dough into palm of you hands and gently roll into balls and form with fingers as needed. Enjoy these with a nice cup of herbal tea or pack them for on the go! For storage
place bites into airtight container and store in refrigerator for up 1-2 week or place in freezer for 3-4 weeks. I like to take any frozen bites out of freezer first thing in the morning, pack them up and bring them to work. They thaw in about 10 – 20 min.
Optional Toppings Directions: (you can do to all or just a few!)
Toasted Shredded Coconut: Heat small pan on medium head, add 2 Tsp unsweetened shredded coconut (if sweetened it may burn more easily and increase sugar). Sitr it around pan as needed until golden brown. Scrape coconut into small bowl and let cool a few minutes. Once cool, roll the bites into the coconut until you have preferred coating.
Cocao Powder: Place 2 Tbsp into small bowl, roll the bites in cocao powder until evenly coated. The powder is dry, so I love to sip hot herbal tea with the bites for an extra yummy way to enjoy them!
1 Shah, Manali. “PCOS Cure: Include Almonds, Milk and Veggies in Diet to Beat Infertility.” Hindustan Times, 7 June 2018, www.hindustantimes.com/fitness/pcos-diet-how-almonds-milk-and-veggies-in-your-diet-will-help-you-beat- infertility/story-rOhRdu1Fyz8GPbKwYIcwNP.html.
2 Dube, Parul. “Seeds That Can Help Manage PCOS.” Blog – HealthifyMe, 22 Mar. 2022, www.healthifyme.com/ blog/seeds-for-pcos.
3 “Health Benefits of Cacao Powder.” WebMD, 27 Aug. 2020, www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-cacao-powder.