Have a Ball with Bikeshare

EnergyBite_3

As a founding partner of WE-cycle, Aspen Valley Hospital has been supporting healthy living through community bikeshare since 2013. Together, the two nonprofits promote lifestyle choices — like fresh air and exercise — with natural preventative benefits. In celebration of this month’s National Hospital Week and in gratitude for our local healthcare workers, we offer you another healthy fix: Chocolate-orange Energy Bites, a low-sugar, nutritionally dense snack that will help keep you rolling. Check out the recipe below for one more way to have a ball with bikeshare!

CHOCOLATE-ORANGE ENERGY BITES

Serving size: 1 ball • Yield: 16 • Time: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
  • ⅔ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • ½ cup ground flaxseed
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • Zest of one orange
  • Pinch sea salt
  • ⅓ cup honey
  • ½ cup almond butter (if dry, moisten with ½ to 1 teaspoon of neutral oil)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a medium size bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Add honey, almond butter and vanilla extract and combine with dry ingredients until evenly mixed. The dough will be thick; working the mixture together with your hands is often easiest. Gather one tablespoon of the mixture and roll into a ball. It should be about the size of a ping pong ball. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.

PRO TIP:

Wet hands first to avoid sticking. Rinse and repeat if sticking occurs midway through.