Spicy Chocolate Energy Bars
These homemade energy bars offer the taste of chocolate—with a bit of a bite. The macadamia nuts help replace lost electrolytes while the jalapeño pepper creates a feeling of warmth in the body.
1 small banana
1/2 jalapeño
3/4 cup fresh or soaked dry dates
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup roasted carob powder (or cacao nibs to make 100% raw)
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/4 cup macadamia nuts
Sea salt to taste
2 tbsp hemp seeds
If you don't have hemp seeds, try substituting sesame seeds or unsweetened coconut. Cacao nibs are a raw, unsweetened form of chocolate that make a delicious combination with the sweet dates and spicy jalapeño.
In a food processor, process all ingredients except hemp seeds to desired consistency. Cover mixture in hemp seeds before forming into bars, or form into balls then roll in hemp seeds to coat (you may need more than 2 tbsp).
Excerpted from Thrive Diet by Brendan Brazier, courtesy Penguin Canada
