Paleo Energy Bars

Ingredients:

Paleo Bars

3 cups pitted dates
1 cup raisins
1 bar or 3 oz dark chocolate (at least 72% or darker) 1 cup macadamia nuts
1 cup peacans
1 cup cashews
1 cup shredded coconut
1⁄2 cup chia seeds
1⁄2 cup hemp hearts
1⁄2 cup coconut oil
1 vanilla pod
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. salt

Preparation:

Cover nuts in water and soak for at least 3 hours or overnight. Rinse well. You can dehydrate the nuts using a dehydrator or place them in the oven on very low heat (120°- 170°) until dry, stirring occasionally.
Place the dates and raisins in a food processor. Process until pasty. Remove and place in a large mixing bowl. Roughly chop chocolate. Place nuts, chocolate, salt, and vanilla extract in food processor. Scrape the vanilla beans from one pod into processor. Process these ingredients taking care not to over process by using the pulse option. Contents should be chunky, never pasty or buttery. Add the coconut oil to the processor and combine, again by gently pulsing ingredients together. Add contents of the processor to the date/raisin mixture and add the chia, hemp, and coconut. Mix all ingredients together. It’s easiest to mix using your hands, but make sure they are clean! Place all ingredients in a half sheet pan and spread evenly. Press mixture firmly into pan using your palm or a wide, flat wooden spoon. Refrigerate for at least an hour, then cut into bars or squares.

Note:

*Nuts and grains have a natural pesticide called phytic acid that the plant produces to protect against hungry pests and as a store of phosphorous and energy for growth after germination. This compound is very hard for us to digest and also binds to nutrients, making them unavailable to us. Soaking and rinsing seeds, nuts, grains, and legumes removes the phytic acid from the food, making it a more nutrient dense and nourishing resource for our bodies.

The nuts, if not pasteurized, will sprout after soaking for 24-48 hours. A sprouted nut/seed/grain is alive; a super food with active enzymes that aid in digestion.

Remember, sugar is sugar! Although this recipe contains no processed sugars, the dates and raisins are very high in fructose, the naturally occurring sugar in fruit. This recipe is a great treat for active lifestyles but not recommended for anyone who is over weight, leads a sedentary lifestyle, is diabetic or pre-diabetic or shows any signs of insulin resistance.