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Six-Ingredient Pre-Workout Energy Bites Recipe

It’s FBG’s sixth birthday, and this calls for cupcakes!
After I finish today’s run, of course.
The summer heat has returned to Phoenix, which means my 4 a.m. wakeup calls have also returned. Even if my training plan only calls for a short run, I try to get out the door before the sun comes up. I’ll take running in the dark over trying to eke out the miles in the soul-sucking heat of the day, thankyouverymuch.
But successful training in the early morning comes with a caveat — I need to be out the door before my brain figures out what’s going on. If I dawdle, I realize how comfortable my bed is, and how much I love to snuggle with Neil in the bed, and how cool the air conditioning feels, and … zzz.
That’s why, when the alarm clock goes off, I need to get moving. The clothes are laid out in the bathroom, my shoes and socks are next to the door, and the hydration belt is in the fridge, ready to go. Arnold Schwarzenneger yells in my brain as I hurriedly stumble through my routine: “RUN! GO! GET TO DA CHOPPA!
But what about breakfast? Before a long run, I need something in my stomach. I can’t down a bowl of oatmeal like I do before a bike ride. That takes too long to digest, and I need to get out the door. Gels are an option, but I’d rather start my day with real food!
My solution? Energy bites. These tiny, make-ahead morsels are great to have on hand as a way to top off the tank. With just six ingredients, they fulfill everything I need in a pre-workout snack: a good mix of quick-release (for energy now) and sustained-release (for energy later) carbohydrates with a little bit of protein and fat. They’re bite-sized, meaning I can pop as many — or as few, depending on the length of my run — in my mouth as I groggily change into my running clothes, turn on my Garmin, and tell Arnold Schwarzenneger to SHUT UP ALREADY, I’M ON MY WAY, GEEZ.
energy-bites-recipe

Six-Ingredient Cherry Cashew Energy Bites Recipe

Ingredients:
1/2 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup pitted dates
1/4 cup dried cherries
1/8 teaspoon dried ginger
1/2 teaspoon dried cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Directions:
1. In a blender, pulse cashews until small pieces form.
2. Add remaining ingredients and pulse until combined, stopping to scrape sides as needed.
3. Dump mixture on wax paper, then use clean hands to press loose mixture into a firm ball.
4. Place a second sheet of wax paper on top of the ball. Use a rolling pin to roll the mixture to a thickness of 1/2 inch.
5. Cut the rolled mixture into half-inch cubes. Store in a cool, dry place.
Do you prefer to take your time before morning workouts or are you out the door before you can say “snooze button?” —Susan

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