Everyone loves a good snack, energizing pre-workout munch, pick-me-up after work, or special nibble while we cook up a healthy dinner. And sometimes, ya just have to have a midnight snack, right? The key to choosing healthy snacks that also satisfy those cravings is to choose foods that boost your energy and contain naturally sweet ingredients and healthy fats, along with a bit of protein too (for the muscle and the blood sugar, of course!).

Energy bites, balls, whatever you like to call them (and even bars) are one of the most popular snacks among those looking to eat a healthier diet without processed bars and energy snacks on the market (often coated with sugars and oils that don’t give you a lick of energy!).

That being said, we’d like to share some of our top energizing bars, bites, and balls to help power you through the week!

1. Raw Superfood Energy Bars With Cacao

Source: Raw Superfood Energy Bars With Cacao

Filled with cashews and cacao, two great sources of iron, along with potassium and magnesium from dates and cashews, Emily von Euw‘s Raw Superfood Energy Bars With Cacao are the perfect option for dessert, a snack, or even a super sweet breakfast!

2. 3-Ingredient Energy Bars

Source: 3-Ingredient Energy Bars

You don’t need a host of ingredients to make your own energy bars. A few, simple and effective (and super tasty) options will do. Christina Bedetta‘s 3-Ingredient Energy Bars are made with dates and natural, plant-based proteins. Make them, enjoy them, and eat them for energy all day long!

3. No-Bake Superfood Energy Bars

Source: No-Bake Superfood Energy Bars

For a superfood punch, try Bridget Besoner‘s No-Bake Superfood Energy Bars that are filled with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. You can wrap them and take them on the go or even eat them for a breakfast if you don’t have time to sit down and eat in the morning.

4. Goji Energy Bites

Source: Goji Energy Bites

Goji berries! These lovely berries aren’t just pretty to look at … your body happens to love them, too! Filled with amino acids, vitamin A and vitamin C, they keep you healthy, energized, and keep your skin glowing. Who knew? Try them in Koko Brill‘s tasty Goji Energy Bites for a simple snack or dessert anytime of the week.

5. Homemade Mocha Chip Larabars

Source: Homemade Mocha Chip Larabars

It’s hard to go wrong with a little java, especially if your energy stores are bottoming out before you’d prefer. Plus, it just adds that special kick nothing else does. Try making your own version of the popular Larabars with Bridget Besoner‘s simple Homemade Mocha Chip Larabars that even taste better than the ones at the store (and it’s pretty hard to beat Lara!).

Recommendation: Download the Food Monster App

If you enjoy articles like this and want more, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App. For those that don’t have it, it’s a brilliant Food app available for both Android and iPhone. It’s a great resource for anyone looking to cut out or reduce allergens like meat, dairy, soy, gluten, eggs, grains, and more find awesome recipes, cooking tips, articles, product recommendations and how-tos. The app shows you how having diet/health/food preferences can be full of delicious abundance rather than restrictions.

The Food Monster app has over 15,000 recipes and 500 are free. To access the rest, you have to pay a subscription fee but it’s totally worth it because not only do you get instant access to 15,000+ recipes, you get 10 NEW recipes every day! You can also make meal plans, add bookmarks, read feature stories, and browse recipes across hundreds of categories like diet, cuisine, meal type, occasion, ingredient, popular, seasonal, and so much more!

6. Pistachio, Sesame, and Lime Energy Balls

Source: Pistachio, Sesame, and Lime Energy Balls

Now, here’s a flavor you won’t see at the store, but one you’ll wish you had tried before now. Zesty, sweet, and a little nutty too — these hit the spot in a unique, surprising way. Plus, they’re portable, poppable, and you can even freeze them for long-term storage. Try Amy Height‘s Pistachio, Sesame, and Lime Energy Balls for a new way to increase your energy and satisfy your sweet tooth!

7. Chocolate Sea Salt Energy Bites

Source: Chocolate Sea Salt Energy Bites

Chocolate is perfectly complemented with sea salt, especially in many gourmet desserts. It’s a secret you can try at home; just a pinch of salt is all you need It’s easy to try in Bianca Scartabello‘s recipe for Chocolate Sea Salt Energy Bites, which also features energizing chia seeds, sesame seeds, and other plant-based goodness.

8. Raw Lemon Macaroons

Source: Raw Lemon Macaroons

It’s hard to go wrong with the unique combo of lemon and coconut — sweetness perfected in more ways than one. Try Jodi Burke‘s Raw Lemon Macaroons that are made with all natural ingredients instead of macaroons at the store that contain refined ingredients. They’re filled with energizing fats to power your brain and body all day long!

9. Chocolate Chip Cookie Protein Balls

Source: Chocolate Chip Protein Balls

These might look like dessert, but Michaell Johnson‘s Chocolate Chip Protein Balls are filled with healthy ingredients that you could enjoy any time of day for a little boost of nutritional power and so much flavor! Bonus? They’re made of real foods. Yes, please, and thank you!

10. Almond Joy Oat Granola Bars

Source: Almond Joy Oat Granola Bars

And for those that really love granola bars, (hey, we’ve all had our days), just make your own at home because they’re cheaper, actually taste better and less sticky sweet, and better yet, they actually stay with you awhile to satisfy you longer. Try Abby Thompson‘s Almond Joy Oat Granola Bars made from real foods and filled with flavor that your body can use to supply you with plant-powered energy!

11. Pistachio Sesame Seed Balls

Source: Pistachio Sesame Seed Balls

Karielyn Tillman‘s Pistachio Sesame Seed Balls are a quick and healthy snack that’s super easy to make. It only has five clean ingredients and can be made in about 5 minutes with only a food processor. And, it’s a great recipe to use with homemade almond butter. Not only are these a kid-friendly favorite, but they are raw, vegan, gluten-free, paleo-friendly, and contain no refined sugar!

12. High Energy Matcha Bliss Balls

Source: High Energy Matcha Bliss Balls

If you haven’t hopped on the matcha train yet, get on it with these High Energy Matcha Bliss Balls by Hallie and Reya Tobias! Seriously, matcha is more powerful than coffee (as well as other types of green tea) and packs in antioxidants like no other. The natural caffeine content in matcha gives you a clear, calm energy that is released over the course of a few hours, so you experience none of the jitters or sudden crash that you would from energy drinks or espresso. Harnessing the power of matcha in an energy bite with oats and vegan protein powder is the perfect way to keep yourself going all day!

13. 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Bites

Source: 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Bites

Although it is often thought of as an indulgent food (which it can be if you eat it with a spoon by the jar!), peanut butter provides an excellent source of plant-based protein, healthy fats, and vitamins. So, it’s perfect in Christina Bedetta‘s 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Bites. It is important to stick to the natural kind with a minimal ingredient list (optimally just peanuts and salt) to really reap the benefits in the most nutritious way.

14. Salted Caramel and Mint Chocolate Energy Bites

Source: Salted Caramel and Mint Chocolate Energy Bites

It’s no secret that mint and chocolate go perfectly together. Whether it be in a dessert, an indulgent dark chocolate bar or a smoothie, the flavor combination wins us over every time. Laura Peill‘s Salted Caramel and Mint Chocolate Energy Bites are packed with antioxidants from the raw cacao and have a nice added protein addition courtesy of the hemp hearts. You can also replace all or some of the cacao with chocolate hemp protein powder if you need a bit of an additional protein boost.

15. Lavender Vanilla Dream Balls

Source: Lavender Vanilla Dream Balls

Emily von Euw‘s Lavender Vanilla Dream Balls will be a big hit with everyone. The floral base is made from nuts and dates, so it’ll give you plenty of energy. Then, these delicious, healthy treats are dipped in dark chocolate. You can leave out the chocolate, but — no surprise —we recommend adding it. Chocolate and lavender seem to like each other.

You can also check out or vegan energy bites and balls recipe page for more ideas. Let us know what your favorite energy bites are in the comments!

Lead Image Source: Pistachio Sesame Seed Balls