Sunbutter & Jelly Bites

I did it!  The Fort Ord 25K Trail race was this morning and it almost killed me.  Okay, that' a slight exaggeration but it was hard.  So I'm pretty excited to have accomplished that insanely hilly steep course.  Maybe I didn't run fast as I had hoped, but I completed it despite an aching ankle, and that felt pretty dang good.

So after that ridiculous elevation, heat and rocky terrain, I was tempted to eat all of the food.  Like, all of the food.  Instead, with my clean eating challenge about to start Monday, I decided to make some clean eating raw bites.  (Slight pause: add me, Maiah Miller as a friend on facebook, and I'll invite you in the group if you'd like to commit to eat cleaner and move more for just 1 week).

These bites taste exactly like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!  My husband agreed: he stated numerous times they are very good, so rest assured, they are very good.

Eat a couple after a hard workout, or to fuel a workout, or simply, as an alternative to a sugary dessert.  The chia seeds lend a little extra protein and nutrients, and I love that just a few fill me up and keeping me from raiding the fridge. Oh, and please excuse the photo quality; I made them for facebook, not with the intention of putting it up on the blog but they are so good, I just had to!

Sunbutter & Jelly Bites
(a healthy cookie version of a PB&J)
yields about 2 dozen

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sunflower seed butter*
3/4 cup organic raisins
2 tsp ground chia seeds
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup sunflower seeds, raw or toasted

* I adore Marantha Sunflower Seed Butter because they don't add anything ridiculous in like sugar or soy or other randoms.  Wild Friends Honey Sunbutter is also amazing, as they use a little honey to sweeten.  Any sunflower seed butter will do, but when looking to eat clean, try to choose one without "evaporated cane juice" or anything besides sunflower seeds and maybe a touch of sea salt.

Directions:

1.  Place ingredients in a food processor and blend!  The mixture will gradually come together.  Roll into little balls and store in the fridge.  I am also pretty certain these would make great take along treats on the trail or a hike or long ride.  Try it and let me know!
P.S. these don't need to be chilled before consuming; you can eat some right away.  And they are pretty delicious, so give it a little taste test...