Nourishing our wee ones with nut truffles.

Yesterday afternoon, while Georgia sat eating her lunch, I just felt overwhelmingly blessed.

You see, I was watching an episode of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, in which Jamie attempts to change the food system we use in our public schools to incorporate whole, delicious, fresh food.  Quite the task.  But I sat there watching as children were only offered deep fat fried chicken nuggets, chocolate chip cookies the size of frisbees, bags of cheetos, and strawberry milk with enough sugar to send a moose on a sugar high.  Hardly a balanced lunch.

Instead of being filled with nourishing food that grows and heals their bodies, they were being served refined sugar, refined flour, and sodium.  Their little bodies had nothing to go function off of!   The reprecutions from a bad diet are not hard to see: childhood diabetes and obesity are on the rise and children have a hard time focusing, obeying, and staying awake.  There is now doubt an attitude shift with a bad diet - who wouldn't be grouchy when they are coming down from a sugar rush!  Our children need to be nourished.  We have access to wonderful food here and we should be taking full advantage of it!

So as I sat with Georgia while she ate her tomato, raw cheese, banana, and nut truffle, I felt very thankful.  It is truly a God given blessing to be able to feed my child such wonderful food that will aid in the growth of a healthy body and mind.  

And if you have kiddos, might I share this wonderful little recipe with you?  Instead of reaching for a sugary, refined treat - these perfect little protein-packed truffles can scratch that sweet itch without sending their little bodies into hyper-drive.  

And that makes everyone happier.

I'm including two variations: the first nut truffle I made includes dried fruit and spices, the second is chocolate peanut butter.  Both are equally delicious!

Fruit & Spice Nut Truffles
You will need: 
 - 1 cup of almonds, Brazil nuts, or other nut of your choice
 - 1 cup of dried apricots (sulfur free!)
 - 1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut
 - 1/6 cup of raw honey (local is best!)
 - 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Directions:  Grind the nuts into a fine meal using your food processor.  Then, add in the apricots and the coconut, grinding again to mix & chop it all together.  After everything is ground down, add the honey and spices into the food processor and mix, mix, mix until it's all combined (scrap down the sides if necessary).  Using your hands, roll the nut mixture into small balls and roll them through coconut flakes.  Store in the refrigerator.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Nut Truffles
You will need: 
 - 1 cup of almonds, Brazil nuts, or other nut of your choice
 - 1/3 cup of organic, unsweetened peanut butter (check those ingredients!)
 - 2/3 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes
 - 1/6 cup of honey
 - 1/2 cup of cocoa powder
 - 1 teaspoon vanilla
 - Teeny pinch of sea salt

Directions:  Grind the nuts into a fine meal using your food processor.  Then, add in the coconut, honey and peanut butter, mixing until combined (again, scrap the sides of the mixer if need-be).  Add in the cocoa powder, the vanilla, and the pinch of salt, mixing again.  Using your hands, roll the nut mixture into small balls and then roll them through cocoa powder.  Store in the refrigerator.

Pretty easy, huh?  I had these bad boys whipped up in about ten minutes, including clean up.  Not bad, I'd say.

Here is a list of what I love about them:
 1.  They provide us with a nice bit of protein.
 2.  They fill the need for 'something sweet'.
 3.  The nuts are ground up, making it super easy for wee ones to eat them without choking!
 4.  The variations are endless:  use different nuts or seeds for the base, add different dried fruit for a seasonal flavor, add some lemon or orange zest for a little zing, or different spices to jazz them up!  You could also roll them in ground nuts or sesame seeds for a nice crunch.
 5.  They would be super cute in a little package as a Christmas gift or hostess treat!

I know I'm weird, but I really do find enjoyment in feeding wee ones nourishing food.  I may or may not have stressed this point enough already.

Oh, I have stressed it enough?

Fine.  I'll stop.

Until next time that is...

Enjoy!

For other great meal ideas, no matter what your dietary restrictions, check out the meal planning service I use: Real Plans.