Wellness Wednesdays: Maca Powder (+ Coconut Maca Energy Bites)

Reason #28748235092 why I love Trader Joe’s: I bought their organic maca powder a few weeks ago and, on a whim, tried the recipe from the back of the package — and holy smokes, it was BOMB.

No substitutions, no alterations needed. Love at first bite!

Well… I guess I did modify the recipe slightly. But only the directions! I made them into bites instead of bars — because wouldn’t you rather pop a handful of two or three energy bites than have just one bar?! Duh.

Actually, now that I’m looking over the original recipe once more, I guess I didn’t use quite as many dates either… but really, those were the only changes I made!

In any case, these energy bites are SUPER addicting — just ask Peter! He tossed three in his mouth this morning when he thought I wasn’t looking. Of course, I figured it out immediately once I saw that he had that guilty chipmunk look on his face..

Anywho, the whole point of this story is to bring us to the topic of this week’s Wellness Wednesday: maca powder (not to be confused with matcha powder)! This is another of those weird wellness trends/superfoods that you might have seen pop up on your instagram feed lately. I’ve been buying maca for years now from my favorite organic superfoods company, Organic Burst, and incorporating it into my morning smoothie bowls.

However, Trader Joe’s recently starting carrying it (at a fantastic price – $4.99!), which is how I knew it was time to share it with the world — i.e., with the six people who read this blog regularly. Maca is going mainstream, you guys, and I wanted you to be ahead of the curve! Don’t worry, you can thank me later…

So what exactly is maca?

Maca is a cruciferous plant native to Peru; it looks like a turnip and can be found growing in harsh conditions and at very high altitudes. The root is the edible part of the plant, which is generally dried and consumed in powder form. It has an earthy, nutty taste often compared to butterscotch.

And what are the health benefits of maca powder?

Maca has been used medicinally for thousands of years by ancient Peruvians. Known as ‘Peruvian ginseng’, it has been traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and also to help combat the harsh living conditions high in the Andes. It is also said that Inca warriors ate large quantities of maca root before going into battle, bringing them strength and stamina.

In addition, more recent research has shown that maca:

> enhances energy, mood and memory
> helps balance hormones
> nourishes adrenal glands & reduces stress hormones
> increases libido
> increases fertility (especially in men)

Maca is also rich in antioxidants, helping to neutralize harmful free radicals, fight off chronic disease and prevent damage to cells. Not a bad list of accomplishments, right? If all that doesn’t convince you to run out to TJ’s ASAP, I don’t know what will… $4.99 well spent, I’m telling ya.

But how can I use it?

Given its energy-boosting properties, I most often incorporate maca into my breakfast — mixed into yogurt, added to a smoothie (or smoothie bowl!), included in pancake batter or cooked into oatmeal. You could probably add it to any baked good you are craving as well! Cashew butter cookies, peanut butter swirl brownies… you could definitely get creative with this.

However, my favorite way (this week, at least) to enjoy maca is in the form of these delicious coconut maca energy bites. They are super quick to throw together and (should) last you all week! In case you hadn’t gathered, energy bites are constant in the Bartash household lately. And for good reason — they are an easy snack! Most importantly, they help satisfy my mid-afternoon sweet tooth in a (mostly) healthy way.

Coconut Maca Energy Bites

 

Print

Prep Time

15 mins

Total Time

15 mins

 

Author: Talia

Yield: 30 bites

Ingredients

• 1 cup cashews
• 12-14 dried, pitted dates
• ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• 2 tablespoons maca powder
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon cocao powder
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• water, as needed

Instructions

1. Toss all ingredients into a food processor and blend for 3-5 minutes until mixture is thoroughly combined. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time as needed to help form a dough.
2. Form into (roughly) tablespoon sized balls, and freeze for 10-15 minutes or until hard.
3. Keep in the fridge for up to a week or store in the freezer for up to a few months (if they last that long!).

Notes / Variations

If you want your energy bites a bit sweeter, use a few more dates. Conversely, use fewer dates if you don't have quite a sweet tooth.

Nutrition Information

Serving Size: 1 bite Calories: 75 Fat: 5.7g Saturated Fat: 3.5g Carbohydrates: 5.7g Sugar: 2.7g Sodium: 2mg Fiber: 1.2g Protein: 1.3g

3.5.3229

I guess it might need some work..