One thing I have really been struggling with this summer is cooking. The first trimester was just absolutely exhausting for me and I had no energy for cooking. The worst part was one minute I would be fine, and the next I would be so hungry I’d feel light headed and nauseous. Because of this it was really important for me to have quick healthy food options available like these no bake lemon pistachio energy bites. If you want to read more about my first trimester, check out this post.
I noticed that if I ate something healthy and high in protein at the first sign of hunger, I wouldn’t experience the nausea and fatigue as severely. These no bake lemon pistachio energy bites make the perfect healthy snack. The pistachios give them a healthy serving of protein and fats, both of which are really important in pregnancy. On average, pregnant women need about 70-80g of protein a day. That’s quite a bit, so reaching for protein rich snacks is a great way to reach that number. Also, high protein snacks and meals have been shown to help reduce severity of nausea during pregnancy. I definitely noticed this was the case for me, although I was still pretty nauseous all the damn time. I cringe even thinking about how much worse I could have felt if I had an unhealthy diet.
The lemon in these energy bites is so refreshing and gives a little boost if you are feeling sluggish in the afternoons. Sour and tart are also two great flavors for helping combat nausea and morning sickness, so again, these are the perfect pregnancy snack. I like a lot of lemon, so these energy bites have quite the kick. If you are a little less intense with your love of lemons, feel free to use the zest from one lemon, instead of two.
Keep in mind, the collagen powder is completely optional in this recipe and the bites will turn out fine if you don’t use it. I like the added nutrients and benefits that collagen powder provides. Bonus, it has been shown to help support joint and bone health, both of which can use some extra support during pregnancy. I use this Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
Enjoy!
No Bake Lemon Pistachio Energy Bites
These energy bites are so refreshing and the lemon adds the perfect bite to get you going in the afternoon.
Ingredients
- 1 C raw pistachios, unsalted
- zest of 2 large lemons
- 2 T lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 T maple syrup
- 1/4 C shredded, unsweetened coconut
- pinch sea salt
- 2 scoops collagen powder optional (I used Vital Proteins)
Instructions
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Pulse the pistachios in the food processor until they break up into small chunks. Don't overrules as it will become more of a butter type of texture.
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Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and blend all together until the mixture is sticky. If the mixture is too crumbly add 1-2 tsp of water.
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Roll the mixture into 1" balls using your hands. You can roll the formed balls in extra shredded coconut if you want (I like the added taste).
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Refrigerate for 30 minutes before eating. Store in the fridge for up to four days.
