Start the New Year with Raw Energy!

Photo © Kevin Kennefick, for Raw Energy

Whether you’re diving into a New Year's resolution to lose weight and eat healthier or are simply feeling overwhelmed by all the sugary treats and desserts of the holiday season, now is a good time to hop off the merry-go-round of poor snacking choices. For healthy, mouthwatering parfaits, trail mixes, smoothies, energy bars, juice blends, soups, vegetable chips, dips, candies, cookies, and more, check out the simple recipes (124 of them!) in our new book, Raw Energy. Made from unprocessed whole foods — such as nuts, seeds, dried and fresh fruits, vegetables, oats, carob, cocoa, and fresh juices — these snacks have fewer than 250 calories and are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and enzymes.

Here's a recipe from Raw Energy to get you started:

Chewy Cherry Charger Balls

With tangy, sweet, energizing goodness, these balls are chock-full of peppy spices, including a small bit of cayenne pepper. You’ll barely taste the heat, but you’ll feel the zip and the increase in circulation that it provides.

Ingredients
1 cup raw almonds
1 cup dried, pitted cherries, sweetened with apple juice or unsweetened
1 cup raw almond butter
3 Tbsp raw agave nectar or raw honey
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
Pinch of sea salt

Instructions
1. Grind the almonds to a medium texture in a food processor or nut and seed grinder. The almonds should look similar to very coarsely ground Parmesan cheese.

2. Put the almond meal, cherries, almond butter, agave, cinnamon, cayenne, and salt in a
medium bowl. Using a large spoon or your hands, thoroughly mix the ingredients until a cohesive dough is formed.

3. Pinch off pieces of the dough, and form into balls about 1¼ inches in diameter. Set aside.

4. For the best flavor and consistency, allow the balls to set for 24 hours before eating. Store the
balls in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator, and consume within 2 or 3 weeks. They may be individually wrapped, using waxed paper or plastic wrap, and taken with you to enjoy as portable energy bites.

Yield: About 24 balls

A good source of antioxidants, vitamins B and E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, silicon, manganese, iron, healthful fat, natural sugars, protein, and fiber