Lately, I’ve been obsessed with dates. They add sweetness to smoothies, plus they are packed with gut and mental health-friendly fiber!
If you love Snickers or chocolate nut bars, then you’ll also love these Chocolate Date and Peanut Butter Bites - aka - the perfect snack when you’re craving a sweet treat.
In this article, we lay out exactly how to make these yummy snacks, as well as how they offer a healthy bite (or two) to lift up your mental health and mood. So, let’s take a closer look!
We all try to be “healthy.” But every now and again… those cravings hit. And for me, it’s often involving chocolate and peanut butter. So, I wanted to find a healthy alternative, and these Chocolate Date and Peanut Butter Bites are it!
In other good news, they are also really easy to make. It takes about 10 minutes. Yet, keep in mind they need to be refrigerated to solidify before enjoying them (so plan ahead accordingly).
These indulgent chocolate date bites prove that dessert can be both satisfying and beneficial for your mental health.
You don’t need to trade off flavor and sweetness for overall wellness (yes, really!). So, here’s exactly how this snack can elevate your mood.
Dates and peanuts are both rich in the amino acid tyrosine, which your body uses to produce dopamine - a brain chemical that plays a major role in motivation, focus, and mood. Low dopamine levels are linked to fatigue, apathy, and even depression, so giving your brain the building blocks it needs can make a real (and noticeable) difference.
Yet, it’s worth noting that a dopamine hit is often temporary. And luckily, beyond dopamine, there’s more going on here! So, let’s dig a little deeper.
Medjool dates provide natural sugars - glucose, fructose, and sucrose - that offer quick energy for your brain. Unlike refined sugar, the fiber in dates slows absorption; in turn, this helps keep energy and mood steady and stable and helps avoid spikes and crashes.
They’re also a good source of potassium, which supports nerve signaling and brain activity. All in all, potassium helps regulate the electrical impulses in your brain, which affects how clearly you think and how stable your mood feels.
Dates also contain vitamin B6, which your body needs to produce serotonin and dopamine.
On top of the above (yes, there’s more!), the antioxidants in dates - such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds - help protect your brain cells from stress and damage over time, which may support better memory and focus as you age.
If you love peanut butter, you probably consider it a crime not to have this for a snack at least once a day. And while you’ve probably been warned that peanut butter doesn’t contain as much protein as it’s hyped up to and that it’s got lots of fat, it’s not that bad…
In fact, those fats are mostly monounsaturated - the kind that support brain health by protecting nerve cells and helping them communicate. Peanut butter also contains niacin (vitamin B3), which plays a role in maintaining memory and focus, as well as resveratrol, an antioxidant that may help reduce brain inflammation.
Plus, the protein it does offer includes tyrosine, an amino acid, as previously mentioned, that your brain uses to make dopamine and norepinephrine. So, while it may not be the highest-protein food, peanut butter still makes its mark in terms of mental energy and mood. In a healthy and balanced diet, it can have a place!
One quick thing to note here is that “natural” peanut butter is far better than the processed variety. It also tends to shine a little bit better (and taste better) in this recipe than the processed stuff.
Coconut oil also adds more than flavor to this snack.
It contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), such as lauric acid and caprylic acid, which serve as a rapid energy source for the brain. Unlike most fats, MCTs are quickly converted into ketones, which the brain can use right away. This means they’re particularly beneficial for supporting brain and mental health.
Coconut oil’s antimicrobial properties can support gut health, too. And since the gut and brain are closely connected, this may further support mood and cognitive function.
Chocolate lovers rejoice; raw cacao contains natural compounds that support mood and brain function.
It has anandamide, a chemical that interacts with the brain’s receptors to promote feelings of well-being. Cacao also contains compounds that slow the breakdown of anandamide, allowing these effects to last longer.
Flavonoids in cacao further improve blood flow to the brain and may support memory, focus, and learning. Cacao is also high in magnesium, which can help dampen the stress response and help alleviate some anxiety or low mood.
Related Article: Spoonfuls of Happiness: Can This Dark Chocolate Mousse Actually Help Improve Your Mental Well-Being? | Mental Health Recipes
Related Article: An Uplifting Blend: How to Prepare The Perfect Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie | Mental Health Recipes
It takes next to no time to make and tastes pretty great! If you love chocolate and peanut butter, this one is a must-make. Grab your ingredients (there aren’t many!) and throw this together to have on hand this coming week. We bet you won’t have any regrets.
Read Next: 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Honey Oat Bars | Mental Health Recipes
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