No bake Apricot Nut Fifteens

For all you new readers out there, fifteens are my way of combating a hectic lifestyle.

Each fifteens recipe can be made in under 5 minutes, frozen in under 5 minutes, and enjoyed in under 5 minutes. Hence the name fifteens. [I know, I'm so clever! ]

Fifteens give us the opportunity to take 15 minutes out of our day to marvel at our food, relax, enjoy, and reflect.

… before you take a moment to enjoy our food, check out the brownie and vanilla flavors too!

Since we’re on the topic of time, I’ve been asked by a bunch of you:

What are your tricks for preparing quick and healthy lunches?

In addition to yesterday’s post on freezable meals, here are some of my strategies for the 10 minute lunch prep:

• Salads are your best friend. They are quick to whip up. Try making your own salad dressing and using it for the remainder of the week.
• Precooked chicken breast. I cook up 4 chicken breasts on Sunday and slice them into strips before I place a couple of strips in a ziploc bag and freeze for quick lunch packing.
• Veggie dip Mondays. On Monday I’ll make a big batch of veggie dip after work – something like hummus, or avocado cream sauce.
• Throw your grains in the crock pot and forget about it. When you get home, spend 1 minute preparing rice, quinoa, or millet in the crock pot. It will be ready before you go to bed. Divide it into containers and add frozen veg.
• Veggie sticks. When you buy your veggies, wash, cut, and bag them up! You can grab them by the handful in 10 seconds flat.
• Canned beans are the great go-to pal. Open, rinse, add to lemon, chopped veg and oil, throw the rest in the fridge.
• Staples. I change my staple weekly. A staple is usually the snack in between breakfast and lunch for me. It’s one recipe made in under 30 minutes on the weekend. It could be these, or something like this, or maybe this, or this, or these!

Homemade lunches have really helped me stay committed to my health. Every small bit counts. If you don’t have time to pack a full lunch, why not get into the habit of taking a homemade snack with you [like the ones below]? You’d be amazed at the difference it will make to your day.

I promise!

No bake Apricot Nut Fifteens

Vegan, Gluten free, Dairy free, Sugar free, Yeast free

These dried fruit balls are filled with flavor and nutrients [specifically fiber]. Fill your day with a healthful snack and take a moment to relax and enjoy the foods around you.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dried apricots
• 3 prunes
• 2 tbsp chia seed, ground
• 1/4 cup walnuts
• 1/4 cup fresh coconut*

*note: you can use shredded coconut too. If you find it’s too dry, try adding 1 tsp coconut oil.

Directions

1. Combine all 5 ingredients in a food processor and pulse until apricots and prunes have broken down [about 1 minute].
2. Roll “dough” into balls and place on a clean surface [do not use paper towel like I did for the first batch].
3. Pop in the freezer for 4-5 minutes to harden up [I like them best a bit frozen]
4. Enjoy!

Nutrition stats [1 ball]: calories 182; fat 9g; carbohydrates 26g; dietary fiber 9g; sugars 11g; protein 5g

Makes 6 dried fruit balls.

Do you give yourself time to relax and enjoy your foods?

Tagged as: 5 ingredient, apricot, fifteens