Tasty Gluten Free Snacks

One of my personal struggles is to fully commit to a gluten free diet. I have been pretty close for the last few years but it keeps sneaking in. I find snacks especially challenging- I can only handle so many almonds! One of my goals over the holidays was to find a few gluten free snacks that would suit my lifestyle and also be appealing to my 5 year old stepson- for me that means quick and easy to prepare, tasty, loaded with protein, and easy to eat on the playground. My New Year resolution is to commit to a gluten free diet- if that is something you are working on or if you are simply looking for some new snack ideas, I hope you enjoy these recipes.

Gluten Free Breakfast Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cup almond flour
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp baking soda (gluten free)
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup shredded coconut
• ½ cup pumpkin seeds, raw and unsalted
• ½ cup sunflower seeds, raw and unsalted
• ¼ cup almonds, whole or slivered
• ¼ cup raisins (optional)

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine almond flour, salt and baking soda. In a large bowl, combine olive oil, sweetener and vanilla. Stir dry ingredients into wet and mix in coconut, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, and raisins. Grease an 8×8 baking dish with olive oil and press the dough into the baking dish. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.

Dried Fruit and Nut Bites

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dried fruit of choice (I love the combination of apricots, cranberries and some coconut; if you prefer something sweeter, include 2-3 dates)
• 2 cups raw nuts and seeds of choice
• dash cinnamon
• pinch salt
• ~3 cups raw sesame seeds

Directions:
Pulse 2 cups of dried fruit in food processor and transfer to a bowl.
Pulse 2 cups of nuts and seeds until finely chopped.
Add nuts and seeds to dried fruit with a dash of cinnamon and pinch of salt.
Knead together and form 1 inch balls.
Roll each ball in raw sesame seeds.