I’m a sucker for “bites,” as I call them. They are easy snacks for kids and healthier dessert-style treats for grown-ups. Naturally, my boys (and my hubby) are the guinea pigs to finding the balance between sweet and nourishing, and I encourage you to experiment and tweak in much the same way.

 

The key to this recipe is quality ingredients. I’ve made these bites before with macadamia nuts that had a slightly rancid smell to them (this can easily happen with nuts and seeds that aren’t fresh or properly stored between harvest and consumption) and it resulted in bites with an underlying icky flavor. I’ve always had good luck with Royal Hawaiian brand, and Thrive Market has great pricing!

 

Selecting dried cranberries can be tricky as well. They are often full of added sugars (apple juice concentrate is still sugar) and inflammatory oils (canola, sunflower, or safflower for example), which can quickly turn these tart berries with health benefits into junky candy. Lucky for you, I found a company at PaleoFx this year who I encourage you to check out and try in this recipe: Honestly Cranberry. Of course, I also suggest you seek out an UNSWEETENED sunflower seed butter without added oils.

 

 

Of course, I also suggest you seek out an UNSWEETENED sunflower seed butter without added oils. My kids enjoy the flavor of peanut butter and I think the “sunbutter” is a nice alternative to replace those legumes we mistakenly group in the nut category. Peanuts are one of the most common allergens and can also cause inflammation in those without noticeable reaction. In addition, they are prone to aflatoxins, which are chemicals produced by certain molds commonly found in peanuts. If there’s a healthier option, I’m in.

 

So, corral your kids, fill up the food processor with good ingredients and get rolling as a family. We love to cover our Cranberry Macadamia Bites in extra coconut and store them in the freezer!