By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by National Dairy Council and the Quaker Oats Center of Excellence and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.
“Change is inevitable”, so the quote goes….
From the time we graduate from milk to solid foods; to leaving high school for college; to getting a job; to leaving a job; to stepping into our first home from an apartment; to getting married – or divorced; change is a surefire guarantee!
There are numerous quotes and articles helping us to adapt to change; that talk us into the importance of leaving our comfort zones and taking a leap of faith; of how to think and thrive when change happens…
But…
What do we do when we thrive on constant change? What do we do when it becomes a need? How do we tame our constant need for it?
It took me awhile to figure out that I fall into this latter category – I need change. In a BIG way. I thrive in/on it.
when I have mastered that new software at work, if I don’t have a new challenge I get bored…and I am not sure how to change this. When a drive gets too familiar, I seek a new route, even if it takes me longer to get where I am going – and that makes no sense with gas prices being what they are. Even though running is such a mental release, an outlet of sorts for me – ever so often I find myself turning to Tony Horton’s P90X workouts and vowing to give up running (though this doesn’t last too long). Sometimes I wonder – is my need for change rolling into my friendships? Am I subconsciously passing this trait onto my daughter?
A coworker/friend and I often talk about the need for self evaluation…and that’s what I am doing today…I don’t have any answers…but I am curious – what end of the spectrum do you find yourself at? Do you resist change? Do you adapt well to it? Or, do you need it to fuel you on?
My desire for change in breakfast is what lead me to making these Baked Overnight Oats Bites. I went for weeks eating baked oatmeal for at least one meal a day – then I went for weeks eating overnight oats for at least one meal a day…and then…I got bored…I was dragging…I needed a change…
So I decided to combine the two for this contest to “develop creative and tasty breakfasts, snacks or side dishes featuring the power of whole grain oats with the goodness of reduced/low-fat dairy” sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the Quaker Oats Center of Excellence and hosted by the Recipe Redux for it’s members.
These bites are loaded with oats, lactose free milk, dates, walnuts and C.H.O.C.O.L.A.T.E!!! They sure are teeny-tiny, itsy-bitsy, – only one mouthful! I had to have four of them to fuel me up (that would be approximately half a cup of oats and half a cup of milk per serving)…I know there are only 3 pictured on each saucer…but…I would never post a recipe unless it was taste tested and approved by my daughter and I 😀
Baked Overnight Oat Bites
Healthy and deliciously decadent -and gluten free- baked overnight oat bites with wholesome oats, lactose free milk, walnuts, dates, and chocolate!
Ingredients
- 1 cup oats
- 1 cup lactose free 2% milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 teaspoons agave
- 1 egg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons crushed walnuts
- 4/5 dates chopped up
- A couple of handfuls of dark chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons coconut flour
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the oats, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, agave and salt; cover and refrigerate overnight.
- The next day, preheat the oven to 375
- To the overnight oats mix, add the egg, the baking powder, the walnuts, the chopped dates, the coconut flour and one handful of the chocolate chips - reserving the other handful to melt later.
- Roll into balls and place on a parchment lined baking tray.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes
- Melt the remaining handful of chocolate chips and drizzle over the bites
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 173Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 27mgSodium 156mgCarbohydrates 21gFiber 3gSugar 11gProtein 5g
Date Energy Balls - Savory Spin
Tuesday 1st of February 2022
[…] for more tasty balls and bites? Then check these out:Easy Mocha Almond BitesOrange Cardamom BitesBaked Overnight Oat BitesBanana Cream BitesPeppermint White Chocolate […]
Kelly @ Trial and Eater
Wednesday 20th of August 2014
I understand what you mean about getting bored without a challenge, but at the same time I thrive in routine. I guess the trick is balancing routine with learning, which is what I really thrive on more than anything :)
Cy
Sunday 17th of August 2014
First of all, those bites look delicious haha
But you make an interesting point about change, and how you feel it's necessary (for you). This was a really introspective piece and quite interesting to think about!
I think for me change all the time is not necessary like it is for you, but I definitely prefer it. Without it I tend to get disinterested in things.
dedy oktavianus pardede
Friday 15th of August 2014
Damn delicious healthy oats roll!!! the photograph is really seducing me....
easyfoodsmith
Thursday 14th of August 2014
Challenging myself with something new is utterly important to me. These cookies looks gorgeous and your lovely pictures of them are making them so irresistible.