Sweet Potato Protein Bites

These sweet potato protein bites have the perfect amount of crunch and sweetness, thanks to the cinnamon, vanilla, chopped walnuts,and raisins added to a perfectly roasted sweet potato. There is nothing quite as yummy as perfectly roasted sweet potatoes. They somehow get even sweeter this way, and are absolutely a wonderful base for these protein bites. I was able to create these delicious bites thanks to Sunwarrior who sent me a few samples to review. Sunwarrior sent a sample of protein powder for me to try, and I was not otherwise compensated by Sunwarrior for this post. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love having healthy nourishing snacks on hand at all times. It keeps my hands out of the chocolate drawer when the 3pm sweet craving hits. I have found through lots of trial and error that I feel truly satisfied when I have a snack that balances out protein, carbs and fat. Protein helps me feel full longer, the fat helps me feel satisfied instantly, and the slow burning carbs provide a long stream of fuel to slowly digest. All of this works to keep me from having an instant sugar crash or feeling hungry in 30 minutes.

That’s the thing, I’ve really tried to start fueling my body instead of eating just for pleasure. Don’t get me wrong, I honestly enjoy every last bite, but when you know the food you are eating is providing your body with the fuel it needs to build muscle, recover from a hard workout, or become more efficient because it’s getting the nutrients and vitamins it craves, it makes the decision to eat healthier so much easier!

Sweet potatoes packed with antioxidants. They are full of beta carotene (hence the orange color) and provide almost a full day’s worth of Vitamin A! Sweet potatoes are full of vitamin B-5, B-6 and other essential vitamins that the body needs from external sources (our food). So start your oven and get a few roasting now!  I usually make 3-4 sweet potatoes in the oven on Sunday evening, so I can use them in recipes throughout the week. They are great in both sweet and savory dishes or perfect by themselves with a sprinkle of cinnamon!

These sweet potato protein bites are of course packed with protein. They have vegan protein powder and hemp hearts. In this recipe I used Sunwarrior Vanilla Protein (affiliate link), which was sent to me by Sunwarrior to try. I have to admit though, my cabinets were already stocked with Sunwarrior Vanilla Protein (affiliate link), as it’s a product I’ve come to really enjoy using in my recipes, especially when baking. Sunwarrior is perfect for Dave and I, as it’s natural, vegan protein, non-GMO, no preservatives or fillers that you may find in other protein powders. It’s also sensitive enough for us to use in our everyday life (Dave developed an allergy to whey), which is really the most important point in my book.

I wanted to make a no-bake snack, something I could easily throw together and not have to worry about watching the timer to makes sure it didn’t burn. Also, no bake often means less ingredients, which is always a win! These sweet potato protein bites have just a few ingredients, and they all add to a really yummy healthy snack! I really like using cinnamon raisin peanut butter in this recipe. I think it pairs really well with the sweet potatoes and I can taste the underlying peanut butter flavor without it being overwhelming (thanks to the cinnamon and raisin already added).  If you don’t have this, you can always get creative and add some cinnamon and raisins to your favorite peanut butter, but I encourage you to make your own some time, it’s fun, much cheaper and you can control the ingredients!

 What about you?

•  Do you roast sweet potatoes early in the week to enjoy later?
• What is your favorite sweet potato dish?
• Have you tried Sunwarrior Protein? What is your favorite flavor?

I was provided samples from Sunwarrior to review. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.