Pecan Date Bites

These are so easy they do not require a recipe at all but I wanted to share them because they are a really great pre- or post-workout snack or sweet craving buster. Simply cut open a date, take out the pit and insert a pecan. They taste kind of like pecan pie and since both ingredients store well, an airtight container of these can be kept in your gym bag, desk, pantry or car for quick snacks and emergency hunger pangs. Dates are mostly composed of carbohydrates and are really easy to digest, something to take into consideration with exercise recovery food, since the faster you can replenish energy stores the faster you will recover and be ready for the next endeavor. They are also high in many nutrients, notably so in potassium, a mineral that helps move nutrients into cells and remove waste products, as well as magnesium, a mineral that is important for muscle contraction and energy production. Buttery, rich pecans provide some healthy (unsaturated) fats, protein and a score of vitamins and minerals. If you don’t have any pecans around or aren’t a big fan they can be substituted for any kind of nut, nut butter or seed butter for those with nut allergies. If you want a fancier version for chocolate covered orange spiced dates, here’s a recipe that my friend taught me and has become one of my most often made treats.