I am not a big fan of protein powders overall as a whole. I find that even the powders that are meant to be whole food or pant based still have something on the ingredient list that doesn’t seem to jive with whole food or clean eating. We all know that getting protein into our diet is a must, and so sometimes we see the word “protein” and “all natural” on a package and scoop it up assuming it must be good for us. I find that getting protein straight from the source works best for me. Whether it’s nuts, beans, lean meats or other sources, I like to stick to the food that is closest to the real source.

So one of the things I will tend to use to make my own “protein powder” is hemp seeds. All I have to do is grind them up and add them to my recipe and there is my protein powder: one ingredient. That’s it. I can toss it into a smoothie or another recipe and kick up the protein a notch easily.

Nuts are another great source that I use to get my protein in. I have certainly been on a pistachio kick lately. The tiny green kernels offer protein, fiber and so much more. I love pecans, almonds, cashews, etc. but pistachios are a must in the munchie department in my house.

I combined pistachios and hemp seeds into these Dark Chocolate Pistachio Protein Bites to help me when I needed an afternoon pick me up. Everyday around 3:00 pm I am ready to snack. If I don’t have something with a decent amount of protein then I don’t easily make it to dinner time. So having snacks like these protein bites around really is key! These are gluten free and dairy free as well as vegan friendly. They are not overly sweet so if you prefer more sweetness, add the optional maple syrup. Otherwise, the dates are enough for a little natural sweetness! I hope these will get you through your afternoon slump just like me!