The date, oat, and nut energy bite recipe everyone needs. These are packed with fiber, protein, and healthy fat, and make for an amazing healthy snack that you will want to keep around at all times.  One of nature's sweetest treats, but despite their high sugar content the amount of fiber in dates gives them a low glycemic index.

DAO Labs Joint Vitality features a blend inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine, used for centuries to support everyday mobility and active lifestyles. This formula packs a flavor punch as its custom flavor blend contains cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla, honey and a touch of chile for a bit of background spice.  The combination of the healthy fat and protein from the nuts and nut butter and the natural sweetness of the dates is a wonderful whole food pick me up.  The amount of fiber in bananas can help you feel fuller, and bananas are a great source of potassium. As bananas ripen, some of the starch converts to sugar, so try to use a banana that is not over-ripe.  Buy whole Medjool dates as opposed to the diced dates with added sugar, you may need to add water if your dates are older or drier.  A pinch of salt brings a nice balance for that sweet and salty flavor that everyone loves.

A Healthy Energy Snack with Joint Vitality 

• ½ Cup Dates with water as needed to desired consistency, depending on how dry your dates are
• 4 Tablespoons oats
• 2 Scoops DAO Labs Joint Vitality
• 4 Tablespoons almond butter
• ½  Banana
• 2 Tablespoons slivered almonds
• 2 Tablespoons mini chocolate chips
• 2 Tablespoons cocoa nibs
• Small pinch of sea salt 

Mix all ingredients together in a food processor until ingredients are evenly distributed. You may need to chill the mixture if it needs to set up a bit, depending on the consistency of the almond butter and dryness of the dates.  Roll into bite-sized pieces and coat the outside with two parts slivered almonds/one part cacao nibs that have been slightly chopped in a processor.  Do not over-process the slivered almonds and cocoa nibs, so you still get a crunchy texture.  If you prefer your snacks to be cooler, you can keep them in the freezer, but we recommend that you don’t, based on our Middle Burner Diet.  

Care Consideration: Just a reminder that the above information is not a substitute for medical care and is not a substitute for medical advice or recommendations from a healthcare provider.  This information is not intended to treat, mitigate, or cure any disease.  That said, we encourage you to connect with an Acupuncturist in your community to learn more about this and other Traditional Chinese Medicine options.  If you’ve got questions about Chinese herbal medicine or getting started with an Acupuncturist, feel free to connect with us at hello@mydaolabs.com.

Dining with Culinary Artist Travis Metzger is an unforgettable experience. You can taste the passion, creativity and culinary expertise in each of Travis’s one-of-kind recipes. Most would agree that Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs in their original form taste less than delectable, but Travis has proven that TCM for today can taste great with DAO Labs. Travis develops unique flavors for each DAO formula to complement the proprietary blend of herbs and their health benefits. After extensive training at the New England Culinary Institute, Travis ran some of the finest restaurants across the country before starting his own in Minneapolis. To survive the stresses and physical challenges of the kitchen heat, Travis focused on combining natural ingredients for healthy AND delicious eating and juicing.