Being on a diet makes it hard to snack, especially when on the road. Any true Canadian will tell you that no road trip is complete without a stop at Tim Horton’s, our favourite roadside coffee hub. And, of course, no Tim Horton’s coffee is truly satisfying without a delicious box of “Timbits”, or assorted doughnut holes, by its side. Every Friday, while teaching English in the summer, I would bring in a box of Timbits for my students to sample some “authentic Canadian cuisine”. They loved them, not surprisingly. Sadly, most people on a naturopathic diet – whichever naturopathic diet you follow – can’t eat Timbits, which are basically little balls of gluten and sugar. But don’t despair, this snack makes a delicious grain-free, whole foods substitute. And the best thing about these coconut-covered balls? They’re good for you!

Paleo “Timbits”, or Coconut-coated Almond Butter Balls

Ingredients:

1 cup natural almond butter, unsalted

8-10 large medjool dates, remove pits

1/2 cup walnuts, unsalted

1 tbs cocoa powder

1 cap-full vanilla extract

1 tbs honey, optional

1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut for rolling

Directions:

In a food processor, combine ingredients (minus the coconut).

Pulse everything together evenly until blended and the mixture has the consistency of cookie dough. Fill a small bowl with the shredded coconut. With fingers, roll the dough into ping-pong sized balls, then roll over coconut to coat. Place on a plate or tray. Leave in the fridge for a few hours to cool and harden. Then, serve!

These make a great mid-afternoon snack that is rich in healthy fats, fibre and protein. They also make a good substitute for a more expensive natural protein bar, like the Lara bar. The recipe can be altered to anyone’s dietary needs: removing the honey if you’re opting out of sugar, adding protein or green powder to up the nutrition ante for that marathon-runner you know, or even adding more dried fruits or nuts. If you like to play on the other side of the health nut fence, add chocolate or carob chips to make these even more sinfully delicious.

Enjoy!