Homemade energy gel

I know, I know. It looks like...poo. But it doesn't taste like it looks, I promise!

Carob Energy Gel

Ingredients:

• 2 large dates, pitted
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup or honey
• 1 Tbsp ground chia seeds
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp carob chips
• Sea salt, to taste

Directions:

Blend all ingredients together to the consistency of gel.

So I saw this recipe and just had to try it! It turned out really good, except for it was far too sweet for my taste buds. I did make some changes to the original recipe as you can see, as I do for most recipes I try. I substituted cocoa nibs for carob chips and agave nectar for maple syrup. (The verdict is still out on agave and it's similarities to high fructose corn syrup, so I ditched agave over a year ago and have stuck with maple syrup and honey as my go-to sweeteners.) However, the flavor is really, really tasty. The lemon adds a perfect zing to the other flavors. I can't wait to try this again and change it up even more. This would be a great pick-me-up during the sluggish time of day or before a run/workout!