A Mood-Stabilizing Nut Butter Cookie Bites Recipe, From An Integrative & Functional Dietitian

Welcome to mindbodygreen dishes, our new original series that's part educational, part inspirational, and totally delicious. Featuring a fresh nutrition expert each month, these bite-size videos dish out the science behind healthy ingredients and demonstrate a tasty recipe to put that knowledge into practice. Now, let's get cooking with integrative dietician Alexandra D'Elia, R.D., CDN, RDN owner of Olox Nutrition.

Eating for your particular health needs is no new concept, but what about eating to support your mental well-being? The effect that food can have on mood became so important to me when I was diagnosed with bipolar II almost a decade ago. Since then, I have continued to search for recipes that not only help to stabilize my mood but also provide long-lasting energy, without the crash.

The star ingredient of this dish is almond flour, which not only functions as an excellent binder for the cookies but also is a great source of fiber and protein to sustain blood sugar levels. What's more, almond flour is packed with vitamin E, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties, along with magnesium.

Dates are another key player, offering a natural sweetness to the dish while also packing in antioxidants and minerals like potassium and phosphorus, which provide excellent brain support. While these do contain natural sugars, the combination of protein, fiber, and fat in this recipe helps minimize a glucose spike.

With peanut butter and dark chocolate tying together the rich and decadent flavor, this balanced and stabilizing treat is perfect for the mid-afternoon slump...or whenever you need a sweet treat.