eXp Realty, LLC

Sweet But Healthful: Pecan, Coconut & Date Bars

by Kyung Kim 10/08/2020

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels

Looking for a healthful treat? One that will keep you energized when you need a boost? Or a treat for the kids to replace sweets or cookies? These scrumptious Pecan, Coconut & Date Bars might be just what you're looking for. Great for travel, camping or giving to friends and co-workers, they blend the buttery goodness of pecans with the natural sweetness of dates. Unsweetened coconut lends a touch of texture and bolsters the nutritional impact of these delicious bars.

Just Three Ingredients

In addition to a food processor, you'll only need:

  • 4 cups of pitted dates
  • 1 cup of pecans
  • A half cup of unsweetened, shredded coconut
  • That's it! That's the whole recipe.

    How to Make Your Bars

    Step 1. Place all three ingredients in your food processor and blend them together.

    Step 2. With a spatula, move the mixture from the food processor into an 8 × 8 × 2” baking pan. 

    Step 3. Press.

    Step 4. Presto! Simply cut the mix into bars of your desired size. No cooking necessary. 

    Nutritional Benefits

    Any time you are looking for a way to replace refined sugar or chocolate chips in recipes, think of dates. Natural sugar provides considerably more nutritional value than refined options.

    One date carries 20 calories, and this is one reason Pecan, Coconut & Date bars are a high-energy treat. While these treats are not a low caloric food, and are best made just for special occasions, the nut content means they support healthy metabolism. They also provide vital nutrients:

  • Shredded coconut: Shredded coconut is a festive touch, and it's much more. Mature coconut meat, the source of shredded coconut, contains those same antibacterial elements people obtain from coconut oil. And did you know coconut, in all of its forms, contains iodine — a natural balm for your thyroid gland?
  • Pecans: These richly scented nuts are troves of monounsaturated fats, the kind dietitians call good fats. These nuts also contain flavonoids, which are plant-derived nutrients. The naturally occurring plant sterols in pecans can boost the body's own immunities. Pecans contain zinc and calcium, along with thiamin, manganese and copper, too. They support bone health! At the same time they have no sodium and no cholesterol. Pecans are relatively light in carbs yet high in fiber. 
  • Dates: Whether you choose firm, amber Deglet Noor dates, or prefer the chewy and sweet Medjool, you'll be getting compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties. Dates don't just make your taste buds happy. They help replenish your iron levels, vitamin B-6, and fiber. Because fiber in food helps us feel full, just a few date bars can satisfy your appetite. Finally, dates are a powerful source of potassium (higher than bananas), so they support your muscle-building workouts and your good heart health.
  • So, enjoy your date bars and make some to share!

    About the Author
    Author

    Kyung Kim

    Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.

    I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.

    As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.  

    I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.