When we were in high school, we’d come home after school and have a large snack before heading out for our run and soccer training. Lyssie would eat a large canister of dates and immediately head out for a run and to train for soccer. Yep, no joke! With a full stomach of dates (Tammy’ loved dates too, but raisins were her thing and her tummy was filled with them. Umm, yum!) we’d sprint out the door and be energized for hours. We still can’t get over that we didn’t get a stomach cramp running with all of that fiber-filled food in our stomach! And nowadays as registered dietitians, we get a good laugh when we realize how lucky we were knowing we’d be shocked if any of our athletes told us they would dare take the chance and exercise after eating that for a snack–with all the fiber in their stomach!
But there was something about the delicious, sweet flavor and chewy, satisfying texture of the dates that sucked Lyssie in. And the long-lasting energy they provide kept her coming back for more! And that was before we even knew they were packed with fiber and health-promoting phytonutrients.
To this day, we both still love our dates (only now we don’t eat them in such large quantities or right before exercising!) Have you seen one of our favorite ways to squash a sweet tooth with these healthy chocolatey date alternatives? You can see the video here. Or have you tried our Chocolate Coconut Chia Balls or our Mini Vegan Carrot Cakes just to name a few of our recipes that highlight the finger-licking sweetness of the mighty date! And we love to develop new ways to enjoy them. That’s why we have to share our latest creation, Goat Cheese and Walnut Stuffed Dates!
Goat Cheese & Walnut Stuffed Dates
These treats are perfect to serve as an appetizer at a party or a mid-day snack! With walnuts and goat cheese “wrapped up” in a date, topped off with a sprinkle of cinnamon; this is a flavor combination your taste buds will adore! We love the sweet, savory and salty combination of flavors with the gooey, smooth and crunchy textures. Enjoy!
Yields: 1 serving
Serving Size: 1 date
Ingredients
1 pitted date (or you can pit the date yourself by cutting the date down the middle)
½ tsp goat cheese (or feta cheese)
1 shelled walnut
Sprinkle of cinnamon
Directions
Slice the date partially down the middle so that you can see the inside but so that the bottom is still attached.
Take a ½ tsp of goat cheese and use a knife to place it in the date, then stick the walnut inside and partially close the date to avoid the ingredients from falling out.
Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon on top, but be careful not to add too much as its’ strong flavor may take away from the rest of the bite.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 43
Carbohydrates: 5 g
Fat: 2 g
Protein: 1 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 g
Sodium: 9 mg
Fiber: 0 g
Sugar: 4 g
- 1 pitted date (or you can pit the date yourself by cutting the date down the middle)
- ½ tsp goat cheese
- 1 shelled walnut
- Sprinkle of cinnamon
- Slice the date partially down the middle so that you can see the inside but so that the bottom is still attached.
- Take a ½ tsp of goat cheese and use a knife to place it in the date, then stick the walnut inside and partially close the date to avoid the ingredients from falling out.
- Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon on top, be careful not to add too much as its’ strong flavor may take away from the rest of the bite!