You won't miss a thing with these Raw Lemon Coconut Bars. They're tart, sweet and the perfect alternative to calorie laden lemon bars!
I've made a lot of changes in my daily schedule since Brett and I returned home from our Christmas travels and I couldn't be feeling better!
I've mentioned this before, but I was created to be a morning person. During the first few hours of my day is when I'm most productive and alert. I can eat breakfast, clean my house, do a load of laundry, workout, and get some reading in all before some people have even opened their eyes. You can even ask me deep questions as soon as I wake up and I'll be fully engaged. Once evening rolls around, however, it's a different story. After 8 o'clock my brain just seems to shut off and all the processing and articulating skills that I usually have disappear. Brett knows full well that if he wants to talk about something serious he has to bring it up well before 9 PM.
I had a revelation over Christmas break that I should consider re-evaluate the hours I'm asleep and the hours I'm awake to take advantage of my morning-person-ness. So, ever since we got back to our house in the city I've been going to bed around 9-9:30 and waking up at 5 AM.
It's been amazing!
At 5 AM, I get up and head straight the the gym. The crisp, winter air helps wake me up and the gym is practically empty so I'm able to run or do weights without worrying about having to share equipment. When I get home I shower and make some breakfast. After breakfast is when I knock out a bunch of reading and work and once lunch time rolls around I've checked off a lot of my to-do list for the day.
Score!
Another big change that I've made is shutting off my laptop around 8-8:30 PM and reading a book for fun in bed. This has really helped me to turn off my crazy, multi-tasking brain and get me into sleep mode. By the time 9 PM rolls around, I'm more than ready to close my eyes and fall into a deep sleep. I haven't slept this well since before Brett and I got married!
I don't know why I didn't make these changes sooner. I'm eating better, sleeping better and getting more intense workouts in. Yes, there are times when I don't have the luxury of getting to bed by 9 PM, but on those days I just make sure I take a power nap in the afternoon. I'm so thankful that Brett has also been willing to take on this new, early-to-bed, early-to-rise schedule so that we don't have to worry about waking each other up.
Life is good y'all. Life is good.
These Raw Lemon Coconut Bars are good too...in fact, they're amazing! All of my friends that have tried them approved and asked for the recipe.
Lemon has always been one of my favorite flavors when it comes to desserts, but oftentimes lemony desserts call for lots of white sugar, butter and eggs. These Raw Lemon Coconut Bars remind me so much of Lemon Bars, but they're made with whole food ingredients and don't contain any white sugar, butter or eggs!
These bars are sweetened with sticky Medjool dates and made tart with fresh lemon juice. They are also lower in fat and calories that other raw lemon bars because I've used oats instead of nuts. They are perfect for an on-the-go snack or an after dinner dessert.
I hope you all love these Raw Lemon Coconut Bars as much as Brett and I do!
📖 Recipe
Raw Lemon Coconut Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup shredded coconut unsweetened
- peel of 1 lemon
- 1 ½ cup pitted Medjool dates about 8-10
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Grease an 8x8 inch baking dish with cooking spray or coconut oil and set aside.
- Peel your lemon using a vegetable peeler.
- Process the oats, shredded coconut and lemon peel in a food processor until fine.
- Add in the remaining ingredients and process until a sticky dough forms. You may have to stop and scrape down the sides of your processor occasionally.
- Press the dough down evenly into your prepared baking dish. Let the bars chill in the fridge for about 1 hour before cutting into squares.
Belinda says
Isn't this the exact same recipe as the lemon balls? 🙂
Kathrine says
They look amazing these bars! Can't wait to try them.
And the idea of getting up at 5am to do your workout is actually a really good idea. But I'm kind of wondering, don't you eat anything before you do your workout? And for how long are you at the gym?
Faith says
Thanks Kathrine!! These were such a hit among all my friends!
I don't go to the gym at five anymore, but when I did I only went for 30-60 minutes and sometimes I ate before and sometimes I didn't...just depended on if I woke up hungry. If I did eat it was usually 1/2 a banana or something small. Let me know if you like the lemon bars!
Leigha @ The Yooper Girl says
I wish I was a morning person! Although I am MUCH better than I used to be! I used to wake up at noon with no problem... oh, the wasted time! Now I wake up at about 8 which is still hours earlier than my friends! It feels so good the have a workout and breakfast done before some people even wake up! I've been getting to bed pretty late lately and I really need to change that.. love your idea of reading a book before bed!
Faith says
And sometimes I wish I could sleep in!! Haha. The thought of sleeping until noon every once in a while sounds really nice. But overall, it is so nice to get tons done so early in the day!
Sarah says
Yum, these look delicious!! Can't wait to try them!
Faith says
Thanks Sarah! I hope you like them! I'd love to know your thoughts it you make them:)
Jennifer @ Running on Lentils says
Oh, YUM! Definitely, definitely making. I have an awesome vegan lemon bar recipe (from Veganomicon I think) but it's loaded with bad things (sugar, vegan margarine, etc.) This sounds great!
Faith says
Thanks Jennifer!! I really hope you make them. I'd love to know what you think!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
I love coconut! The texture, the taste, I LOVE it. These bars sound awesome!
Faith says
Amen sista;) Thanks Liz!
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner says
Those look great! Trying to figure out how to eat oats and that's a great way to start. Thanks for linking up w us again today for MM. Great job getting it done in the gym at 5 am
Faith says
These would be the perfect place to start Deborah! If you have a food processor they're so easy to make! Some mornings it's hard getting out of bed, but I'm always glad I did. Thanks for hosting!
Tina Muir says
OOooooh faith! Yum! My mum would be in heaven with these, she loves both those flavors, they look great too! Thanks for joining us today, love seeing your recipes for meatless monday.
As for morning person, yep, I hear you, and so many people think you are nuts, but I think its SUCH a good thing 🙂
Faith says
Thanks Tina! It's one of my favorite flavor combinations too! Glad to know there are other intense morning people out there:) Thanks for hosting!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
Yum! These sound delicious. I adore lemon and like you I'm a total morning person and by 7-8pm I'm ready to shut down. I kinda like it that way!
Faith says
Thanks Megan! I fine with being a morning person too...I just wish I had taken advantage of it earlier!!