Getting back on the healthy train after having fallen off is by far one of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do.

I know this first hand. Over the past few weeks, I’ve done nothing but study for exams, procrastinate, stress-bake, and… avoid exercising. I’ve also found excuses to “reward myself” with food (mainly high-sugar and fat desserts) lurking around every corner. But this week I realized that hey: it’s the last two weeks of school. Meaning, while it’s certainly a time to celebrate, it’s also a time to realize that summer is less than two weeks away.

So, they pool is less than two weeks away. And with the pool, comes bikini-body season.

While I believe that girls should feel comfortable in their body no matter what shape or size they are, I like to use the onset of summer every year as a bit of extra motivation to actually get my lazy butt off the couch (or, more accurately, out of the kitchen) and to the gym! But while this may sound like a great idea, it doesn’t stop there.

You see, when you eat junk all the time, the cells in your body (and digestive bacteria in your gut) become accustomed to producing the necessary enzymes to break down that junk. Furthermore, your body begins to crave that same junk, meaning you can very easily get trapped in a cycle of eating unhealthily.

But no worries, there is a solution! You must simply find a way to trick that gut-bacteria and your digestive cells into craving healthy food! And the best (and most enjoyable) way to do that, in my opinion, is to slowly get your body used to healthy food again. Otherwise, you’ll quickly begin to crave that extra-cheesy pizza and fall straight off the bandwagon!

This recipe for no-bake brownie bites is a great example of a dessert perfect for switching your body from “unhealthy” mode to “healthy” mode. The main source of fats it contains comes from natural peanut butter, instead of all the butter or oil I bet you’ve been eating (and I know that I’ve been eating) over the past few weeks. Additionally, it contains whole grains in the form of old fashioned oats, as well as natural sugars provided by the medjool dates. With just a bit of coffee added for flavor and an energy-boost and salt to balance out the sweetness, this recipe couldn’t get any more delicious!

Delicious, yet secretly healthy and no-baking-time required?

Getting healthy again is seeming easier after all!

No Bake Brownie Bites

• 8 pitted medjool dates
• 3 tbs cocoa powder
• 1/2 c old fashioned oats
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp instant coffee
• 3 tbs unsalted natural peanut butter
• 1/8 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 oz dark chocolate (optional)

Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until it all comes together, forming a sticky dough (about 3-4 minutes). Roll dough into balls (1inch diameter) and place onto the cookie sheet. Freeze for 30 minutes or until hard. Store in a Tupperware container. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information (from myfitnesspal.com)

Calories: 64

Fat: 2g

Carbs: 12g

Protein: 2g

(Yields 16 energy bites)

Nutrition information does not include optional dark chocolate. If you choose to include, it will read as: 69 calories, 2g fat, 13g carbs, 2g protein.