I don't know about you, but every day around 3 p.m., I get a pretty serious craving for a snack—and it's usually for something sweet. And then, suddenly, I've torn through half a sleeve of cookies like I haven't eaten in days...and I'm well on my way to a stomach ache. Let's be real—I'm not about to give up my mid-afternoon snack. But there's got to be a better way, right? 

There is! And it goes by the name of #SnackSesh. Every Wednesday at 3 p.m. EST, we share healthy snack ideas and recipes live on Periscope. So far this summer, we've cooled down with delicious added sugar-free frozen pops, we've turned our favorite salads into skewers, and we've layered semi-frozen yogurt parfaits. This week's episode was one of my favorites so far, though, because it was all about making bite-sized healthy treats (a.k.a. "energy balls") inspired by go-to sweets. 

We searched the Internet far and wide for the best food blogger recipes we could find, and the three energy ball flavors we snacked on today were DE-LISH. Seriously, you're going to want to have these for dessert tonight and tomorrow night and the next night...

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Blueberry Muffin Energy Balls 
We love our coffee-shop pastries, but they aren't the ideal healthy snack. The Healthy Maven saved the day with these muffin-inspired energy balls. Prepare for your kitchen to smell really good. 

2 cups nuts (I used 1 cup of cashews and 1 cup of almonds)
1 cup dates
1 cup dried blueberries
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (or seeds of 1 vanilla bean)
1 lemon, zested
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/4 tsp sea salt

Combine all ingredients in a food processor until well blended and what you have resembled a dough. Then roll into golf ball-sized pieces, and refrigerate until firm.

RELATED: Healthy Snacks to Try ASAP

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Cinnamon Caramel Apple Energy Balls
This recipe, from Cupcakes & Kale Chips, put us in the mood for apple-picking and fall weather.

½ cup pitted dates
1 cup dried apples (not freeze-dried; these are the chewy ones)
½ cup rolled oats
½ tsp cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a food processor until well blended and what you have resembled a dough. Then roll into golf ball-sized pieces, and refrigerate until firm.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Energy Balls
A snack that gives me my fill of chocolate and peanut butter and an extra bump of protein? Yes, please! These energy balls from nutritionist Mitzi Dulan honestly taste like cookie dough. (No refined sugar or eggs here, though!) 

1 cup oats
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder

Combine all ingredients in a bowl until well blended and what you have resembled a dough. Then roll into golf ball-sized pieces, and refrigerate until firm.

What'll we make on next week's #SnackSesh? Tune in to find out! Follow us on Twitter, and let us know if there are any healthy snacks you'd like to see us test out! See you next Wednesday!

Headshot of Lauren Del Turco, CPT
Lauren Del Turco, CPT
Lauren is a freelance writer and editor, an American Council on Exercise-certified personal trainer, and the Fitness & Wellness Editor of Women’s Health. You’ll find her hiking, lifting weights, working on her downward dog, or perusing the farmer’s market.