Pitted and dried dates are a shelf-stable fruit that can be mixed into a trail mix or blended with oats, nut butter, flax seeds, and shredded coconut to make a delicious and nutritious bite-sized treat. Soft, chewy, and caramel tasting, dates will add a hint of sweetness to smoothies, baked goods, and other recipes. Medjool dates are a rich source of antioxidants, in fact studies have linked the high falvoidnoid content with lower inflammation and increased brain function (1).