Chocolate Energy Balls

Chocolate Energy Balls

I am a big fan of grab and go snacks - especially in the bite-size form! Not just for me but for my kids too - great to throw in their lunch box or for in between sports or after school - OK really for anytime & anywhere! Adapted from one of my fav bloggers, Pinch of Yum, these are going to be great! 

With back to school just around the corner for us, I see all the back the school snacks lining the aisles and I start to think of ways to make my own healthy snacks. Bites, balls, bars, muffins....my mind is going with so many ideas! I always have a few staple ingredients on hand so making these on the fly gets easy!  A few pantry staples I suggest having (I mainly get all mine from Trader Joe's - best price around!)

Hemp Seeds - a great source of plant protein

Flax Seeds/Meal - a great source of ALA  

Chia Seeds - a great source of Omega 3's and Fiber

Pumpkin Seeds - a great source of plant protein and Omega's

Old Fashioned Rolled Oats (Gluten Free) - Trader Joe's

Assorted mixed nuts such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans....

Dates, honey, pure maple syrup - a great alternate sweetener

A mixture of dried fruits

Coconut flakes 

Cocoa Powder

Chocolate chips - I love Enjoy Life

Coconut Sugar - alternate to brown sugar

Applesauce - alternate to butter

.....I could literally write a whole blog post about healthy baking alternatives!  LOL!  Hmmm....be on the lookout for that! Ok back to the balls....

Not perfect in shape (but who/what is?!) These whip up super fast and easy with just a few pantry ingredients (from above). My initial thought was to make them into bars (daughters request) but let's just say I failed at that attempt so balls were made!  Just as yummy and I like that I can just pop them and go! I have been eating these before my early morning workouts or after. 2 is sufficed as they are calorie dense - so be mindful of the size when you are making them.

You can see the super seeds in there along with the walnut chunks & oats. As with most of my recipes you can get as creative as you want with adding in other superfoods or switching up your nut variety. You could possibly make this nut-free by swapping in sunflower seeds, although I have not tried this yet. I got about 24 balls with this recipe and have kept them in the fridge as with the chocolate they will get soft and melty. You could possibly freeze them for longer storage time as well. 

I say add these to your rotation of back to school snacks or anytime snacks that you can feel good about! No funny ingredients and you know exactly what is in them!  That's how I like to fuel my body!  Also, check out my Fruit & Nut Bars, Super Food Chocolate Chip Muffins, Pumpkin Energy Bites and Banana Bread Bars for more healthy snacking options! 

Remember to tag me on Instagram and connect with me over on my private FB group just for My Fit Life Tribe! 

Chocolate Energy Balls

Recipe Here

Ingredients:

1.5 cups walnuts (or nut of choice)

1.5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 tbs flax meal

1 tbs hemp seeds

8 dates (softened in warm water for a few minutes)

1/2 cup coconut oil, melted

Chocolate Mix:

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

1/4 cup honey

Instructions:

1. Add the first half of the ingredients (not the chocolate mix) to a food processor and blend until a sticky mixture is born. Pour into a large bowl.

2. Whisk the chocolate ingredients together. Pour into the bowl with other ingredients and mix well so the chocolate is all incorporated.

3. Roll into bite-sized balls - if the dough starts to fall apart wet hands.

4. Place on parchment lined pan and freeze for 30 minutes.

5. Can be stored in the fridge for a few days or frozen.