MID-MORNING PICK ME UPS
Now when Louise Murray suggested that Energy Balls would be a good Smart Snack option, as part of this week’s nourish challenge, Evelyn (queen of the energy balls) knew this was her calling and headed straight for the kitchen!
These energy balls are the perfect mid-morning snack, when you need something small to give you a little boost to see you through to lunchtime. We know energy levels are low, particularly with many of us having to juggle more than we are used to (big shout out to those of you working from home and home schooling), and therefore it’s even more tempting to reach for something sweet. However, this can often result in a blood sugar roller coaster - yes you will get an initial burst of energy, but this will quickly result in a crash, leading for you needing to reach for another snack. When we snack smartly - we can avoid this roller coaster and instead feel fuller and energised for longer.
As described by Louise Murray, aim for a combo snack that includes protein, healthy fats, and fibre. These balls tick off all of the above:
Chia seeds (protein)
Almond butter (healthy fat)
Fibre (cranberries and seeds)
And they are super simple to make! Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or 3 months in the freezer (take out 30 minutes before you want to eat), so you always have a smart snack to hand!
Mid-Morning Energy Balls
Servings: 10
Time to create: 20 minutes
Ingredients
200g dates (we used Deglet Nour Dates)
40g oats
70g almond butter
25g mixed seeds
20g dried cranberries
15g chia seeds
½ tsp ground cinnamon
Method
Place all ingredients, except the mixed seeds, into a high-speed blender and blitz for approximately 2 minutes (until you can press the mixture between your thumb and index finger and it holds together)
Decant mixture into a bowl and add the mixed seeds. Mix together and roll into approximately 10 evenly sized balls.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge (or freezer).
Top Tips:
You can swap the almond butter for your favourite nut butter of choice (e.g. peanut butter)
If you don’t have cranberries, replace with raisins
If your blender isn’t high speed either split the mixture in half and blitz one half at a time, or you can use Medjool dates (they tend to softer), or soak you dates in boiling water for 10 minutes before draining to soften.
Let us know how you get on!
