Chocolate, PB + Coconut Protein Balls
Lately, I've been getting a few questions about how I was able to eat relatively healthy while on my trip to Iceland, so I wanted to share one of the fun, easy & on-the-go snacks I whipped up before I left.
One of my fave ways to ensure I'm grabbing the RIGHT foods while on vacay (not just what's convenient), is to be prepared with lots of healthy & high-protein snacks that are easy, portable and hold up in any sort of condition. (Nothing too perishable, or you'll risk it going bad before it gets eaten.)
Enter, my Chocolate PB + Coconut Protein Balls.
These lil' guys are SUPER easy to make and packed with lots of protein & healthy fats to keep you satisfied for long periods of time. They're also 100% naturally sweetened from the medjool dates, making it a MUCH better alternative to grabbing store-bought energy bars or the equivalent at a local grocery store.
(Plus, they hold up really well going unrefrigerated for long periods of time, but definitely taste even more amazing at chilled temperatures.)
Recipe available below!
INGREDIENTS:
[for the energy balls]
10 medjool dates, pitted
3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter
3 tbsp pure unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup cashew milk (or similar nut milk)
2 1/2 scoops chocolate protein powder
[toppings]
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (to roll them around in!)
DIRECTIONS:
Place all ingredients (except for the dates) in a blender and pulse until it forms a thick, sticky batter
Throw in 1-2 medjool dates at a time, blending thoroughly until combined. By the end, the mixture should get very thick and become more solid than batter-like. Take your time with the blender and ensure that everything is incorporated evenly. (You may need to add a bit more milk if it gets too thick.)
Spoon mixture into your hands and roll into a 1-1.5 inch ball.
Roll ball in shredded coconut before placing in a storage container to set. Repeat until the entire mixture is used.
Note: You will definitely need a high-powered blender for this. I tried to use a bullet blender at first, and ended up frying the motor. (Oops!)
MACROS:
Makes around 18-20 balls.
140 CALS per serving (1 ball)
7 F | 14 C | 7 P
PS - Want more recipe inspo? Make sure to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for LOTS of healthy recipes, fitness tips, motivation and more!