A well-balanced diet provides you with essential nutrients that nourish your body and fuel your movement throughout your day. Registered dietitian Trista Chan, MHSc has teamed up with us on monthly movement-fueling recipes, like this one for chocolate-coconut energy balls.
These no-bake energy balls are the perfect grab-and-go snack to fuel you through a busy day. Packed with fibre, unsaturated fats and natural sweetness, they provide a delicious energy boost without the crash!
Time: 20 minutes (10 minutes to prep, 10 minutes to chill them)
Yields 8 to 10 energy balls.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of pitted Medjool dates (about 8 dates)
- 1 cup of rolled oats
- ¼ cup of shredded coconut
- 2 tablespoons of seeds (ground flax, chia or hemp)
- ¼ cup of chocolate chips
- A pinch of salt
- 3 tablespoons of natural peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons of water
Instructions:
- In a food processor or blender, pulse the Medjool dates with 2 tablespoons of water until they form a sticky paste.
- In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, ⅛ cup of the shredded coconut, the seeds, the chocolate chips and a pinch of salt.
- Add the peanut butter, honey (or maple syrup), vanilla extract, water and date paste to the dry mixture. Stir until everything is well combined.
- Using your hands, roll the mixture into bite-sized balls (about 1 inch [2.5 cm] in diameter). If the mixture is too sticky, dampen your hands slightly.
- Roll the balls in the remaining ⅛ cup of shredded coconut.
- Place the balls on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate them for at least 10 minutes to firm them up.
- Store the balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or freeze them for up to three months.
