Snacking can be healthy, but unfortunately our snacking habits aren’t always the healthiest during the holiday period. Now that doesn’t mean that you should avoid snacking, especially if you’re running around all day, cooking, cleaning, or shopping. However, you should make sure that your snacking habits aren’t detrimental to your health and that you’re snacking on something that will help, rather than hurt, your body.
Peanut Butter Energy Balls
These peanut butter energy balls, taken from the “Cooking from the Heart: DASH Edition Cookbook” courtesy of Pharma Dynamics, are great as a snack and ideal to pack in a lunch box or take on a hike. They’re so nourishing!
Ingredients
- 25 unsalted almonds, coarsely chopped, or 100 ml sunflower seeds
- 2 cups (500 ml) of uncooked ordinary oats
- 150 g pitted dates, coarsely chopped
- 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) raisins
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) cocoa powder
- 1 tsp (5 ml) ground cinnamon
- 1⁄2 cup (80 ml) peanut butter (with no added salt or sugar)
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) strong Rooibos tea, cooled
Preparation
- Blend almonds or sunflower seeds in a food processor until coarsely ground. This should make about 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) of ground almonds or seeds.
- Add oats and blend until it almost looks like a coarse flour mixture. Add the dates, raisins, cocoa powder, and cinnamon, and blend. Then add peanut butter and Rooibos tea and blend until it starts to look like cookie dough.
- Roll about a tablespoonful of each of the mixture into balls.
- Pack in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to a week. Serve three as a portion for a snack.
TIPS
Makes 24 balls | Serves 8 | Ready in 30 minutes
