No January detox recipe here! Instead, I am offering up a recipe that is always in heavy rotation in my home. Consider it a practical tool for healthy eating success, which always, always requires planning ahead. Having real food snacks on hand at all times will keep energy and moods stable throughout long, busy days. Plus, you'll be less likely to grab store-bought or packaged food if you're well-prepared.
If you have a food processor, energy balls should be your best friend. They are quick to make, easily portable, and chock full of important nutrients. This recipe is also very flexible - once you start making energy balls you can play around with all kinds of spices, nuts, seeds, nut butters, dried fruit, hemp, oats, collagen powder, citrus zest, coconut, algae powder, etc., etc.!
The combination of cranberry & chocolate in the following recipe is a match made in heaven, but feel free to adjust ingredients to your preference or availability - these are delicious without raw cacao if you happen to be avoiding chocolate ;) Happy 2018, friends, may your year be filled with delicious, real, whole food!
Cranberry Brownie Bite Energy Balls
Ingredients:
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds (or use any nut/seed combo such as walnuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, etc.)
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 Tbsp coconut oil
2 Tbsp cashew butter (or other nut/seed butter of choice)
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 Tbsp raw cacao powder, optional
Optional: 1 Tbsp protein powder
Approx. 2 cups dates (preferably medjool dates, as they are stickier and will hold the balls together better.)
Approx. 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Directions:
-Roast nuts in a 350F oven for approx. 10-15 minutes - until golden & very fragrant. This step is optional, but the roasting makes for a richer flavour.
-Once they’ve cooled enough to touch, place them in a food processor with everything except the nut butter, coconut oil & dates/dried cranberries and process until coarse.
-Add the nut butter, coconut oil, dried cranberries, and dates and process until the mixture is very sticky. Scoop out a spoonful and try to roll it in your hands. If it falls apart, you need to add more dates and/or nut butter.
-Add more dates, a few at a time, until you reach the consistency you need to be able to roll them into balls.
-Roll into small balls with your hands and place on a cutting board or platter in the freezer.
-Once solid, transfer to a container and store in the fridge.
-Note that these will soften at room temperature.