I first heard about Peanut Butter Protein Balls from a runner who likes to eat a couple of them when she gets out of bed for her morning jog. They take the edge off her hunger, and give her the energy she needs to exercise without upsetting her stomach like a big breakfast might.
I’m not a jogger (at all), but I relate to not wanting a big breakfast right out of the gate each morning. For some reason, I just don’t feel like eating much when I get out of bed, so I typically start my day with a drink of water and one or two protein balls. That easily sustains me until I’ve gotten the kids off to school and I feel like sitting down to eat a real breakfast.
As the name implies, these energy bites pack a nice protein punch, but they have a lot of other things going for them too. They’re a great source of iron, as well as fiber that will keep you feeling full longer. The ground flaxseed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids–“good” fats that are known to improve heart health. Coconut boosts your immune system, improves brain function
, and has a host of other health benefits. Flaxseed and dark chocolate are very high in antioxidants, which prevent cancer and combat the effects of aging (as if you needed two more good reasons to eat chocolate :). They do have a fair amount of fat in them, but most of those plant-based fats actually improve your health when consumed in moderation (which is why the suggested protein ball serving is 2 instead of, say, 20).
I love the fact that these little protein balls have so many benefits, yet they taste like peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough. I nearly always have a container of them in the fridge to add substance to a light lunch, serve for after-school snacks, or take on a picnic or a hike. I also consider the ingredients part of my family’s emergency food storage (we prefer these protein bites chilled, but everything that goes into them is shelf stable). “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear,” and you get bonus points if the preparation includes chocolate.
I’m always a fan of healthy things that feel like a treat (which is probably why I love green smoothies so much). These energy bites are delicious, they’re packed with nutrients, and they have chocolate in them. What’s not to love?
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut
- ½ cup ground flaxseed
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- Mix all dry ingredients, then stir in peanut butter, honey, and vanilla until well blended.
- Roll dough into 1” balls.
- Store in an airtight container (I prefer to keep them in the fridge because I like them chilled).
Craving more protein balls?
