My favorite snack... the power ball

If you know me, the first visual you may get is a power ball. If you visit my website, the first visual you may see is a power ball. If you visit my office, you can ask my office mates what the first thing that I put in the refrigerator to share: power balls.

What is a power ball? Well, to me, its a ball of powerful ingredients. These ingredients are things that typically may not be consumed on an every day basis, yet are essential for our body's function. What is in a power ball? Well, sometimes it is whatever ingredient I decide to throw in from my pantry. Most of the time, it is a combination of ingredients that work together flavorfully and texturally to create a delicious and wholesome snack.

When do I eat power balls? I personally like to eat them as a carbohydrate source when my body is asking for it. I love them with breakfast after a run, as well as post-lunch as an afternoon treat. I have found that I grab a power ball before I would grab a cookie. This is not a behavior that I forced myself to create, but rather, I let myself create it. It just happened. The cool thing with eating wholesome foods is that after you expand your diet to include more wholesome foods, that becomes what your body craves.

The power ball recipe I am sharing is just one of several that I love. It is my go-to power ball recipe, but can be easily adjusted. The recipe I am sharing does include a protein powder of your choice. I have used collagen powder successfully many times, as well as a plant protein powder. If you use a protein powder with added sugar, the power balls tend to be sweeter. In that case, I ensure that I use a natural peanut butter without added sugar, and I add less chocolate chips. My goal with a power ball isn't to make it taste as sweet as a candy bar. The goal is to make it just sweet enough- and that is where the journey continues of using natural ingredients to provide the sweet-ness we need in life.

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Basic Power Balls

Ingredients:

2 cups rolled oats

1/3 cup protein powder or collagen powder

1/4 cup ground flaxseed

1/4 cup hemp seed

1/4 tsp sea salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

3/4-1 cup unsweetened peanut butter, almond butter or tahini

Touch of almond milk (will need more if you are using natural peanut butter)

1/3 cup mini dark chocolate chips OR butterscotch chips

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds or cocoa nibs (opt)

2 TBSP raw honey (for a bit sweeter taste)

Directions:

1. Mix first 5 ingredients in large bowl. *You may also use a food processor and pulse until ingredients are combined.

2. Add peanut butter (or other option), vanilla extract, applesauce and a splash of almond milk.

3. Stir well until incorporated.

4. Add in chocolate chips and nuts or cocoa nibs, if desired. Add honey if desired (if making for kids over the age of one).

5. If too wet, add more oats; If too dry, add small amounts of almond milk or applesauce as needed.

6. Roll into tight balls, about 1 TBSP of mixture for each ball.

7. Store in refrigerator or freezer.

Enjoy as a sweet treat, pre-or post-workout fuel or snack to tide you over until meal time.