These balls have all the yum ingredients you want + nutrients your body wants to fuel a busy workday. I whipped these up in 15 mins and enjoy them anytime as breaky on-the-go or with a meal for an added pick-me-up full of fat and fibre. I love topping my am smoothies with one of these bad boys. They are made with my favourite sustainable @coastprotein vanilla protein powder. If you missed why I love this brand so much, check them out here.
I love making these balls instead of buying packaged balls or power bars because I know that they are packed with only the best ingredients without the added fillers, preservatives, syrups, gums, stabilizers etc. You just can’t go wrong when you eat REAL FOOD. Tagged are some trusted brands I used in this recipe.
WET (prep first)
2 Tbsp organic chia seeds + 3 Tbsp water
3 Tbsp Organic fine ground coffee + 1/2 C boiling water
1 C or roughly 10 small dried dates + covered in boiling water
2 Tbsp organic virgin coconut oil
DRY
1 C mixed nuts (I used almonds, walnuts, macadamia)
1/2 C Unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 C Coconut flour (bought this at my fav @foxyfarmmarket)
3 Tbsp Collagen protein powder
3 Tbsp @coastprotein vanilla protein powder
1 Tsp pink salt
1 Tbsp unmodified potato starch (added prebiotic fibre, see below)
1 Tbsp Vanilla bean powder (my fav)
Directions: boil water and soak your chia seeds, dates and coffee as directed. Place the dry ingredients into the food processor and pulse until nuts are in small pieces (see below). Drain the dates; chia seeds will have formed a thick paste. Add wet ingredients except coffee to the processor and pulse on low while slowly adding coffee mixture (grounds+water). This slow addition of liquid will help prevent ingredients from clumping together allowing them to mix well. Roll into 1″ balls, dust with a small amount of coast protein and place in fridge or freezer for firming. Place in reusable container and store in fridge/freezer.
What the heck is Unmodified Potato Starch? This is an excellent prebiotic fibre supplement I use to supply my gut bacteria with a healthy dose of resistant starch they love to snack on. This starch is not absorbed in your GI tract and does not contribute any caloric value (ie. NOT a carb). Feeding your gut bacteria the right fibre from veggies and resistant starch like this one helps keep them happy and healthy while protecting your gut from overgrowth of bad bacteria that can cause inflammation. When your gut bacteria ferment starch, they make important nutrients for your body such as short-chain fatty acids and butyrate which provide fuel to your colon cells, protect the lining of your GI tract, and protect against inflammation and leaky gut. They also make vitamins the body cannot make itself, regulate hormones, help increase insulin sensitivity, and optimizes triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Creating a healthy environment for your gut bacteria really is THE BEST way to keep your body healthy and decrease inflammation. Can you tell how much I love these little guys?! I know I know, this is a lot to take in, if you have any questions, feel free to email or comment below!