There is a point in everyone’s life where they need an easy source of nutrient-dense/energy-dense foods. We get busy, we get tired and all we want is a nutritious grab-and-go option. Energy balls, or sometimes called “power balls,” are a great option. Using shelf stable ingredients, these snacks can sit out at room temp, they’re small and portable, and they provide an opportunity for you to pack in the nutrition. These are great for after a workout, busy on-the-go days, breastfeeding, road trips and more.
This recipe is highly customizable. The base is simply four ingredients, 1 ½ cups of rolled oats, 1 cup of nut butter of choice* (peanut butter is a common choice, but other good options could include almond butter, cashew butter or sun butter), ¼ cup flax meal and ¼ cup of honey. To this you add an addition ½ -1 cup of additional ingredients. Nuts, seeds, dried fruit, protein powders, psyllium husk, shredded coconut, almond flour, matcha, cocoa, dried herbs and spices, and candy chips are all good ingredients you can try. —Dana Mealing, RDN, LDN, community nutrition educator, Tevis Center for Wellness