Coconut Date Energy Balls

I work with a lot of local sports teams in Ottawa as both a nutritionist and a pilates / yoga instructor and it’s one of the most rewarding parts of my career. Usually these athletes are training anywhere from 2-4 hours a day, and both athletes and their parents are run off their feet trying to keep up with a highly demanding training schedule.

Trying to find snacks that are both quick and nutritious can be challenging for anyone, but especially hard for athletes who have little time to spare. Part of my job is to teach these athletes what balanced snacks and meals look like and to show them how meals and snacks can be prepared in minimal time and with minimal effort.

Well, that’s where these raw energy balls come in! They are super quick to prepare, are nutrient-dense and have the perfect macronutrient balance to meet the fuelling demands of high-level athletes. I brought these Cacao Coconut Energy Balls in for the Gloucester Skating Team to try when I worked with them last summer. They must have liked them because they came back for thirds!

Cacao Coconut Energy Balls

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Ingredients

• 2 cups Medjool dates
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/2 cup almonds
• 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• a good pinch of sea salt
• 1/2 scoop vanilla vegan protein powder
• 2 tbsp cacao powder
• 1 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until crumbly.
2. Remove from the food processor and roll into balls.
3. Store in the fridge in an air-tight container.

Coconut Date Energy Balls was last modified: January 15th, 2017 by Michelle