Eat - Powerball Recipe from Samskara Nutrition

Krista Haynes of Samskara Nutrition is a registered dietician with a wealth of knowledge about food and the body. I go to her when I have questions about plant-based eating.

She brought me the best snack one day and it was so delicious that I had just had to find out how she made it. The natural “powerballs” with only the best of ingredients provide natural sugars, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium and iron for an instant energy boost. Eating just a few are filling and make you feel great!

from left: cacao energy ball, deightful date powerballs

Superfood Cacao Energy Balls

1/2 cup of shredded unsweetened coconut 

1/2 cup of chia seeds

1/3 - 1/2 cup raw cacao powder - or nibs (depending on how chocolaty you'd like it!) Here is what Krista used: http://www.navitasnaturals.com/products/cacao.html 

1/2 cup almond butter (I used 1/4 cup almond butter and 1/4 cup cashew butter) - use the natural nut butters that you have to stir

2 Tbsp agave

1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

Throw all the ingredients into a bowl and mix together. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes and then roll into small tablespoon size balls. Place in an airtight container and keep in your fridge up to a week.

Delightful Date Powerballs

1 cup raw almonds

20 large (Medjool) dates, pitted

1 Tbsp unsweetened raw cacao powder (see above)

Zest from one medium-size orange

2 Tbsp agave nectar 

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/8 tsp salt

Directions: 

Grind almonds in a food processor until fine.  Add dates, cacao powder, orange zest, agave nectar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, and process until mixture forms a ball.  If mixture doesn't stick together, add a bit more agave. Form 30 small balls out of the mixture.  If you'd like you can roll the finished balls in cacao, nuts, seeds, shredded coconut or dip in melted chocolate and let them set in the fridge for dessert.

Each ball has about 47 calories, 3g fat, 1g protein, 6g carbohydrate, and 1g fiber