Lately I have been completely addicted to non-baking recipes because of how convenient and yet nutritious they can be. I have a pantry full of bagged super foods such as raw cacao powder, ground flaxseeds, chia, oats, coconut flakes, almonds, cashews, nut flours, etc... so the no-bake recipes gives me a great excuse to use these awesome ingredients and make delicious pack-and-go snacks (see Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar post).
Make no mistake when I tell you these are pure energy balls, just take one look at the list of ingredients! Honey a natural sweetener acts as a time-released muscle fuel during exercise and helps replenish muscles post-workout. Bananas, because they are composed mostly of sugars and fiber, bananas are a great natural source of energy. Almonds contain copper and manganese which play an essential role in keeping energy flowing throughout the body by neutralizing toxins within the cells. Cashews also contain copper a vital in energy production and antioxidant defense, producing greater flexibility in blood vessels, bones and joints.
I can keep going on and on about the ingredients, which are just awesome. At this point I am overly thrilled with the outcome of the "Healthy Monkey" energy balls. They tasted delicious and kept me full for a longer period of time. I think that is an important key in today's busy world, being able to eat healthy foods while managing a busy schedule. Plus this recipe can be a fun way to get the kids to try these amazing ingredients all together.
I cannot wait to make these again, in a bigger batch, because they were really fun to make, super easy, quick, and they tasted incredible. It's the best food to have in the morning for a whole day of focused energy. It's also great for a little afternoon snack or to eat a couple before working out. Either way, you will be delighted to try it and surprised on how filling they are!
Healthy Monkey Banana & Cashew Energy Balls
Ingredients
- ½ cup soft dried and pitted dates
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 ripe banana
- ¼ cup cashew butter
- 1 tbs raw cacao powder
- 2 tbs ground flex seed
- ½ cup old fashioned oats
Instructions
- Place the pitted dates and almonds in a blender and pulse until it reaches a "rough sand" consistency. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse. Pulse as many times as needed, stopping to bring the ingredients together with a spoon, until the mixture becomes an uniform and thick dough. Roll into 1 inch balls and refrigerate for at least 1 hour for better results.
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