These are some ideas for treats that can add extra nutritional value to your diet, when eaten in moderation. They can replace some of the treats you might normally crave which are higher in sugar or saturated fat. The quality and freshness of ingredients are important to ensure optimum nutritional benefits. These foods can help supplement your diet with valuable vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants and other nutrients, all in a natural plant food form. As they are made and eaten raw, none of the nutrients will be destroyed by cooking. The combination of essential fats, protein and carbohydrate in them can act as a ‘pick me up’ whilst not upsetting blood sugar balance.
Orange Power Balls
1 cup of dried figs
50 grams of raw cacao, grated or powdered
5 dates
½ cup of ground flax seeds or almonds
Peeled rind of 1 orange (or more to make it more zesty if you leave out the cointreau below)
½ cup raisins soaked in Cointreau or fresh orange juice
Blend all the ingredients in a food processor. Roll into individual small balls and coat with sesame seeds or dark cocoa powder/raw cacao if you like them richer.
Chocolate Raspberry Power Balls
100g walnuts
100g hazelnuts
20g ground almonds
40g raw cacao, grated or powdered
50ml maple syrup
10 soft/soaked dates
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Tub of raspberries
Blend the nuts, cacao and salt in a blender until smooth. Add the dates, maple syrup and vanilla and process again until well mixed.
Roll the mixture into small balls and press your thumb into them to make an indent in each. You may need to wet your hands to handle the mixture without it sticking to you. Place a fresh raspberry on each treat in the indent.
‘Super Food’ Power Balls (no blender needed!)
1 cup of nut butter (almond/peanut)
½ to 1 cup of agave syrup (to taste/bind)
2 tablespoons of raw cacao powder
1 cup of porridge oats
2 cups of any ‘super foods’, for example I used a breakfast topping mix that contains chia seeds, ground hemp, goji berries, raw cacao nibs and mulberries
A little desiccated coconut to roll them in (or sesame seeds)
Mix the nut butter and ½ cup agave syrup with a spoon. Add the rest of the ingredients, except the coconut, and mix. You may need to add a little water or more agave syrup to get the mixture to the right consistency to stick together and taste good. Taking small amounts of mixture, roll into little balls and coat each one in coconut or sesame seeds.
Enjoy! If you’ve tried these recipes and have any suggestions to make on improving them or have some new power ball ideas, we would love to hear from you. Please let us know!