These balls are great for school lunches or a pre/post post workout energy kick, due to the oats, which are a great complex carb that provide us with slow releasing energy. Good amounts of protein also, with the chia and sunflower seeds, (which kids will not even notice) plus are refined sugar free and high in fibre.

I made them for my little Grace who started school yesterday, and in her words “Mummy, these are amazing.” So that’s good enough for me! Now she’s off to school, I’ll have more time for blog posts and getting creative in the kitchen with healthy foods for the whole family.

I’m clearly a fan of  bliss balls, protein balls or whatever you want to call them. They’re easy to blitz up, easy to roll, easy to hide fibre in, plus they don’t require baking. They are also easy for mama and papa bears and the whole tribe of baby bears to eat for breakfast, school lunches or on the run. Easy, easy, easy….needs to be the motto for all our lives. They have so much less crap in them  that is unfortunately in most of the muesli bars on the markets. (Carmens and Freedom excluded-I’m happy with their bars.)  

Fructose people don’t even bother, there’s too many dried fruits in there with the dates and apricots, you’ll bloat up like a balloon. I am working on a  cherry ripe bliss ball which will be fine for FODMAPS people which I’ll post soon. 

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 x cup oats 
• 3/4 cup dried apricots
• 1/4 cup dates
• 1/3 cup coconuts
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1 x tsp vanilla essence or paste
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 4 tbsp coconut oil, melted
• 3 tbsp maple syrup or honey
• 1/2 cup puffed rice
• 1/2 cup extra coconut for rolling

In a food processor blitz oats, dates and apricots until all chopped up, to almost crumb like consistency. (Thermomix users Speed 8, for 8 seconds) Then add the rest of ingredients and mix until combined. (Thermomix 10 seconds, speed 3, then repeat if necessary.)

Roll into small balls, then roll in coconut. These will keep in the refrigerator for at 1-2 weeks.

*If the mixture doesn’t feel sticky enough to roll, try adding 3 tbsp water and mix again. I find that this can happen, depending on the temperature plus the consistency of the coconut oil. If they are still not sticky enough to roll, you can either add a bit more coconut oil or maple syrup. Or pop in the fridge to harden up for half an hour. 

*If you don’t have a food processor or thermomix, use oat brain instead of oats, and chop up your dates and apricots quite finely. Then mix all ingredients together.