Chocolate Chia Energy Balls

Energy balls have been my savior lightly. Every day for the last two weeks it's been go, go, go. It's been stressful and exhausting and to be honest the last thing I've wanted to do is cook when I finally get home. I've been keeping snacks handy because when I get hungry I tend to get a wee bit grumpy (hanger is real people). Enter snacks.

I LOVE energy balls, they're one of my favorite snacks. They're so easy to make, delicious to eat, and they're good for you! I won't ramble on about the benefits of chia seeds (if you're interested see this article), but I can promise you these energy balls are so good you'll come back for more. My mom is now addicted to them as well!

Chocolate Chia Energy Balls

• 1/4 cup nut butter of choice (I like Peanut butter and Co's crunch time and Justin's vanilla almond butter)
• 6 dates
• 2 Tablespoons chocolate protein powder (I like Vega and BeFit)
• 1/2 Tablespoon chia seeds

In a food processor combine nut butter, dates, protein powder, and chia seeds. Process until everything is combined into a coarse loose dough.

Take dough and roll into tablespoon sized balls. Repeat until all dough is gone. 

Store chia balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, you can also freeze them. 

If you make these yummy energy balls take a picture, tag me on instagram, and use the hashtag #thesimplelife I'd love to see your creations! Don't forget to like my new Facebook page! 

Nutriton info per chia ball (makes 10 balls):
MACROS: 5C/3F/3P

Nutrition Facts
Servings 10.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 57
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 3 g	5 %
Saturated Fat 1 g	3 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg	0 %
Sodium 27 mg	1 %
Potassium 32 mg	1 %
Total Carbohydrate 5 g	2 %
Dietary Fiber 1 g	4 %
Sugars 3 g
Protein 3 g	6 %
Vitamin A	0 %
Vitamin C	0 %
Calcium	1 %
Iron	1 %

Pumpkin Pie Breakfast Bake

In the last two weeks have consisted off of breakfast bakes and energy balls. Life has just been so busy that I really have not had time to sit down for a meal other than breakfast. I've been keeping snacks in the car to eat while on the go (it also prevents hanger which prevents road rage #truestory). 

I know its technically spring, even though it still feels like winter, but mentally I'm still in fall. I've been on a pumpkin kick recently and one of my favorite pumpkin go-to's has been this pumpkin pie breakfast bake. It's modified from my chocolate breakfast bake and it tastes like dessert. Pumpkin pie for breakfast! It's super easy to make, takes less than 5 minutes to throw together, let the oven do it's thin, and you've got a healthy and delicious breakfast in under 30 minutes! 

Pumpkin Pie Breakfast Bake

• 1/3 cup gluten free oats
• 2 Tablespoons gluten free all purpose flour
• heaping 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2-1 teaspoon cinnamon (more or less to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• pinch pumpkin pie spice
• 1 Tablespoon honey or maple syrup
• 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• tiny splash vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350F degrees and spray a ramekin with nonstick cook spray or coconut oil.

In ramekin combine oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie spice.

When the dry ingredients are combined add in honey/maple syrup, almond milk, pumpkin puree, and vanilla. Be sure to stir very well and scrap sides and bottom of ramekin so no clumps of dry ingredients remain.

Bake at 350F degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until the center is set.

Allow to cool for a few minutes, then add any toppings of choice. I added a small handful of fresh raspberries, 1/2 Tablespoon Purely Elizabeth pumpkin fig granola, and 1/2 Squarebar cut into chunks. 

If you make this breakfast bake take a picture, tag me on instagram, and use the hashtag #thesimplelife I'd love to see your creations! Don't forget to like my new Facebook page! 

Nutrition per serving (makes 1 serving):

MACROS: 50C/4F/6P

Nutrition Facts
Servings 1.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 241
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4 g	6 %
Saturated Fat 1 g	3 %
Monounsaturated Fat 1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg	0 %
Sodium 51 mg	2 %
Potassium 346 mg	10 %
Total Carbohydrate 50 g	17 %
Dietary Fiber 7 g	27 %
Sugars 15 g
Protein 6 g	11 %
Vitamin A	103 %
Vitamin C	2 %
Calcium	21 %
Iron	15 %

Peanut Butter Energy Balls

Happy Wednesday/hump day to you! Is anyone else totally dragging already this week? I've literally been on the go nonstop this week. I got home late last night and for the first time this week was able to check my email, I logged on saw there was a lot, and logged off. It was way too overwhelming to try to deal with at 8pm especially since I had been on the go since 3:50am. If I haven't responded to you yet, please be patient I promise I will respond within the next 24-48 hours. 

With all the running around and lack of sleep I have been needing a hard core energy boost. I cannot stand the taste of coffee, so no caffeine for me! Instead, I choose to get my energy naturally through what I eat. Over the weekend I knew I was going to be crazy busy this week so I tested out some energy ball recipes I had been playing with. These balls are so good that I can't stop eating them! They have a nice balance of protein and carbs to help keep you full so you don't get hungry or sleepy. But fair warning these energy balls are BEYOND addicting! I may or may not have already have made (and eaten) a second batch...whoops :)

Peanut Butter Energy Balls

• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup Wild Friends sugar cookie peanut butter (or nut butter of choice)
• 1/2 cup gluten free oats
• 1 Tablespoon pumpkin seeds
• 1 Tablespoon sunflower seeds
• 2 Tablespoons flaxseed mill
• 2 Tablespoons chocolate chips

In a medium mixing bowl combine oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and flaxseed mill. 

In a microwave safe bowl combine peanut butter and honey and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir peanut butter and honey together, if it's not totally melted microwave for another 10-15 seconds until it is liquidy enough to be spread.

Take the melted peanut butter and honey combination and pour over dry ingredients. Use a spoon or a spatula to stir everything together, ensuring that everything is coated equally. 

Place the now warm oat mix in fridge for about 30 minutes, or until mostly cooled.

When the mixture has cooled mix in chocolate chips.

Using your hands begin to roll mixture into tablespoon size balls. Repeat until mixture is gone. I was able to get about 10 balls- it all depends on how big or small you make them.

Store energy balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Enjoy as a healthy snack on the go, in yogurt, broken over smoothies, the possibilities are endless! 

If you make these delicious energy balls take a picture, tag me on instagram, and use the hashtag #thesimplelife I'd love to see your creations! Don't forget to like my new Facebook page!