Recipe - Energy Balance Balls

These wonderfully simple energy balls make a fantastic between meal snack. Packed with protein, fibre, healthy fats and cinnamon they can help stabilise blood sugar and curb cravings, whilst still providing a satisfying sweetness.

Perfect with a coffee

Ingredients

70g pumpkin seeds

20g puffed brown rice (optional) - available from good health food stores

50g whole almonds (unblanched)

80g Medjool dates (destoned)

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 heaped teaspoon best quality raw cocoa powder

A few drops of natural vanilla extract (optional)

1/2 tablespoon Manuka honey or Maple syrup

1 orange - juice of

Sea salt

• Blitz half the pumpkin seeds into dust in a processor - sprinkle onto a large plate.

• Place the remaining pumpkin seeds, puffed rice, almonds, and dates into the processor and blitz until finely chopped.

• Add cinnamon, cocoa powder and a pinch of sea salt.

• Blitz until finely ground, add vanilla, honey/syrup, and half the juice of the orange.

• Blitz again, scraping down the sides occasionally, adding a little extra juice if needed - be patient and keep scraping down and blending until the mixture comes together.

• With wet hands, divide into approximately 24 pieces, and roll into balls, dropping them into the pumpkin seeds dust as you go.

• Shake the plate and roll the balls to coat thoroughly. Pop into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks

• Variation - add some desiccated coconut or sesame seeds to the pumpkin seed dust.

I often make these a little more decadent by melting some 80% dark chocolate, dip each ball to half coat, and allow to set in the fridge. Perfect as an after dinner sweet treat!