I'm not a big snacker, but holy heck toddlers are non-stop snackers!! Aiden could pretty much live off snacks alone, and I wonder why I even bother putting a home cooked meal in front of him at dinner time lol
I am ALWAYS looking for great snack options that are grab-and-go ready, but what I often find at the grocery stores is snacks that are usually very carb heavy and fruit based, so higher in sugar. And I want to make sure that Aiden is getting balanced nutrition, and that mama has some balanced options to stave off the afternoon dips that sometimes happen.
Enter the protein ball.
I freakin LOVE these. They're quick to make, you don't even need to turn on the oven, and they're so convenient for busy mom life. AND I know that they'll satisfy my little booger's snack attacks. OK, ok, mine too!
I purposefully didn't add a ton of sweetener here, so you may find them less sweet. Guess what? You'll survive, and you're training everyone's taste buds to not always crave extreme sweet.
I also used whole rolled oats in this recipe, but I venture to guess that quick oats would work better because they are finer and will bind together easier. So if you haven't already gone shopping for oats, grab the quick cooking type (vs rolled).
And a note on protein powders:
So many brands are full of artificial sweeteners, colours, dyes, and extra crap you can't pronounce. And I don't want that in my body or my little guy's.
So choosing a clean and trusted source is mission critical. I've used Isagenix AMPED Tri-Release protein for the last few years and LOVE how clean and easy to digest it is. It's low in sugar, naturally sweetened with stevia, and tastes amazing with water, and it works beautifully in baking too! If you want to snag some using my wholesale discount (25% off), you can grab it here.
Ok, now that we know what to look for in protein powders, let's get to this super easy recipe that you're whole family is gonna LOVE!
Chocolate Coconut Protein Balls
Prep time: 15min | Total time: 15min | Makes: 16-18 balls
Ingredients:
2 cups gluten-free quick oats
3 Tablespoons honey
2 scoops (~1/2 cup) chocolate protein powder (I use Isagenix AMPED Tri-Release Protein)
1/3-2/3 cup water
2/3 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut, to coat
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients (except coating coconut) using a large spoon/spatula.
Roll a heaping tablespoon of the mix into a ball using your hands.
Refrigerate for at least 30min to set, then enjoy!
*Store in an air tight container for up to 1 week (if they last that long!)
