I created the best tasting and easy healthy snack. I used trial and error and created these Protein Balls with Peanut Butter and they are amazing.
Everybody loves snack food so why not make these amazing Protein Balls with Peanut Butter? They are a delicious easy healthy snack! And just so you know, I teamed up with nine other bloggers and their healthy recipes are listed here too!
As you probably know, the boys in my family are all competitive athletes. Eating healthy meals and snacks, together with working out are top priorities in our family. I am always looking for new healthy recipes to incorporate into our diet. A while ago, my husband and sons were lucky enough to be able to go to the Oregon Coast and play golf. Their experience was incredible and they loved every minute.
One of the gifts my husband brought home to me was an empty golf ball box.
Seriously? Yes.
The box didn’t actually contain golf balls, it had protein ball snacks in it. The protein balls weren’t actually still in the box (they were eaten) but there were five ingredients listed on the side of the box: flax seed, oatmeal, peanut butter, chocolate, and honey.
How to Make a Healthy Easy Snack
Dave and the boys made such a big deal about these protein balls and asked if I could make them. So I got to work researching how to make healthy and delicious protein balls.
Since I only had my husband’s description to go by, it was a little bit of researching in the dark. I did learn that many professional athletes swear by protein balls to maintain their energy. Golfers, runners, bikers, and anyone who practices endurance events over a long period of time, are fans.
I wish I had known about these during all of the years my family spent at swim meets, baseball games, volleyball games and soccer games. Protein balls would have been perfect to bring for healthy, energizing snacks. We now keep them in the refrigerator for a “grab and go pick me up”. They are perfect for mid-morning instead of another cup of coffee or mid-afternoon instead of iced tea or half decaf cup of coffee. My husband takes them with him for golf and we take them along for long car rides.
Ingredients to Make Protein Balls with Peanut Butter
As you can see there are a lot of ingredients in my Protein Balls recipe. You can certainly change the ingredients. For example, you can leave out the chocolate or replace it with something else. Since the balls are’t cooked, they just need to be able to stick together and rolled and taste good!
This is literally a recipe you dump all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix. If once combined, the mixture is too dry, add a bit of honey until the mixture sticks together and can be rolled into balls. If the mixture is too wet and sticky, add oats or flax seed until the extra moisture is absorbed. The goal is for the balls to be dry-ish, not flaking, but not sticky, leaving a residue on your fingers.
As I mentioned, add what makes it healthy and tasty to you. Chopped dried cranberries or cherries, sliced almonds or chopped nuts. I used peanut, but almond, cashew or any other kind of nut butter can be used. You can also roll the balls in your favorite topping, chopped nuts, mini carob chips, shredded coconut, or any other option!
Flaxseed and Chia seeds doesn’t affect the taste in this recipe but they are a really easy way to add nutrients. Chia seeds are very tiny and bland tasting. Flaxseed is a bit nuttier tasting. Both are beneficial for heart health, blood sugar levels and digestion and also are known to help reduce hunger. They also have lots of fiber and antioxidants. I add both to salads, avocado toast and these protein balls. They are such an easy way to add a healthy component without affecting the taste.
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Yield: 24 one inch balls
Protein Balls with Peanut Butter and Oats
These protein balls are so healthy and delicious. The recipe is no cook and super easy to make. The balls can last two weeks in refrigerator although in our house they disappear within days!
Prep Time20 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic oats
- ¾ cup ground flaxseed
- 1 ½ cups creamy organic peanut butter
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 tbsp carob chips
- 2 scoops of chocolate protein powder
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded/flaked coconut
- ¼ cup chia seeds
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a bowl.
- Stir together until combined.
- Roll into 1 inch balls.
- Place on parchment lined cookie sheet and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Once the protein balls have been refrigerated, you can transfer them to a storage container. Keep refrigerated or they will melt into each other.
- Eat.
- Win.
I have always referred to protein bars as candy bars in gym clothes because most are a processed food with ingredients you want to avoid for both good health and weight loss.
These protein balls are awesome for adults and kids because you know exactly what is in them. If you use organic ingredients, the healthy factor is increased. I don’t know about you, but sometimes, just a bite of something is what I need to get me through the morning or afternoon and these protein balls are perfect for that.
I hope you mix up a batch and give them a try. They are a permanent item in our refrigerator!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can flaxseed and chia seeds help me lose weight?
Flaxseed and chia seeds are not magical ingredients, but they do contain high amounts of fiber which is conducive to weight loss.
Are protein balls healthy?
The ingredients in protein balls are usually healthy, but as with all foods, moderation is key.
More Healthy Recipes
I teamed up with nine other bloggers and together we each shared an Easy Healthy Recipe.
Kale Ranch Salad // Finding Lovely
My Favorite Blueberry Spinach Smoothie // Modern Glam
Cinnamon Apple Granola Recipe // Zevy Joy
Easy Cod Fish Tacos with Homemade Taco Sauce // Happy Happy Nester
Easy Healthy Snack – Protein Balls with Peanut Butter // My 100 Year Old Home
How to Make Overnight Oats // The DIY Mommy
Turkey Picnic Sandwiches // Lemon Grove Lane
A Colorful Healthy Main Dish Featuring Salmon with Dill // Most Lovely Things
Healthy Homemade Meatballs // My Sweet Savannah
Egg Roll In A Bowl // Twelve On Main
Links to the Items Shown in This Post
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