How’s Spring Break everyone?! Ours has been oh-so lovely. We haven’t done anything spectacular (yet!) but have simply had a really beautiful time doing a lot of nothing together.

This week we’ve been snacking on these super easy Quinoa Power Balls (quinoa is pronounced keen•wah; it took me forever and a half to figure that one out). I love any and all protein balls. They’re packed with such goodness and provide an incredible pick me up throughout the day! Plus, you can’t beat all of the amazing flavors and combinations you can make with them. I’ve made these little nuggets of goodness with oats, without oats, raw, cooked, smashed them into bars, etc etc.

Our current fav is grain free (quinoa is technically a seed, not a grain!) and pumps us full of omega 3s from the chia and flax. They’re moist and delicious and we think you might just fall in love!

Quinoa Power Balls

ingredients
2 cups of cooked quinoa
1/2 cup of nut butter (peanut, almond, sunflower)
1/4 cup of sweetener of choice (I used *xylitol but honey or maple syrup work great!)
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 TBL vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
optional pinch of sea salt

note: If using a dry sweetener, like xylitol, add 1/4 c melted coconut oil for more wetness. If using a wet sweetener, like honey or maple syrup, this step can be skipped.

Method
Add all ingredients to your food processor or blender. I have made all my other balls by stirring them by hand but the processor pulverizes all of the ingredients nicely (especially the quinoa) which gives it an extra sense of moisteness. Pulse until finely mixed. Scrapes sides. Pulse again. Scoop out a  tablespoon full of mixture and roll into a ball. My mixture wasn’t overly sticky but if yours is, wet your hands in water to keep it from sticking to your hands. Roll out all of your balls. Enjoy approximately 30 bites of sweet goodness!

This is a great recipe for you to play with! Mix and match your favorite tastes- sub nuts and dried fruits or dark chocolate(!) for the 3/4 cup of seeds I used.

In Love and Joy!
Brittaney

*Xylitol is a great natural sweetener substitute. It’s the stuff found in gum and has a low glycemic index aka processes like sugar but at a much slooooower rate. It also looks like sugar but is slightly less sweet! More to come on this newfound ingredient.