Earth balls--Nutrition packed easy snack!!!

 Being pregnant, and soon to be breastfeeding, I am finding the need to have healthy snacks ready IMMEDIATELY when I feel a craving for something.  As much as I spend time cooking, baking, and the like in my kitchen...when I'm expecting and it's snack time....well, I don't want to make something then.....there better be something quick and easy close by!  I made a very, very simple two ingredient version of these on this bloggy at one point.  This version amps up the flavor and nutrition to boot, and helps us preggo mommies stay "regular", which gets harder toward the end of our pregnancies as we tend to slow down a bit. 

All you need do is throw all of the following ingredients in your food processor, whiz it for a while, roll them up, and you have a handy, nutrient dense, living foods snack on hand whenever you need it!  I like to refrigerate these, but you don't have to!  Nice to throw some in a baggie for on the go snacks as well.

Organic pitted dates

Organic extra virgin coconut oil  (warmed gently in bowl of warm water or dehydrator).

Raw cashews (I buy whole instead of pieces, for they are said to have a lesser chance of being rancid.)

Goji berries

Chia seeds

Raw, local honey

Dried apricots...yum!

You could use any nuts you have a liking to, or even leave them out if you want.  The dates or dried fruit of your liking, act as the binder, so be sure you have something with a bit of "stickiness" to it, to help them roll easily.  The oil helps that a bit, too.  If you're not prone to little balls, make homemade "lara bars" out of them instead!  That works for me!

 

 

Joy

{This post is a part of Monday Mania, at The Healthy Home Economist, Real Food Wednesday, as well as Food Renegade's Fight Back Friday ; Pennywise Platter and Breastfeeding Moms Unite}

Comments

[Sharon]

Congrats on the new baby... I have a 2.5 year old son and life is wonderful with him in the world! And thanks for sharing the recipe -- those look great! I'll give 'em a try.

[Joy Y.]

You're right Sharon....little ones do make the world more wonderful! (Makes me think of that song by Louis Armstrong). So glad you see it that way, as some do not. Have a lovely day with your little one, and thanks for the comment!

Joy

[Kate]

A great idea & recipe to feel happier with the diet ! really need to try

[Joy Y.]

Hey there Kate! We all have areas we could do better in...I guess we are all works in progress. Thank goodness God's mercies are new each day, right? Thanks for the sweet comment!

Joy

[Megan]

These look wonderful, and right up my alley. You are being good to your baby by eating these!

[Joy Y.]

Hope you enjoy them Megan. I've been munching on them daily! Thanks for hanging out on the blog!

[Melodie]

Those look fantastic and now I have something else new to make in my Vita Mix! Thanks for participating in Vegetarian Foodie Fridays!

[Pat C]

These look so good--I can't wait to try them! Could you give me an idea of how much you used of each ingredient?
Thanks and congratulations on your new baby.

[Joy Y.]

Hi Pat! Sorry it took a bit to respond...it wasn't letting me reply to you for some reason. Anyhow, what I probably should do is make another batch, and write it down so I know how much I used of each ingredient. However, being I'm not doing that this evening, I'll give it my best guess instead. So....here goes...
Dates...approx. 2 cups
Cashews...approx. 1 1/2 cup
Coconut oil...just enough to give it a stickier consistency approx. 1/16 cup
Goji berries...2 Tbsp.
Chia seeds...2 Tbsp.
Raw Honey...2 Tbsp. (More or less depending on the amount of sweetness you like.)
Dried apricots or any dried fruit you like...approx. 1/4 cup

After you have put in all your ingredients...if it is too dry--add a little more honey or coconut oil...if too wet, add more cashews...if not sticking at all add more dates...enjoy!