Health issues, most likely caused by food and food allergies, have significantly strained and complicated my relationship with food over the
past year. Finding recipes and food that everyone in my family can eat AND
enjoy has been tough and I’ve all but lost my mojo for being creative in the
kitchen. Nothing has been super spectacular or worked out well enough that I’ve
felt compelled to share. That all changed when I found these little gals this
week.
I have many reasons to share this recipe with you, but the most important is that I’m excited about it. It’s been too long since I’ve made and eaten something that inspired me to share the recipe with the world. These little tasty bites have done just that. Plus they kind of kick the trash out of my food issues I’ve been encountering and remind me that food for the digestinally impaired can be healthy, easy to prepare and taste so great that all my kids will ask for seconds and thirds and fourths until the entire batch is GONE. (Even the toddler [whom we have officially nicknamed Spidey – as in Spiderman - for his incredible climbing abilities]with all of his food sensitivities, allergies and health issues can eat these without a reaction!)
Instead of calling these by their traditional name (energy bites, energy balls) I call them Energy Spheres. It has a ring to it that is more natural and whole and promotes thoughts of calming and relaxation that in turn remind me that everything we consume has an impact on our ecosystem and that I can make a greater effort to use products that have been grown or raised in a manner that compliments both the environment, mind & body. I’m telling you these Energy Spheres are that amazing.
Also, since I’ve been reading ingredient lists and nutrition fact labels like it’s nobody’s business, I’ve decided to learn how to make my own and share that as well. Those of you trying to address the complicated relationship you may have with food might find this useful. (If you click on the label it will take you to a pdf that is a higher quality)
I have many reasons to share this recipe with you, but the most important is that I’m excited about it. It’s been too long since I’ve made and eaten something that inspired me to share the recipe with the world. These little tasty bites have done just that. Plus they kind of kick the trash out of my food issues I’ve been encountering and remind me that food for the digestinally impaired can be healthy, easy to prepare and taste so great that all my kids will ask for seconds and thirds and fourths until the entire batch is GONE. (Even the toddler [whom we have officially nicknamed Spidey – as in Spiderman - for his incredible climbing abilities]with all of his food sensitivities, allergies and health issues can eat these without a reaction!)
Instead of calling these by their traditional name (energy bites, energy balls) I call them Energy Spheres. It has a ring to it that is more natural and whole and promotes thoughts of calming and relaxation that in turn remind me that everything we consume has an impact on our ecosystem and that I can make a greater effort to use products that have been grown or raised in a manner that compliments both the environment, mind & body. I’m telling you these Energy Spheres are that amazing.
Also, since I’ve been reading ingredient lists and nutrition fact labels like it’s nobody’s business, I’ve decided to learn how to make my own and share that as well. Those of you trying to address the complicated relationship you may have with food might find this useful. (If you click on the label it will take you to a pdf that is a higher quality)
Energy Spheres
(gluten
free, nut free, dairy free, vegan, raw)
Yeild: 19, 1 oz balls
Serving Size: 60 g (2 oz)
Ingredients:
½ cup sunbutter (or nut butter of
choice)
1/3 cup rice syrup (or honey)
¼ cup cocoa powder (natural,
unsweetened)
2 tsp vanilla
pinch salt
1 cup quick oats (gluten free)
½ cup coconut (shredded,
unsweetened)
2 tbls rice protein powder
2 tbsp chia seeds
½ mix-ins (dried fruit, rough
chopped seeds/nuts, chocolate chips)
Directions:
- In a 3.5
qt. large pot over medium low heat stir the sunbutter and rice syrup until
combined and barely warmed
- Stir in the
cocoa powder, vanilla and salt. Once incorporated add in the remaining
ingredients.
- Form the dough into 1 oz (30g) balls and set on a cookie sheet. Eat immediately or chill in fridge. Store in an airtight container at room temp.
Notes: If you would like to get these
closer to the protein level contained in Cliff Protein Bars, only include 6
tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut and add an additional 2 tbsp protein powder.
Please also note that not, all protein powders are created equal. I used
NutriBiotic Organic Brown Rice Vanilla flavored protein powder.
Gwenevere
These sound yummy!
ReplyDeleteMal @ The Chic Geek
Most of all, I love the name. And of course the ingredients, because I blog for SunButter and I'm always looking for new creations. Plus, I can't wait to make these to fuel the gaggle of kids around our house this summer. Thanks for the delicious inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYAY! A new post! These sound delicious, Gwen. I'm so sorry you've been fighting food allergies. Which foods are you avoiding? Did I miss that in an older post?
ReplyDeleteIt cracks me up that you call these energy spheres! Sounds like something we need to try at my house (minus my Boy...he already is a sphere of enery!)
ReplyDeleteThese sound delicious! I can't wait to try them! :-)
ReplyDeleteVery nice!
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ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of your recipes, so i am a new follower :)
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