As a 125 pound, athletic female, I find that my metabolism has my stomach creating some bizarre howls at inconvenient hours of the day. Recently I was at a Cyclebar class and walked out to a lady peddling oils (yes, I bought some). She offered me some protein balls that were sitting on the display table. I popped one into my mouth and could NOT get over how much I loved them! Since then, I have been attempting to mimic those because I forgot to get her recipe. After 4 batches I have a recipe I love. Read along for my nut, dairy, & Gluten-free, no Bake Protein Balls!
First, please note that if you are missing quinoa, flax, or chia, this recipe still works. You may just have to add oatmeal to make the distribution of wet versus dry the same. Quinoa is not typically involved in protein balls, but I had a mixture of oatmeal and quinoa that was supposed to be overnight oats. Truth be told I thought the overnight oats were gross so I reused the blend for the protein balls. After making the balls with and without them, I definitely love the extra crunch they add!
Benefits of Each Ingredient
Quinoa, flax, and chia expand when wet. Therefore, it expands in your tummy after consumption to minimize hunger. The peanut butter, quinoa, chia, flax, and oatmeal are all complex carbohydrates that your body can easily convert to energy. Medium chain triglycerides (Coconut includes carbon chains from C6-C12; C6 and C8 are the medium chains) in the shredded coconut are easily converted to energy on a cellular level. Plus, coconut adds flavor and texture. The vanilla and honey are for taste as well as the binder, along with the creamy peanut butter. Of course the chocolate chip is just delicious.
Finally, I prefer to use ENJOY LIFE brand because there is no added soy lecithin. Soy lecithin is an emulsifier that binds cocoa and butter to create chocolate. Unknown soy allergies are common in society and soy derivatives are considered anti-nutrients because they have a pull to bind with minerals and nutrients prior to digestion. Therefore, nutrients you consume are not able to be adsorbed by your body because soy has already picked them up.
Gluten-free, No Bake Protein Balls
I plan to keep make these every Sunday. Two balls are great to tide you over through a workout and 3-4 are an easy breakfast. If the mixture is crumbling, add a couple tablespoons of water or honey. Add oatmeal if your mixture is too wet. Finally, you can also stick in the freezer for 10-15 minutes if the mixture is too runny to roll into balls.
Comment below if you have tried the nut, dairy, and Gluten-free, No bake Protein Balls or if you love the recipe! Feel free to save my graphic to Pinterest or screenshot it for later use. Have a great third week of 2019!
