Jo Brigden-Jones | Sportscene - Ever needed just a little snack to keep you going in between training session or races? Packed with protein and natural ingredients I have created some great protein balls that hopefully help me race fast over the weekend!

There is so much nutrition packed into each little ball. It should really give your body the right fuel pre or post a tough workout, on race day and could help kill your sweet tooth cravings. I have really been getting into natural and the so called ‘super foods’ lately. Goji berries, flak seeds and chia seeds are some of the new foods I am into at the moment. These balls contain a great balance of protein, carbohydrates, fibre, healthy fats, antioxidants, minerals and amino acids. You can use a wide variety of ingredients in the protein balls but I just picked some of my favourites and came up with these babies! They are so quick and easy to make, you could be eating them with 20 minutes and they last a couple of days so you will be stocked up on healthy snacks for a while. I made up 2 batches (Chocolate & Vanilla), great for variety and I’m sure they will get demolished by the sprint kayakers racing this weekend!

CHOCOLATE PROTEIN BALLS

(Makes 25 balls)

Ingredients

• 20 fresh pitted dates
• 1 cup almonds
• 60g chocolate protein powder
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 2 tablespoon chia seeds
• 2 tablespoon flax seeds (linseeds)
• 2 tablespoon sunflower seeds
• 2 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
• Splash of water
• Goji berries, coconut and cocoa powder for coating

Method

1. Ground the almonds in a food processor. Add the dates in and blend until it comes together then transfer to a bowl.
2. Blend the chia seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds in the food processor.
3. Add the blended seed, vanilla essence and the cocoa powder to the bowl.
4. Combine all ingredients using your hands. Add a splash of water to the mix so all the ingredients bind together. It should come together into a large ball and be a little bit sticky.
5. Using a dessert spoon, scoop out small amounts of the mixture and roll in hands to form small balls. Place the small balls onto a plate.
6. Roll the individual balls in either goji berries, coconut or cocoa powder to give it a great coating of texture and extra nutrients. They are also great just plain with no coating if you like them that way.
7. Eat, train hard and go fast friends!

VANILLA PROTEIN BALLS

(Makes 20 balls)

Ingredients

• 1 cup coconut
• 1 cup oats
• 60g vanilla protein powder
• ½ cup cashews
• 1 cup almond meal
• 2 tablespoon chia seeds
• 2 tablespoon sunflower seeds
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil butter
• 2 tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1/4-1/2 cup almond milk
• Sesame seeds, coconut and ground cashews for coating

Method

1. Place the oats and cashews in a food processor and blend until fine and crumbly. Transfer to a bowl.
2. Add the coconut, almond meal, protein powder, chia seeds and sunflower seeds to the bowl and mix.
3. Add in the coconut butter oil, honey, vanilla essence and ¼ cup of almond meal. Mix with hands until it combines to form a large ball. Add more almond milk if the mixture is too dry.
4. Using a dessert spoon, scoop out small amounts of the mixture and roll in hands to form small balls. Place the small balls onto a plate.
5. Roll the individual balls in coconut, sesame seeds or ground cashews to give it a great coating of texture and extra nutrients. They are also great just plain with no coating if you like them that way.
6. Eat, train hard and go fast friends!