These balanced breakfast balls were derived from an ah-ha moment while visiting my daughter in Miami.  Jess had made these healthy balls as snacks for her husband.  They were an attempt for her husband to eat a healthier and more filling snack.  She offered me a ball and I was pleasantly surprised.  It tasted somewhat snack-like or cookie-lie with chocolate, oatmeal and nuts but I was intrigued by its healthy ingredients.  No sugar, no butter! With a few tweaks, this snack could be a “breakfast” ball that I could take on the run when I’m short on time and don’t have time for a sit down breakfast.  Two to three balanced breakfast balls are perfect just before running to the gym or pickleball!

Unlike “protein balls,” these balanced breakfast balls do not contain additional protein powder.  You can add additional protein powder if you want, but it tastes too chalky for me. These balls are lightly sweetened with dried fruit and bound by nut butter, blended nuts and oatmeal.  Besides the nuts, various seeds are added for additional protein. These balls are flavored with unsweetened chocolate, coconut and dried berries.  Balanced breakfast balls can be made with whatever you like and substitutions are endless.  

Tips for making balanced breakfast balls

Ingredients

Dried fruit.

Dried fruit serve as a binder and a sweetener.  Soft fruit like blended pitted dates and pitted prunes serve as a binder.  These soft fruits are blended until they form a sticky paste.  Pitted prunes can be substituted for the dates for a less sweet, lower carb. option.

Protein.

Most people are familiar with “protein” balls with the addition of protein powder.  Protein powder can be omitted and substituted with milk powder which I prefer, because it provides a creamy taste and is not chalky.

Nuts are also used to increase protein and to provide mouthfeel.  Blended nuts such as almonds and walnuts provide mouthfeel and a nut butter serves as a binder.

Seeds such as flax, pumpkin and hemp are added for additional protein and texture.

Flavorings

Chocolate.

Unsweetened cocoa can be used as a flavoring.  In addition, blended chocolate chips can be added for those chocoholics.

Coconut.

Shredded, desiccated coconut can add flavor and texture.

Dried fruit / berries.

Any tart berry or dried fruit such as dried, tart berries, unsweetened cranberries or barberries complement the sweet and salty taste of these balanced breakfast balls. 

Process

The texture of these balanced breakfast balls should hold together, be moist, somewhat crumbly and have some mouthfeel.  I prefer to grind my own nuts and seeds with a food processor in order to ensure freshness, maximize nutrient absorbability and the proper size of the nuts and seeds. Flax seeds contain a hard shell that is difficult for the body to break down and passes through the body without the body absorbing all it’s nutrients.  Grinding the seeds ensures that the nutrients are absorbed by the body.  Commercial ground flax meal, after a while has a tendency to go rancid.

After the the mixture is combined, the balls are made by placing the mixture into the palms of the hands and squeezing the mixture to compress.  These balls can then be placed on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  

Storage

After the balls have firmed up, store the balls in an air-tight container.