A year ago, I was busy stocking my freezer to help plan and prep meals and snacks before our baby arrived. I made soups, smoothie packs, muffins, waffles lasagna, enchiladas, casseroles and many batches of energy balls. I knew I would be really hungry and really busy once our baby arrived, and I was right.
I spent tons of time bouncing a little baby, feeding a little baby and making sure we both survived each day. I did not spend a ton of time in the kitchen making food. Truthfully, I am just know getting back into baking things from scratch and cooking bigger meals again. 
Out of all the things I stocked in my freezer, my favorite thing, and most useful, was energy balls. I made several batches with different flavors, including peanut butter, chocolate and oatmeal chocolate chip. I loved that these were ready to eat instantly (I didn’t even have to use my toaster or microwave or blender) and were loaded with nutrient dense ingredients. That meant no matter how hectic or stressed I was, or how starving, I knew I would have a quick, nutritious snack any time I needed one.
I ate these energy balls with my breakfast, for snacks and even in the middle of the night.
Even if you don’t have a new baby, you might find that you are super busy and need a snack that fuels you with tons of nutrition, tastes great and is ready to eat anytime you need it. These peanut butter energy balls are perfect for that and are great for adults and kiddos. 
They are packed with healthy proteins, grains and fats, so you get a complete and balanced snack with each bite.
Healthy benefits:
- Chia seeds: healthy fats
- Peanut Butter: healthy protein
- Oats: healthy carbs, good source of energy
- Maple syrup or honey: natural sweetener with minerals and vitamins
Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Print RecipeIngredients
- 1 cup oats
- 1/2 cup natural crunchy peanut butter
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/4 cup coconut flakes
- 1 tsbp chia seeds
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
- *Optional 1 tbsp hemp powder
Instructions
Add your oats to a high speed blender or food processor and pulse until flour-like.
Add you other ingredients and blend or process until combined. You may need to stop and scrape the sides.
Roll into balls and place on a cookie sheet in the freezer for at least one hour.
Transfer to a freezer safe container and store until ready to eat.
Notes
For additional flavor and fun, roll in coconut, hemp seeds, oats or even powder (cocoa, dry PB, vanilla, etc)
You can also try this with cashew or almond butter, or even sunflower seed butter if you are going nut-free.
Enjoy!
