An Eggcellent Easter Treat! My Chocolate Almond Protein Balls!!

At Easter time many of us think of nothing but chocolate easter eggs, so today I wanted to show you how you can have a decadent & delicious chocolate treat not only at easter but at any time of the year that you want to satisfy your sweet tooth craving with a healthier option.

These are my Chocolate Almond Protein Balls! These wholesome & nutritious little balls of bliss are super easy, super fast & super tasty!

But first, let’s look at the ingredients & their health benefits. Starting with Chocolate! In my recipe I use Australian Certified Organic 100% Cacao Powder, this super-food has tons of benefits such as improving our cognitive health, sleep loss, minerals to support our immunity, muscle & nerve function. Plus, since cacao is rich in phyto-nutrients but low in fat and sugar, the calories you get from cacao powder will be packed with healthy chemicals. Studies have even found that cacao helps to regulate energy use and metabolism while also increasing feelings of fullness. In other words, although chocolate is commonly associated with weight gain, cacao powder may actually help to reduce weight while providing important nutrients.

Also in my recipe I use the very popular tree nut – Almonds (but you can use any nut you like, cashews or walnuts). As we know, Almonds are a great source of fibre, but they are also packed with vitamin E, protein & anti-oxidants, manganese & magnesium.

I also included Dates in my recipe, Medjool dates in particular but there are literally hundreds of types of Dates. Medjool dates are a very good source of minerals too, selenium, magnesium, calcium, potassium & copper, plus they are an excellent source of more phyto-nutrients that can also stimulate our immune system, reduce inflammation, improve our hormone regulation & prevent DNA damage!

Coconut is in the recipe, plus I use it to coat the little power balls! Now Coconut is regarded as a good source of healthy fats, plus it contains fibre & protein, and minerals like iron, magnesium, manganese. Coconut has been a staple in many countries for hundreds of years (or more!), and historically many people used coconut for medicine, such as counteracting some poisons, reducing inflammation, and even fighting against some bacteria.

The last ingredient in my recipe is salt, I use Himalayan Pink Salt BUT!! All salts are sources of sodium! So, we must be careful not to over-do sodium because of all the modern (mostly Western) foods that are so common now (fast-foods especially), we can easily over-do sodium, and that has many health RISKS! It is not all bad though, Sodium is an essential nutrient, so having a wholesome diet with a little salt is actually good for us. Again, it is about balance!

So, finally, here is my recipe, like I said before, its quick & easy, plus it could be a fun activity for our young budding chefs!