Looking for a healthy snack that will not only satisfy your hunger and cravings but keep your energy levels in check? Look no further, my friend. Coach Cristina is here to share her no-bake protein energy balls recipe. These are so good they will have you exclaiming, “Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!”

This is the ultimate kid-friendly, mom-approved snack that you can pack up for school lunches, camping trips, road trips, or just to have on hand when you need a little pick me up.

I like to begin my protein balls with a good solid protein powder. You can either go with BioTRUST Nutrition’s Low Carb or Low Carb Lite. Both are clean, all-natural sources of protein.

BioTRUST Nutrition’s Low Carb Protein Powder boasts:

• 24 grams of grass-fed protein from pasture-raised cows
• Carefully cold-processed to ensure a high-quality, undenatured, bioactive low-carb protein powder
• Each low-carb protein shake contains only 4 grams of net carbs
• Features gut-friendly prebiotics and protein-digesting enzymes to support stomach-friendly digestion and protein absorption
• Non-GMO and FREE from growth hormones, antibiotics, gluten, and soy
• NO artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors, or preservatives added

Next up, I like to add in some oats to give it some substance. Oats are versatile and are one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can consume. They are packing a plethora of important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant plant compounds. Half a cup (78 grams) of dry oats contains:

• Manganese: 191% of the RDI (recommended daily allowance)
• Phosphorus: 41% of the RDI
• Magnesium: 34% of the RDI
• Copper: 24% of the RDI
• Iron: 20% of the RDI
• Zinc: 20% of the RDI
• Folate: 11% of the RDI
• Vitamin B1 (thiamin): 39% of the RDI
• Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid): 10% of the RDI

This whole grain harvest comes in hot with 51 grams of carbs, 13 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat, and 8 grams of fiber with 303 calories. Oats also contain smaller amounts of calcium, potassium, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), and vitamin B3 (niacin).

Next up, you can’t go wrong with a heart-healthy omega source. What better way to kick the healthy fat content up a notch than with chia seeds. While these were made popular in the ‘80s thanks to the Chia Pet, the chia seed didn’t become a “superfood” until the 20th century.

You can’t get very far without a binding agent. I am partial to nut butter for a whole host of reasons. One of the benefits of eating nut butters is that they also contain a healthy dose of vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects essential fats in your body, supports healthy skin and hair, and helps keep your immune system strong. It’s also super tasty, so there’s that.

Honey is a natural sweetener and has a lower GI value than sugar, which means it does not raise blood sugar levels as quickly. I like to add a tiny bit, not only for the sweet factor but for the binding properties as well.

Cinnamon is always a welcome addition. Not only is it flavorful, but studies suggest cinnamon may help with blood sugar control and weight loss. It’s sometimes used for irritable bowel syndrome or other stomach or intestinal problems.

It’s been suggested that cinnamon also might help protect against:

• Heart disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cancer
• HIV
• Infection
• Tooth decay
• Allergies

I find that vanilla is that staple ingredient that brings out rich, subtle flavors without overpowering the other ingredients in so many recipes. You don’t need much—a little goes a long way. You can even make your own vanilla extract in the Instantpot with some high-quality vodka and fresh vanilla beans.

Add-ins are always fun, especially when you are making these for the whole family. I love a good dark chocolate chip or even raisins. Be sure to let folks know what they are as it is never pleasant to think you are biting into a chocolate chip only to find it is instead a raisin.

The beauty of these babies is that you don’t have to bake anything and they are ready to pop in your mouth within minutes. Hope you enjoy!

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