Recipe: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Balls

These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Balls are loaded with healthy ingredients and make a great on-the-go snack for busy days!

Sometimes, on busy days, you just need something you can grab and go with. While we always advocate for cooking your meals and mindful eating, we also realize that isn’t always possible.

These energy balls are a great option for those times. You can make them ahead and have them on hand in the fridge, or package them in pairs and freeze to pull out in case of a snackmergency. (Yes, that is a real thing -if you’ve ever had one, you know!)

The ingredients in these balls range from fiber, healthy fats to protein and more, and provide many benefits to your health. Below we’ve outlined some of these ingredients and details on the benefits they provide.

Oats contain fiber, which you can read about the benefits of here.. Foods high in fiber are more filling than low-fiber foods, so you’re likely to eat less and stay satisfied longer.

High-fiber foods also tend to take longer to eat and to be less “energy dense,” which means they have fewer calories for the same volume of food. Fiber can also help improve gut health and protect against diabetes and heart disease by controlling blood sugar levels.

You should be aiming for a minimum of 25-35 grams of fiber a day! We prefer to use gluten-free oats like these.

Dates contain potassium and are a great natural sweetener, making them a healthier alternative to refined sugar.

Coconut flakes provide additional fiber, iron and healthy fats, which keep you full longer. Read more about the possible benefits of coconut here. Make sure yours don’t have any added sugar; Bob’s Red Mill is a trusted brand!

Peanut butter provides vitamin E which is an important antioxidant. When shopping for peanut butter, look for a natural product with little to no added fat or sugar.

Some companies add partially hydrogenated oils or sugars, which change the nutritional profile and create a less healthy peanut butter. We love this one for a natural option.

Flax and chia seeds are full of healthy fats, fiber and even protein, making them small but mighty energy boosters. We use this flax meal and these chia seeds.

While chocolate chips don’t necessarily provide health benefits, per se, we would argue that they are good for the mind and soul. We prefer to use the Enjoy Life brand, which are paleo and dairy free!

The other awesome thing about this recipe is that you can customize it to your liking. Do you avoid legumes? Swap the peanut butter for almond or other nut butter. Don’t want added sweeteners? Skip the maple syrup. Want to add another flavor? Try a dusting of cocoa powder, some canned pumpkin, or instant espresso. Get creative – the possibilities are endless.

Happy snacking!