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Made from nuts, dates and protein powder these Lemon Vanilla Energy Balls will give you the boost you need to make it through the day. The perfect portable snack for life on the run!
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I’m off to Park City Utah, Yellowstone and Jackson Hole, Wyoming in a few days. I’m soooo looking forward to disconnecting and being outside in nature. Don’t confuse this with camping because that is something I don’t do. I’m all about spending the day outside but then I need to be able to come home, shower and sleep in a nice comfy bed. New-age camping is what I call it.
Last week I talked a bit about my philosophy on eating while on vacation. Health and eating my veggies are important to me, but a girl’s gotta indulge if ya know what I mean. Live a little, people! I’m not one to pack healthy snacks with me or have my breakfast planned out for the week. I just go with the flow. BUT I also live in fear of being stuck at the top of a mountain with my stomach grumbling and questioning whether or not it would be safer for those around me for me to just jump off the edge.
Don’t worry, I don’t have a death wish but hangry Davs is not someone you want to be around. I’m irritable and snappy and just plain nasty. My poor family and C has put up with her for years and I suspect it really makes them question that whole unconditional love thing. So for their sake I am coming prepared. By this I mean I am reserving a special place in my suitcase for my balls. There’s a possibility I may have some explaining to do at airport security…
RELATED: Blueberry Muffin Energy Balls
As much as I love a good chocolatey ball, I am far more likely to go for a fruity one. And even though you’re probably sick of me telling you this for the 1000th time, lemon is my favourite flavour. The dates and nuts which make up the majority of the ingredients are what gives you the energy and the protein powder gives them more staying power. I also threw in some maca powder which is a natural energy booster made from a peruvian root plant so that my brother doesn’t end up carrying me down a cliff.
I maybe should have considered NOT entirely neglecting working out over the past few months but I’m hoping these Lemon Vanilla Energy Balls will help to make up for my lack of stamina. Balls FTW! I kind of want that made into a t-shirt…
PrintLemon Vanilla Energy Balls
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 20 balls 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1 cup pitted dates*
- 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder**
- 2 tsp maca powder (optional)
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- zest, 1 lemon
- juice, 1/2 lemon
Instructions
- Add almonds to a food processor and process until it reaches a crumbly consistency.
- Add in dates, protein powder and maca powder and process until combined.
- Add in sea salt, lemon zest and juice and continue processing until mixture comes together into one big sticky ball.
- Break up into 20 pieces and roll pieces into balls.
- Store in refrigerator for several weeks or longer in freezer.
*If dates are not sticky, soak in warm water for 30 minutes and then drain.
**I use Vega One French Vanilla but any protein powder will work.
Have so much fun at Yellowstone and YES to balls on vacation. Errr um…..what? Oh, and yes to new age camping too–now that’s something I can get on board with.
I make sure that I have snacks with me at all times because dealing with Hangry Sam is just bad for everyone around me. Super irritable, snappy…just generally unpleasant to be around. It’s better to just avoid it 😉
Seriously – every recipe blogger has an adoration for balls. Balls of all varieties! 😉
I never leave home without food of some sort… both for my sake and the sake of other people. You know how you said that coffee makes you a better person? That’s what food does for me. Couple that with allergies, and yeah… half my suitcase is packed with edibles when I travel 😉
I have tried to deny my hanger for years, but I have finally accepted it and just work to combat it now. And one of the ways to do that is with snacks! I need to make a whole list of the healthy snacks out there for when I’m working long days in grad school. Pretty sure I won’t make any friends in Chicago if their first impression of me is that I’m a raging you know what.
Ah! I love lemon flavor too. I totally want to make these and this time REALLY. Just someone makes my move already been done and my kitchen sorted, so I can start making BALLS and don’t need to eat out of tupperwares on moving boxes.
I am famous for my love for cursing, but when I get hungry it is not even funny anymore. My friends with children hate me for that.
Enjoy your trip love! So jealous!!
Ah I added maca to my energy balls recently – they do give you a good boost of energy so you will be fine hiking around the mountains! They taste is really good too – like malteasers!
Ha I can get so hangry. Johnny is really bad to and we can have insane arguments if we are both hangry – then we eat and we are in love again haha. SO ridiculous. I carry snacks to combat the issue 😉
Have a fabulous break!!
Oh please yes, make that into a shirt! I’d totally buy it!
Also, these bars must be what dreams are made of – lemon and vanilla? sign me in! I’m not one to plan snacks when I travel either (because discovering new supermarkets and buying your own is way more fun hehe I just love supermarkets!), but I think I’d absolutely have room in my suitcase for a handful of these babies 😉
Havea nice trip and try not to fall off a mountain, please. We’d miss you.
One of my best friends always thinks to plan our plans around my appetite. She always says that I must be fed 20 minutes before I say I am hungry otherwise we will have a problem lol. I never leave the house unprepared if I know I will be out for more than an hour or two and always make sure to eat a meal early if plans cut into a meal time. One must never be hungry and away from finding food!
You totally copycatted me with ball recipes today. That’s the last time I tell you anything.
The hangry stage is the worst. It’s so unexpected and I certainly need to carry something to avoid that. Or I just go quiet.