HELPING KIDS TO THRIVE AND SHINE

Brain Boosting Balls

This is my go-to recipe for school lunches and whole food snacks. My 8 year old can whip this recipe up in the food processor with a tiny bit of help from me so if you feel like you don't have time, teach your kids and they'll happily do it. 

Change the recipe depending on what you have in the pantry. Personally, I use one fruit each time rather than mixing them but that is totally a personal preference. 

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 C of nuts and/or seeds (e.g. almonds, sunflower, pumpkin)
  • 1 C dried fruit (e.g. dates, cranberries, raisins, apricots)
  • 1Tb of cacao or cocoa powder (cacao has more nutrients but also costs more!)
  • 1Tb chia seeds (optional)
  • shredded coconut for rolling in

METHOD

1) Add the nuts and seeds to the food processor and blend as much or as little as you like. My youngest says she doesn't like 'green nuts' aka pumpkin seeds so I blend them finely so she doesn't notice! Remove from the food processor.

2) Add the dried fruit to the blender next. If using dates, soak in boiling water for a few minutes FIRST to soften, then drain, and blend.

3) Once the fruit is blended, add the nuts/seeds back in with the cacao/cocoa and chia seeds.  

4) Add some shredded coconut into a bowl. Using a teaspoon, scoop out the mixture then roll into balls before dropping and swirling in the coconut bowl.

5) Store them in an airtight container and either keep them in the fridge or the freezer.

-Add 1 or 2 to lunchboxes each day or enjoy in the afternoon for a nutrient dense snack! 

-Swap out highly-processed muesli bars for these and your brain will be happy!

 

.