Raw Protein Energy Balls

I haven't blogged a recipe in a while since I've been in Dallas and Dallas is all about the food. Probably not the healthiest of places but the choices available are quite astonishing. I've been relaxing a little bit and heading out to sample everything this city has to offer, as a balance however, I have kept up with the juices.

What's great here is Wholefoods. I wish Australia had this store, it is amazing. I've been picking up cold pressed juices from here every couple of days, from different greens to beets to the occasional decadent nuts ones.

I have been keeping up with my smoothies in the morning and I have a small blender so I thought I'd quickly blend up some raw energy balls just to keep around so I have something healthy to snack on throughout the day.

These balls were made in a magic bullet, a small blender that I can travel with. Super easy to make, and they give you a quick burst of energy boost to last for a couple of hours.

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Most of these ingredients used are highly nutritional and dense, so it's a small super packed energy booster. I always soak my seeds and nuts beforehand to activate them, with the cashews, macadamias and pumpkin seeds, they only need to be soaked for about 4-6hrs. Most health stores now also sell activated nuts and seeds,

Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts; however the unsaturated healthy fatty acids they contain helps to lower bad cholesterol and promote heart health and cardiovascular health. It contains high levels of copper, which in turn helps regulate thyroid functions, helps the body to utilize iron, maintaining bone and connective tissue health as well as helps produce melanin.

Macadamias also are high in unsaturated fatty acids and also palmitoleic acids, which actually helps to speed up metabolism and lowers cholesterol.They are an excellent source of minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc as well as being rich in vitamins, especially the many B-complex vitamins.

I love pumpkin seeds, they have a wonderful crunchy texture and make for a great snack on their own without the heaviness feeling. These seeds are high in manganese; an enzyme activator, zinc and the sleep-enhancing amino acid tryptophan. Zinc is important to the body boosting immunity, cell growth and division, sleep, mood and skin health. The diversity of antioxidants found in pumpkin seeds gives them a unique antioxidant support rare to other foods.

Hemp seeds are a protein superfood, they are a complete vegetable protein source that contains all 8 essential amino acids which are easily digestible. This nutty flavoured seed contains a natural source of vitamins and minerals such as folate, iron, calcium and Vitamin E. It is optimal for health and wellbeing, encourage weight loss, increasing energy and act as a natural blood sugar control.

For sweeteners I added dates, little bit of honey and lucuma powder. These balls aren't overly sweet, they are more of a nutty flavour with a crunchy texture. I really like these, I find sometimes energy balls pack either too much cacao or too much seeds and nuts making it overly heavy. As with all things, sometimes too good is no good, and these are just right!

Raw Protein Energy Balls


1/2 cup raw activated cashew nuts
1/2 cup raw activated macadamia nuts
1/4 cup activated pumpkin seeds
2 TBS raw hemp seeds
2 TBS raw cacao nibs
3 medijool dates
2 TBS raw honey (maple syrup)
1 TBS coconut oil
1/4 tsp lucuma
1/8 cinnamon
1/8 tsp vanilla powder (1/4 tsp vanilla essence)

1. Put all the ingredients together and blend until it turns into a smooth paste

2. Refrigerate and enjoy


* I found that the travel blender I'm using isn't as powerful as my thermomix so the nuts wasn't as smooth but I actually liked it better since it had a crunchy texture to it