Love a tasty treat while you’re working?

Something simple like dark chocolate and blueberries (fresh or frozen) is always a winner, but if you’re feeling like something a bit extra, give these yum balls a go. They are:

extremely flexible (seriously, you can tweak this so much — and it always comes out delish)
good for your body, good for your brain
toddler friendly (important for those of us who are obliged to share e v e r y morsel)

And, they:

store well (in the fridge for ??? tbh they never stick around for long enough to go bad, but I’m pretty sure they’d last a long time)
don’t need baking
travel well (perfect for road trips, lunch boxes, etc)

All you need is a food processor, and if you couldn’t be bothered rolling out little balls then heck, I’ve been known to just eat it with a spoon.

I make this a little bit different every time, depending on what I have on hand. But in this version, I used:

1 packed cup dates (soaked in water a little while before use)

1/2 cup roughly ground almond

1 cup oats

2 tbsp cacao powder

3 tbsp hemp hearts

Whizz it all together in a food processor, then roll into balls in your palm. The mixture should hold together easily, but not be gooey or too sticky.

This make a fairly toothsome, not-too-sweet snack.

TIP: wet your fingers a little as you’re rolling, it will help to not get too much smooshed all over your hands.

NOTE 1: I used metric cups, 250ml volume. I also just learned that here in Australia we have our very own size of standard tablespoon, which is 20ml. Huh. Next time I make this recipe I will check what this all is in grams!
NOTE 2: See a little further down what makes these ingredients so perfect as a writing accompaniment.

Variations

If you prefer something that tastes more like a sweet treat ➜ reduce (or completely omit) the oats, and replace with more almond and/or shredded coconut.

If you don’t do nuts ➜ swap out for sunflower seeds.

Chuck in some chia seeds if you’re feeling it. My mum likes to use dried apple instead of dates. Whatever you fancy, or whatever you can find hanging about in your pantry. Just aim for roughly similar ratios of wet/sticky to dry ingredients, to get the binding right.

Other ingredient ideas:

Freeze-dried berries

Sultanas

Apricot

Any kind of nuts

Choc chips

Texture

Like a bit of texture in your snacks? Chuck everything in at the same time and blend it together. You might get some uneven bits of eg nut or date, and the oats that don’t pulverise give a bit of chewiness. If you like a nice smooth texture though, then buzz things separately before combining.

Great for writing because…

These ingredients have been recommended by a nutritionist as writing snacks for their various benefits:

DATES

high in antioxidants as well as important minerals and vitamins
high in fibre (which balances out the sugar content)
may improve brain function! They can lower inflammatory markers in the brain as well as lowering plaque formation (due to antioxidant content)
contribute to better learning ability and memory and less anxiety related behaviours
healthier substitute for sugar, making it a great sweetener alternative (to be used in moderation)

ALMONDS

lots of fibre to reduce cravings and stabilize blood sugar
high amount of protein to deliver energy as well as providing satiation
Vitamin E; its antioxidant effects help protect brain cells
high Magnesium content; helps fight fatigue and calm the mind, has relaxing properties to reduce stress levels

OATS

full of antioxidants
contain lots of fibre
have positive effects on cholesterol levels
gluten free
contain high amounts of important vitamins and minerals such as Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorous, Copper, Zinc, Iron and Vitamin B1

CACAO

one of the highest concentrations of Magnesium found in a food source!
elevates mood due to flavanol content (plant-based substances that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties)
rich in polyphenols (naturally occurring antioxidants)
40x the antioxidants of blueberries!
helps improve blood flow in the brain (hence the cognitive enhancement benefits)
high amounts of necessary minerals
produces endorphins (“feel good” chemicals)

HEMP SEEDS

extremely nutritious superfood that contains high amounts of plant-based Omega 3 fatty acids (with a favourable Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio — we want to concentrate on getting enough Omega 3 fats in our diet, and not too many Omega 6 fatty acids)
high in Magnesium, Vitamin E (another brain health boosting antioxidant) and phosphorous
high in plant-based protein (10 grams per serving!)
high in Iron and zinc (important for energy and immunity)
all of these properties combined contribute to optimal cognitive function

Nutrition

The recipe as written makes approx 35 small balls. The nutritional info below is based on ~5 balls (~56g) as a serving size.

Yum balls (a recipe)