This recipe is perfect whether you are looking for a packable snack that provides quick energy or whether you are looking for a healthy dessert! It takes all of the ingredients of a healthy bowl of oatmeal but serves it up in a more condensed and convenient form. 

This recipe came to be when I got a massive craving for some cookies but didn't have the patience to make them. The balls that were created as a result are essentially cookie-dough bites. The beauty of this "plant-based cookie dough" is that it doesn't need to be baked in order to be digested or prevent someone from getting sick, unlike traditional cookie dough. 

I soon realized that these balls also made an excellent snack for my afternoons out on my bike or skis. They are packable, delicious, and pack in a ton of energy and nutrition to keep me fueled as I exert my body. Sometimes I'll make a half-batch of the recipe, mold all the ingredients into one big ball (rather than a smaller bite-sized pieced), toss it in a ziplock bag, and into my backpack for a day in the woods. It's like an oatmeal bowl-to-go!

I especially love this recipe because it does not contain any semi-processed sweeteners. Many dessert recipes and even "healthy" energy snacks will be filled with syrups or sugars. While I used maple syrup, honey, and coconut sugar from time to time, it's nice to find more nutrient-dense methods of providing sweetness to a dish, which the dates and apple sauce provide. 

Now let's take a look at some of the nutrition that is packed into these balls!

• Oats are also one of the higher protein-containing grains, but more importantly, they are rich in nutrients and fiber! Oats contain a unique soluble fiber called beta-glucans which can help lower cholesterol, balance blood sugar, feed beneficial bacteria in the guts, and help you feel full. Oats also contain a class of antioxidants called avenanthramides that have an anti-inflammatory effect in the body and can help reduce blood pressure by increasing nitric oxide synthesis. High in B-vitamins, manganese, zinc, selenium, magnesium, copper, and iron.
• Dates make the best natural sweetener and energy snacks. While they sweeten our foods and provide great quick fuel to the body, they are also high in fiber, antioxidants, B-vitamins, and minerals, including copper, potassium, magnesium, and manganese. We eat them every day either on the mountain bike trails or as a sweetener in one of our favorite recipes. 
• Flax seeds are most known for their high concentration of omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid), an essential fatty acid that promotes anti-inflammatory pathways in the body. Flax seeds are also high in soluble fiber that can help balance cholesterol. Finally, flax contains a class of phytonutrients called lignans that support hormonal balancing, specifically when it comes to balancing the effect of estrogen in the system. 
• Apples are high in Vitamin C, Copper, Potassium, and Vitamin K. They are an excellent source of pectin, a type of soluble fiber that serves as a wonderful prebiotic to support a healthy and diverse microbiome. They contain a high amount of antioxidant polyphenols, such as quercetin and phloridzin, which have anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetes effects. 
• Peanuts are not often thought of as a health food, but they contain many nutritional qualities! They are rich in B-vitamins, manganese, copper, folate, and magnesium. They contain many polyphenols, including p-coumaric acid, which has antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial effects. It is also rich in resveratrol, an antioxidant that is known to be protective of cardiovascular health and immune-boosting. 
• Raisins are high in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, copper, potassium, and manganese. Red or Black grapes are specifically known for the phytonutrient resveratrol, a potent antioxidant that can support cardiovascular health, cognitive health, and the immune system.
• Cacao is rich in magnesium, iron, and calcium. It is rich in flavonoids, a specific group of antioxidants that protect the cardiovascular system and improve circulation. Due to its content of phenethylamine (which stimulates the release of endorphins) and theobromine, cacao is known to boost mood. Theobromine has also been shown to enhance mental focus, support heart function, lung function, and provide chocolate's famous aphrodisiac effect. Finally, cacao contains a compound called anandamide that binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and leads to a feeling of ease and peace. 

Finally, let's move on to the recipe!

I hope you enjoy these snack balls as much as I do!

Yours Truly,

Dr. Susanna