Three protein ball recipes to help you snack better

Excuse us for a moment while we go all #fitspo on you – because you can swear to everyone who’ll listen to you that you’re going to get healthy this year, but we guarantee your iron clad resolve will fall the moment you get a case of hangry and someone waves a packet of Tim Tams in your face. It’s ok, because we have a solution – a big batch of home made protein balls that are guaranteed not to taste like a weird blend of seaweed and cardboard, and will quash any sugar cravings. Stick them in the freezer and every time you feel a fit of hunger induced madness coming on you’ve got a healthy snack ready to go – no raiding of the pantry necessary.

Faux-rero Rochers (makes 11)

• 225g dates
• 50g hazelnut butter
• 30g brown rice protein
• 10g maca powder
• 20g maple syrup
• 30g coconut oil
• 50g hazelnuts
• 500g vegan dark chocolate, melted

First, whizz up the dates, then add the hazelnut butter, rice protein, maca and syrup and blitz again. Stir in the coconut oil and refrigerate until hard. Roll into balls. Roast 11 hazelnuts and push one into the centre of each ball. Coat in the melted chocolate twice, allowing each layer to cool, and top with crushed hazelnuts. Gold wrappers optional. Recipe from Women’s Health

Cookie dough balls (makes 8)

• 25g brown rice protein
• 15g coconut sugar
• 25g coconut flour
• 15g coconut oil
• 30g almond butter
• 50ml almond milk
• 5g vanilla extract
• 30g raw cacao nibs

Get out your blender and whizz up the rice protein, coconut sugar and coconut flour. Add the melted coconut oil, almond butter, almond milk, vanilla and a pinch of salt and blitz. Fold in the cacao nibs and roll into balls with damp hands to keep them from falling apart. Try to share them (FYI it’s harder than it looks). Recipe from Women’s Health

Superfood energy balls (makes 12)

• 1 cup dates, pitted
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tbsp tahini
• 2 tbsp cacao powder
• ½ cup pecans
• ½ pepitas
• ¼ cup goji berries
• ¼ cup chia seeds
• ¼ cup ground flaxseed
• ¼ cup dessicated coconut
• Coconut, goji berries, cacao or crushed nuts for rolling

Process the dates, coconut oil, tahini and cacao in a food processor until they form a paste. Add the remaining ingredients and process briefly until finely chopped and combined with the date mixture. Roll mixture into tablespoon-sized balls and roll in your chosen topping. Adapted from The Inspired Table  Roll into a healthier you!