GOOD FOR YOU WFPB PROTEIN BALLS || VEGAN, GLUTEN FREE

WFPB protein balls are my go-to snack for hiking, road trips, and afternoons at the lake. They are also great to get you through those mid-afternoon hangry moments, when it feels as though dinner time will never come.

They take just minutes to make and just one batch is enough for a week or two depending, of course, on how often you eat them.

And the great part is that they are without a doubt a guilt free snacking option.

ARE PROTEIN BALLS HEALTHY?

The recipe I’m providing for you in this post is a healthy option for sure. But please note that not all recipes for protein balls are good for you.

If you find yourself scouring the net for more options then be sure that you assess all of the ingredients in any recipe you decide to try.

I’ve seen some pretty unhealthy additions to some of the options available out there. I even came across a recipe that straight out used sugar as the sweetener.

There are endless recipes labeled vegan and gluten free. And many of them are great options. But those labels do not denote ‘100% good for you’ by any means.

Which is one of the things I like most about whole food plant based recipes. They are good for you through and through. So … WFPB Protein Balls it is!

HOW MANY SHOULD I EAT IN A DAY?

I remember when I first started making wfpb protein balls. I couldn’t get enough of them. They are just so darn tasty. I must have eaten 5 or 6 a day for close to two weeks (maybe more, lol).

But, alas, this is not a practice I recommend. I mean if you want to go over the top for a few weeks and just enjoy yourself like I did, by all means go for it.

You will have to slow down though. This snack is only good for you when consumed in moderation.

All of the ingredients are healthy. There’s no doubt about that.

But while the three main ingredients, nuts, dates, and dried apricots, have great nutritional value they also have notable limitations.

Nuts are very high in calories and high caloric foods should be limited in one’s diet.

And dates and dried apricots contain a concentrated amount of natural sugars. Natural sugar is the only healthy way to go when it comes to sugar but it is definitely meant to be consumed moderately.

DO PROTEIN BALLS HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS?

I found that eating protein balls strategically definitely helped with weight loss. They aren’t necessarily meant to be a meal replacement. But on days when you find that your activities have kept you busy way past lunch, and it’s not quite dinner time but you’re really pretty hungry, they work pretty well as one.

They also help stave off cravings for sweets. So, if you can grab a protein ball or two instead of a cupcake or brownie you’re doing yourself a big favor.

You’ll be consuming only slightly less calorically. However, what you are consuming can effectively be used by your body to provide energy and nutrition. That’s a win-win there.

HOW TO MAKE PROTEIN BALLS

The simplicity and ease of making wfpb protein balls is one of the greatest things about them.

They can be made so quickly it really doesn’t require you to plan any time into your day to put them together. You just gather the ingredients, toss them all in a food processor, allow the processor to do it’s magic, and then roll them out into balls.

Voila! Five minutes from start to finish … love it!

VARIATIONS FOR THIS RECIPE

WFPB protein balls are incredibly versatile. You can switch out so many of the ingredients to create a different flavor profile. The choices are endless.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started …

• Use figs or raisins in place of dates
• Use a combination of dates, figs, and/or raisins
• Replace dried apricots with any other dried fruit; blueberries, cranberries, or cherries are just a few suggestions
• Substitute almond or orange extract for vanilla extract. Note that you will use considerably less almond extract than you would vanilla, as it is much stronger.
• Add cocoa or cacao powder to the recipe. This may make the mix drier but you can also add just a bit of plant milk or coconut oil to bring it back to the right consistency.
• Roll your protein balls in shredded coconut, chia seeds, sesame seeds, crushed nuts, or cocoa powder to add some flavor and also a little eye appeal.

Go ahead and use your imagination to make this treat just as YOU would like it. Sometimes in my house it comes down to what I have in the cupboard when I get a hankering for a few protein balls.

The trick is to keep the mix at a consistency that easily rolls into balls. It should appear a bit crumbly to the eye, while forming a solid clump when squeezed by the handful. It will roll easily in your hands. And it should not have a sticky texture after it is rolled into a ball.

HOW TO STORE PROTEIN BALLS

WFPB protein balls can be stored in the refrigerator for quite some time. The recommended time would be about two weeks. But use your discretion, as I have stored mine for considerably longer without any problems.

Consider the ingredients you have used to make them when determining how long they will store safely.

The ingredients used in the recipe provided below all lend themselves well to long term storage. And can also be safely stored right on the kitchen counter for a considerable amount of time as well.

I most often leave them out on the counter for about a week or so, if they last that long!

I’m excited to hear how this wfpb protein ball recipe works out for you. So, go ahead and whip a batch up. And then let’s meet in the comments and chat all about it.

Tell me … Did you follow the recipe exactly? Or did you switch things up a bit? And, perhaps most important, how did everyone in your house like this healthy, quick, and easy snack?

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