HookedOnPlants

When getting hooked is a good thing

date balls

Raw Vegan Date Hemp Coconut Sneaky Greens Bliss Balls

By

Dates glorious dates. Melt in your mouth. Chewy. Sweet.

Natures candy.

Date Balls!

Dates are amazing for well….  anything really. Buy them by the box, and make sure they’re as juicy and fresh as possible. These little morsels are taken everywhere. In the car, on camping trips, in my camel back, on the plane… you name it.

IMG_1778

Packed with fibre, minerals and vitamins, dates are not to be afraid of. They’re a whole food, unrefined and easily digested for amazing, clean burning energy. The perfect snack on the go. If you love caramel apples, take a bite of an apple with your date and call it a day. Seriously. Take them everywhere with you and you will be a happy camper.

IMG_1779

IMG_1780

IMG_1781

They are delicious as they are. But sometimes it’s nice to introduce them to a few other flavour buddies.

Hemp seeds add a great hit of flavour and essential fatty acids, oats create a cookie-like taste, and for the twist, quinoa puffs round out this delish ball with a surprising crunch and a complete protein (not that we have to be worried about protein, because it literally is naturally in every single whole, plant food).

IMG_1782

All you need is a food processor and a bit of a shimmy of the wrist to create these melt in your mouth hits of nutrition.

IMG_1783

Benefits:

~Dates are chalk full of fibre, magnesium, and selenium. Plus they are stars when it comes to smooth digestion, nutrient-density, and improving the gut flora. This is all beneficial for weight loss, satiety, and clean burning energy.

~Hemp seeds are a great balance of 3:1 omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids. In the Standard American Diet, there is WAY too much omega 6 fatty acids being consumed, and not enough omega 3. SO, hemp seeds are a perfect way to ensure you’re getting enough omega 3s in your life. This will help ward off depression, Alzheimer’s, rheumatoid arthritis, blood fat, asthma, and ADHD. Plus it’s one of the best options for plant-based protein.

~Coconut is packed with vitamin E, polyphenols, and vitamin A, which all work together to help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

IMG_1788

Makes: 30 balls

Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 20 Medjool dates, pits removed
  • 1 cup oats
  • 1/4 cup hemp seeds
  • 1/4 cup Daily Greens Powder (broccoli sprouts, moringa, spinach, barley grass and chlorella)
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup shredded coconut

Directions:

  1. Process oats to a flour in food processor, then blend in Daily Greens powder
  2. Add dates to flour and process for 10 seconds
  3. Add hemp seeds, quinoa puffs and vanilla to the mix and process until a ball forms
  4. Spread coconut on a plate
  5. Shape date mixture into small balls with wet hands and drop them onto the plate (a few at a time). Shake the plate so the balls get coated with coconut shreds.
  6. Once the balls are all shaped and coated, store them in the fridge so they’re ready for snacking!
  • If youre having trouble keeping the mixture together, add 1-2 tsp of water to the mix then try molding again.

These keep their shape and travel like heroes!

So bring them on hikes, bike rides, camping trips, you name it.

IMG_1969

Jules Fuel Buckwheat Bliss Balls | Blueberry Cacao or Matcha

By

Meet your new travelling adventure buddies. These Jules Fuel Buckwheat Bliss balls are packed with superfood goodness with a mega-dose of antioxidants.


On the plane, in a camelback or pocketed on a ski day… they’ll save you and your low energy anywhere, anytime.
And they’re SO simple to make.
You’ll find some date ball recipes on here already like these Maca Date Balls or Hemp Coconut Balls , but these ones are special cuz they’re Jules Fuelled ;0)


My cereal company recently turned into a line of superfood breakfasts. The original (Jules Fuel Quinoa Superfood Oatmeal) has been breaking fasts since 2013. But, just last month 2 new Buckwheat Overnight Oat products graced the grocery store shelves!


Your choice of…Matcha Date Overnight Buckwheat Oats, or Blueberry Cacao Overnight Buckwheat Oats.


Both are bursting with antioxidants, plant protein, fibre, phytonutrients and flava flave. On the bag I tell guide you to soak your serving of buckwheat oats overnight in your favourite mason jar with your favourite plant-based mylk.
But today we’re switching it up a bit.


Adding dates to the mix allows you to roll it up into a bunch of 2-bite Jules Fuel balls for all your on-the-go energizing needs.
The buckwheat groats stay in tact to add a satisfying crunch to the texture, and the only thing you have to do is blend and roll. Triple (or quadruple) this recipe and keep them in your freezer for months!


Benefits:

  • Buckwheat is packed with all essential amino acids, creating a protein packed grain that gives you long lasting energy and regulates blood sugar levels by mimicking the action of insulin. It’s also alkaline to your body, and packed with B vitamins (to help your nervous system function optimally).
  • Blueberry & Cacao are both incredibly high in antioxidants to deactivate free radicals in your body (which are the culprits that lead to disease) plus counteract pollution and unstable molecules. This all leads to longevity by slowing the aging process! Antioxidants also help decrease cholesterol and fat accumulation (gotta love em’)! Cacao, which is the raw form of chocolate, is also well-known mood enhancer.
  • Matcha is highly beneficial ground up green tea leaves. It contains L-theanine, which is known to aid in cancer treatments by helping fight tumours. It’s way up there in the antioxidant count, highly energizing without the caffeine jitters, revs up your metabolism and detoxifies naturally. At the same time as being energizing, it calms the mind and relaxes the body. Plus, it’s rich in vitamins, fibre and chlorophyll.
  • Dates are mother nature’s candy (thanks Ma!). Since they’re incredibly high in minerals and vitamins, plus packed with fibre, they’re the best option for sweetening anything that needs some sweetness.


Jules Fuel Buckwheat Bliss Balls | Matcha Date | Blueberry Cacao
 
Save Print
Prep time
Total time
 
These bliss balls are perfect to take on your next adventure, your next travel day, or even just to the office to curb that 4 o'clock dip of energy. They're packed to the nines with antioxidants and whole food energy.
Author:
Recipe type: snack, adventure fuel, dessert
Serves: 20
Ingredients
  • 8-10 medjool dates (depending on size)
  • 1 cup Jules Fuel overnight buckwheat oats (matcha date, or blueberry cacao)
Instructions
  1. Put all ingredients into your food processor.
  2. Blend for about a minute, or until the mixture resembles a crumbly granola. You should be able to pick some up, squish it, and it will stay together.
  3. Roll into 1-inch balls.
  4. Store in freezer or fridge.
  5. Take them with you for your next adventure, a long day at the office, or travel day!

Want more? Sign up to my emails for weekly inspiration, recipes, plus a free PDF on How to Get Hooked On Plants.

Nut-Free Maca Date Balls & Vegan Festival Eats

By

Sometimes all you need a two-biter to make your day.

Need it to be gluten-free, nut-free and packed with nutrients? Look no further.

Here’s a two-bite morsel (AKA meteor ball) that will make you bounce of the walls from all that whole-food, plant-based energy. Not to mention… make your taste buds sing.

Easy as dump, blend, roll.

It’s festival season. It’s camping season. T’is the season for glorious balls of tasty nutrients.

These are perfect for camping. You can take them in a big zip lock, and keep them in your cooler until you head off on your hike, then transfer to a little baggy to stash them in your back pack.

Or, if you’re ever needing a little boost of energy at a festival, meet your new best friend.

There’s nothing like a hand-to mouth treat that is actually healthy for your cells, your muscles, your brain, your digestion… and of course, your dance moves.

This weekend calls for these little bites. Bass Coast is coming up, which it’s all about taking your dance shoes out and busting a move. Since cooking time will be squeezed out of the schedule because of all of the art to look at, people to learn from and dancing to do, these are the PERFECT bites to bring in a cooler to keep us sustained for the festivities.

Dress by @ChicLittleBoho

Oh ya! And, I’m excited to be bringing these balls to the Hooked On Plants Bass Coast workshop too!

While we’re on the topic let’s talk festival eats! What eating at a festival really means is snacking on the go. It’s important to bring snacks that will sustain you, hydrate you, and fill you up with nutrients and good energy.

And water. LOTS and lots of water. Throw in some electrolytes or even a dash of Himalayan salt, and you’ll be loving it.

Vegan Festival food ideas:

  • Hummus and veggies/tortilla chips
  • Fruit – any kind, and all of it! This is nature’s way of giving us amazing energy packed with nutrients and hydration
  • Pre-make one-bowl meals to take spoonfuls of regularly:
  • Salad fixin’s: Bring lettuces, tomato, avocado, and seeds, plus one of these dressings in a jar
  • Pre-bake sweet potatoes (either whole or as fries), and dip in organic ketchup
  • Bring these Fudgy Quinoa Brownies to drool over and sustain you
  • Pre-make popcorn with coconut oil and nutritional yeast to pack in the B12 (try adding curry powder or garlic powder, YUM), and bring it in a big re-usable ziplock
  • Roast chickpeas for a salty snack
  • Bring along your favourite green powder to throw in your water bottle in the AM.
  • Pre-make and bring along a tupperware of Jules Fuel for breakfast so you can pack in some mega-nutrients before your day even starts
  • Rice, Beans, Guac, Salsa, Wraps. Enough said.

Ok, now back to the balls.

The magic ingredient in this recipe is Maca.

Benefits:

~Maca root is an adaptogen. All adaptogens bring your body back to homeostasis (or balance). Adaptogens grow in stressful situations (extreme weather), meaning they need to adapt to their environment. That’s why these amazing herbs and roots are so beneficial! Maca is especially good for balancing hormones, strengthening immunity, increasing energy & labido,

~Dates are the base to these ‘meteor balls’. Dates pack a mean punch of minerals, fibre, and clean, easily digestible energy. Perfect for the summer adventures.

~Hemp seeds bring a complete plant-protein to the mix. Plant protein is easily assimilated by your body to help you grow beautiful hair and nails. You really don’t have to worry about where you’re getting your protein from when you eat a whole-food plant-based diet.

Maca Date Balls

AKA Meteor Balls

Time: 10 minutes + 30 minutes chill time

Serves: 15-20 balls

Ingredients:

  • 15 pitted dates (1 cup packed)
  • 1 chia egg (1 tbsp chia + 3 tbsp water, let sit for 5 minutes until gooey)
  • 1/2 cup hemp seeds
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • 2 tbsp maca
  • 2 tbsp cacao nibs

For rolling:

  • 1/4 cup shredded coconut

Directions:

  1. Pulse dates in food processor until small chunks form (but don’t pulse so much that a pastey ball forms)
  2. Add the rest of the ingredients except for cacao nibs and rolling coconut
  3. Blend until ball forms
  4. Add cacao nibs, and blend until mixed evenly
  5. Spread rolling shredded coconut out in a flat bowl
  6. Wet hands
  7. Roll date mixture into small balls, then place them in the coconut bowl
  8. Roll the balls around until coconut coats them completely
  9. Place in the freezer in one layer on a plate (at least 20 minutes, then for storage place them in a tupperware or ziplock in the freezer)
  10. Eat when you’re feeling snacky, or low energy!