So, this time next week I will be preparing to say, ‘I do’ in my white dress, and with that moment looming, I thought I’d share one of my favourite recipes for the ideal snack when you are craving something sweet but want to avoid all the chocolates, puddings and pastries that stand between you and whatever weight loss or fitness goal you might have.

I think it’s so important to portray a healthy body image and a healthy lifestyle, which is why most of my other recipes are rich, hearty dishes like Paella, or sugary desserts like Panna Cotta, so don’t worry, I’m not here to tell you to ditch the food you love, I mean my last post was about me eating cake in a bakery, but if you were looking to improve your eating habits, I find these energy balls a great option.

The reason I decided to try to lose weight was completely personal, and goes beyond fitting into a wedding dress. I was becoming increasingly unfit, drinking too much wine, and snacking on junk food all the time and I didn’t feel good about myself. I still drink wine and eat junk food, but I do it less often and I try to eat healthily most days. These energy balls I would eat even if I was looking for an unhealthy snack, because they feel indulgent and they are sweet enough to fool you into thinking they’re not even good for you, but they’re made up of lots of natural ingredients like cashew nuts, coconut, and dates. Honestly try them, they are epic!

For the quantities, I have used cups, because it simplifies things and stops you weighing out individual nuts. The ‘cup’ I used was just a standard size (Lion King) mug, and I would suggest you use something similar. The protein powder I used was My Protein Impact Whey Natural Vanilla, and I think it’s important to use protein powder as it sweetens the flavour without adding excess sugar and amps up the protein content.

Cashew and Vanilla Energy Balls

Easy | Cook: 15 mins | Makes 12 balls

Ingredients:

1 cup cashew nuts

1 cup desiccated coconut, plus extra, for rolling

6 medjool dates, pitted

4 tbsp cashew butter (I used Meridian)

2 tbsp vanilla protein powder

1 tbsp coconut oil

 

Method:

1. Put the cashew nuts and desiccated coconut in a food processor and pulse until it resembles a rough flour, then add the cashew butter, protein powder and coconut oil, and pulse until combined.
2. Add the dates one by one, blending between each addition to make sure they are well mixed in, then keep pulsing until the mixture comes together to form a ball. You may need to add a touch of cold water to help it bind together, but be careful to only add a little at a time, you don’t want to overdo it.
3. Take small handfuls of the mixture, roll them into balls, and coat in desiccated coconut. Repeat until you have 12, then put in the fridge for an hour or two to firm up. They will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks and are very moreish!

Per energy ball: KCAL: 161             Fat: 11.3g             Carbs: 11.8g      Protein: 3.9g