Tuesday, November 28, 2023

save this for later: monster cookie protein ball recipe

Hi reader,

Long-time readers know that I have a love/hate relationship with sugar.

On one hand, I absolutely LOVE sweet treats. Cookies, pies, cobbler, cake… I don't think I've ever met a dessert I didn't like. (Except chocolate molten lava cakes.)

On the other hand, sugar is a known inflammatory. It can cause bloating, skin issues, and even with a conscious effort to not buy foods with added sugar, it still ends up in our home. (Looking at you, Nana! ♥)

It's a battle between dessert and my pants every holiday season, but I've learned a few tricks over the years that have made the fight just a bit easier. Maybe they'll help you too?

 

  • More protein. Protein provides satiety, so eating more at each meal means I'm less likely to grab something while passing through the kitchen.
  • Whole foods. Eating meals with 80% or more whole foods makes it easier to enjoy and not overindulge in sweet treats.
  • Don't eliminate. Tell your brain something is off limits and you immediately want more, so nothing is off limits.
  • Out of sight. If you leave a stack of cookies on the counter, I'll eat them all. Put them in the freezer though, and I'll only eat one or two.
  • Make it yourself. There's grace for M&M's and chocolate chips (because I have no plans to make those from scratch), but we make treats instead of buying them.

I recently created a recipe that I thought would be PERFECT for this time of year, a balance of healthy and sweet yet still homemade and based on whole foods - monster cookie protein balls!

Most protein ball recipes use protein powder, but I'm not a huge fan of traditional protein powder. They tend to be highly processed and hard for your body to digest, and I even wrote an eBook years ago called High Protein, No Powder with my research and recipes for high-protein smoothies and bars that rely solely on foods.

So, I swapped traditional protein powder out for this Protein Superfood from Rootz Nutrition because it's high in protein (thanks to egg white, Sacha inchi, and hemp seed) and whole foods based (they only use whole-food ingredients!). This recipe literally checks all the boxes above!

(And if you're looking for an affordable CLEAN protein powder, this fits the bill for that too!)

4 Tbsp peanut butter powder*
1 scoop Rootz Nutrition Protein Superfood
1 Tbsp honey
1/2 cup instant oats
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt
4 Tbsp water
2 Tbsp mini chocolate chips
2 Tbsp mini M&Ms

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. Measure into 1 Tbsp balls and store in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

* Substitute regular peanut butter for peanut butter powder and omit the water. You may need to add additional oats, 1 Tbsp at a time, to reach desired consistency.


As I mentioned, there's grace for M&Ms and chocolate chips, but what's a holiday season without a little bit of fun? Make a batch of these monster cookie protein balls and keep them in the freezer. When you're feeling a craving for something sweet, reach for one or two and enjoy them guilt-free, knowing they're actually good for you!

ALL my best ♥,


PS: Did you skim through?? I do that too!! To sum up the above: My new favorite protein powder is Rootz Nutrition Protein Superfood.

>> Try it here!

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