We’re a little worn out on cooking. Months of preparing meals and entertaining at home have given us recipe fatigue. Want a quick, delicious and healthy snack that you can toss together with the kids? Look no further than these easy and versatile protein balls!

Sure, you could buy a protein bar from the store for a fast, post workout boost. But with more time on our hands, making your own provides a fun, interactive activity for the kids, and gives you control over the ingredients. You know exactly what goes in the bowl, and what fuels your body.

The recipe below makes about 24 balls in under 10 minutes – no baking necessary! Any protein powder works, some may be more absorbent than others so simply add water or milk 1 teaspoon at a time until the mix comes together. Store in a covered container in the fridge (5 days) or freezer (up to 3 months).

Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Protein Balls

Ingredients:

    • 1 1/2 Cups Old Fashioned Oats
    • 1 Cup Natural Peanut Butter
    • 1/4 Cup Honey
    • 2 Scoops Chocolate Protein Powder
    • 2 Tbsp Chocolate Chips

(we like Lily’s Dark Chocolate Baking Chips, made with stevia)

Directions:

  1. Place all ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Stir to combine. This may take some elbow grease at first but it will come together. Think of it as a little workout. Or use this step to really tire the kids out.
  3. Add water or milk if necessary to combine completely.
  4. Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to form uniform size balls. Roll between hands to make a perfect ball.
  5. Place in sealed container and let set in fridge for 20 minutes.

This recipes has nearly endless variations. Substitute almond or cashew butter, or tahini for a nut-free version. Try vanilla protein powder, or toss in coconut flakes, raisins, or cinnamon. For more inspiration, check out the original recipe on Eating Bird Food.

Macros:
Serving size: 1 Ball / 104 calories / 5 g fat / 5 g protein / 10 g carbohydrate / 2 g fiber
Macros will vary depending on your mix of ingredients.

My favorite is tahini butter with plant-based vanilla protein powder, chocolate chips, loads of cinnamon and a dash of cardamom.

Happy cooking!

Author Reva Oleszczuk is a NASM certified personal trainer, licensed esthetician, and personal trainer at Hyatt Training. She believes that the mind-body connections developed through movement, strength building and nutrition are crucial for mental health and wellbeing. She aims to make exercise deeply personal, enjoyable and accessible for all, regardless of lifestyle or limitations. Learn more about Reva, or get in touch with her by emailing us at Go@HyattTraining.com.

Hyatt Training is a collective of certified, enthusiastic and innovative personal trainers in Portland, Oregon. To read more nutrition-related posts like this one, follow this link.