Energy Balls
The perfect labor and postpartum treat
In all my years as a postpartum doula, this is the recipe that my clients are almost guaranteed to request I make them again and again. In my opinion, it is the perfect sweet and salty treat for a satisfying burst of energy. It has about 2 grams of protein per ball, and less than 2 grams of sugar, so that is a real-food win in my book. These energy balls can be served for a much-needed labor pick me up, or a quick treat during an afternoon slump while feeding your baby. You can ask your friends, family and neighbors to keep your refrigerator stocked with these Energy Balls pre and post birth.
I remember one client vividly. She was sensitive to peanuts, so I made a batch with Almond butter instead (a really fine substitution) and she felt like her husband was taking more than his fair share. At my next postpartum visit, she asked if I would make him his own peanut butter version, in his own container, and then we tucked her own almond butter version sneakily behind the condiment jars. That way he would keep his hands off her almond butter energy balls and it would be fair. I am not kidding—the need to ration these energy balls is real. I still make them for my family and we fight over the last few in the container. Please make them and tell me what you think!
Energy Balls
1 cup salted natural Peanut Butter (room temp)
3 tablespoons Unrefined Coconut Oil
1/3 cup Honey
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2-1 tsp Kosher Salt (more or less depending on your taste and how salty the PB is)
—Mix the Goo until smooth and all ingredients are incorporated. Then add dry ingredients one by one, stirring after each addition.
1/3 cup ground Flaxseed
1/3 cup hempseeds
1/2 cup Dark Chocolate Chips (Trader Joe’s has a no sugar added version right now and they are so cute and tasty)
2 cups Old Fashioned Oats
—Stir the goo until ingredients are evenly mixed. Spoon out and roll into balls. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Recipe makes 24-30 balls.
If you’d like to learn more about our doula support, click here
