Clean, healthy and simple! Set aside a bag of chips and keep this handy in your fridge for a snack. I usually struggle to stock healthy snacks because the kids are always hungry. This is a quick to prepare, grab & go snack with ingredients that are good for you.

Servings: 20 balls

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup oatmeal (old fashioned)
• 1/2 cup nut butter
• 20 soft dates (pitted) – see note below, if hard (alternatively, 1/2 cup honey)
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions:

• In a food processor fitted with an s-blade, process half the oatmeal and half of the chocolate chips into a powder
• Add the dates and grind until a paste starts to form (If using honey instead of dates, add the honey here)
• Add in the nut butter to continue to form a thick paste
• Remove the paste from processor into a bowl and mix with remaining oats and chocolate chips
• Roll into 1-2 inch balls
• Serve cold or at room temperature
• The balls can be stored covered in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for much longer

Notes

• Place dates into a small heat-safe bowl. Pour hot water over the dates and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes to soften the dates. Once dates have softened, drain the liquid off the dates. The dates are now ready to be added to the food processor
• Once the dates have soaked, drain the liquid off the dates, reserving the liquid to use if needed.
• If your oatmeal balls are not sticking together well, add something sticky. If they are too dry, add more nut butter , one teaspoon at a time
• If the mixture is too sticky, add in a little more oatmeal, one tablespoon at a time
• If the mixture is sticking too much too much to your hands, wet your hands lightly with water! The water helps to be able to work the dough into a ball without sticking