Fitness Friday::5 Minute No-Bake Peanut Butter Power Balls

If you are looking for a quick, healthy, delicious family-friendly snack that feels like a treat, you have got to try these. They are sweet and rich, like a dessert; yet hearty and nutritious like a snack. Because of the combination of simple sugars, fiber, protein and fat, I like to pop one in my mouth just before a strenuous workout. Just enough to sustain me, but not so much to make me barf.

Plus, they have peanut butter–which we all know is the perfect food.

5 Minute No-Bake Peanut Butter Power Balls


Ingredients:

*1 cup peanut butter (I recommend unsweetened, natural peanut butter. But if you use sweetened, just realize they will be very sweet–which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just a taste preference. You could also substitute almond butter here, which I haven’t tried, but I’m thinking would be total yum.)

*1 cup honey (raw, local if you have it)

*3 cups rolled oats

*1 cup nuts, dried fruit or chocolate chips (or a combination of the three! I’ve tried all different combos, and each one was delish.  Add what you like here!)

Crushed nuts, granola cereal, unsweetened coconut or puffed rice cereal

(the combo in the picture is chopped almonds, dried cranberries and chocolate chips, rolled in rice cereal)

Instructions

1. Mix the first four ingredients together until well-blended and forms a thick, sticky dough. (Using a stand mixer works best.  Otherwise, you will have to get in there with your hands).

2. Form dough into balls. Golf ball sized is nice.

3. Roll balls into crushed nuts, granola, coconut or puffed rice.

You can serve immediately, but I think the texture is so much better after they have been refrigerated for at least an hour. Makes 10-20 balls, depending on the size.

Let’s see, how do I sum this up?  Last week was just crappy. I had some personal issues with a family member that sucked the life out of me. I caught a cold. And–(ESTROGEN WARNING!  SHIELD YOUR EYES IF YOU’RE A DUDE)–had a certain monthly female situation that made me crampy, tired and irritable. And it all happened at the exact same time.

Yuck.

Suffice it to say, I took a recovery week–in every sense of the word. Basically, I did some walk/jogging (it was so nice outside). Some yoga. Some resting. Lots of praying. Some more resting….

I didn’t weigh or measure this week, because I kind of don’t care, (I mean, I do, but not as much as I care about other stuff).  Yesterday, I did slip into a pair of skinny jeans which haven’t graced my lower half since 2009. That’s enough to make me wanna dance a little jig. Which I’ll count as an additional cardio workout.

I will probably hit a hard workout tomorrow, because I miss it and I’m getting a little antsy.  That exactly what’s supposed to happen at the end of a recovery period.  That’s how you know it’s time to get moving again.

Monday, I will begin P90X2, Phase 3, which will take me through the end of March and the end of the 90 days. I can’t wait for Phase 3. I am ready. I’ve heard that it’s fun and hard and kicks your booty.  I’ll tell you all about it next time.

Q4U: How is your workout routine going?

Linking up with Jill Conyers and her fabulous Fitness Friday Blog Hop