Category: Something to Eat - Immune boosting, high protein and absolutely delicious!
I have been making these to eat for my boys since they turned one… however I used to call them Rum Balls. I'm not sure why - it's just what we always called them.
So you can imagine the shock from a group of other mums when my twin toddlers starting asking me for 'Rum Balls' on a regular basis or me saying 'sit down on your bottom while you eat your rum balls' (!!)
One day one of them asked me if I really put rum in them!! NO!!!
I can assure you I never have or never will put rum in these little beauties. If anyone needs some rum - it's me!! Perhaps time for a name change I think…
I love these little 'rum balls' for so many reasons - filled with essential fatty acids which needs kids need every single day. If they don't have enough good quality fat they simply cannot absorb fat soluble vitamins. No point feeding them veggies if they are unable to absorb it due to inadequate quality fat intake!!
They are a perfect little protein pick up, and they take less than 5 minutes to make and are the perfect snack on the go. Plus given that my babies did not drink breast milk for long getting probiotics into them every single day was essential. Even now at 3 years old probiotics is something we consume every day. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. Alisa x
TIP - Raw cacao is quite a stimulating food so as your children grow to like this taste I would recommend cutting back on the raw cacao. I would also recommend you don't feed them to children late in the afternoon or evening. For children under 3 I would not feed them anything with raw cacao after lunch time if you want them to sleep well. A mid morning snack is fine.
Ingredients
- I large handful of organic almonds (50g)
- 1 large handful of organic sunflower seeds (50g)
- 30 g activated pumpkin seeds (I use loving earth brand)
- 10 medjool dates (more if you like it sweeter!)
- 30 grams organic raw cacao (not to be confused with cocoa)
- 1/2 cup organic desiccated coconut
- 1 tbs organic coconut oil
- 1 tbs filtered water
- 4 good quality shelf stable probiotic capsules or 3 tsp or probiotic powder TIP - Get these from a good health food shop. You want at least 50 billion CFU strength, multiple strains and one without artificial sweeteners, colours, preservatives, gluten, wheat, dairy or soy. Just pure probiotics - more nourishment less junk. The ones in Coles and Woolies are not worth getting. If you are going to buy - buy quality.
- IF you are making these for school lunches - leave out all nuts and replace with some 100g flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds & chia seeds. Any ratio/combo of these are fine. Just make sure the flaxseeds are well ground as they can only be absorbed this way.
Directions
- Place dates in a bowl, boil the kettle and pour some hot water to soften. Leave for 5 minutes and remove pits.
- Add nuts and seeds (or seeds only if for school lunch box) and combine in food processor or thermomix to form a nut meal
- Add dates, desiccated coconut & raw cacao and combine
- Add coconut oil and probiotics and combine (remove probiotic powder from capsules if in capsule form!!)
- slowly pour water in and combine - mixture should be sticky and easy to roll into balls. If too dry add a little more water
- Roll in desiccated coconut and place in glass container in a fridge
