Fudgy Date Balls - Wellness with Taryn

Healthy living can be really easy, if you learn to plan ahead. An important factor in a healthy clean diet is meal planning. You should be having 5-6 meals in a day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner (medium sized servings of each, dinner being the lightest), and healthy snacks in between.

Why? In order to have balanced sugar levels, without any spikes and surges, low-GI healthy clean meals and healthy snacks help to keep your sugar and energy levels plateaued throughout the day.

A deliciously healthy snack option, would be these awesome Fudgy Date Balls. They are so easy to make, and are filled with some of the most amazing superfoods in the world. They pack a punch, and are full of protein from the almond pulp and cashew nuts. The dates flavor them ever so sweetly, and add to the fudgy texture, while the Maca and Lucuma add the fudgy flavor.

Superfoods??? you ask. Yes, superfoods! Highly nutrient dense Superfoods! Food of the Ancient Peruvian Inca’s.

Maca

Maca is packed with vitamins especially vitamins B1, B2, C and E. It is rich in minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur and iron, and contains trace minerals, including zinc, iodine, copper, selenium, bismuth, manganese and silica. It contains nearly 20 amino acids and seven essential amino acids. It is power-packed with life enhancing enzymes and contains nearly 60 phytochemicals. Dried maca powder contains 60% carbohydrates, 9% fiber, and slightly more than 10% protein. It has a higher lipid (fat) content than other root crops (2.2%). But most importantly – it is an adaptogen so it “adapts” to your body’s metabolism, working with your body for optimum results. It has the ability to balance and stabilize the body’s systems (cardiovascular system, nervous system, musculature, lymphatic system, etc.). As an adaptogen, Maca can provide more energy if it is needed, but if it is not, it will not overstimulate. Adaptogens also boost immunity and increase the body’s overall vitality by 10-15% according to most studies. Rather than addressing a specific symptom, adaptogens are used to improve the overall adaptability of the whole body to diverse and challenging situations and stress.

In a nut shell Maca provides:

Increased energy, endurance and strength
Enhanced libido – it is billed as a natural aphrodisiac
Balanced hormones – Maca stimulates hormone levels by working on the pituitary gland
Immune system support
Increased oxygen levels in the blood which improves brain function
Improved memory and mental clarity
Relief from menopausal symptoms – women who take Maca report LESS fatigue,
greater energy and relief from hot flushes and night sweats.
Regulation of menstruation and period pain relief
Enhanced fertility in both men and women
Reduction of chronic fatigue
Overall support of the endocrine system
Elevates your mood
A youthful radiance – thanks to increased blood circulation in your skin

Source: www.rawlicious.co.za

Lucuma

Lucuma is a nutrient dense creamy Peruvian Superfruit From the Andean valleys of Peru. The fruit is known as as the Gold of the Incas revered by the ancient Incas for its delicious flavour and nutritional density.

Lucuma provides 14 essential trace elements, including a considerable amount of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Lucuma powder contains 329 calories per 100 grams. Per 100 grams, it contains 87 grams of carbohydrates, 2.3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein and 2.4 grams of total fat content. It also has 92 milligrams of calcium per 100 grams to keep your bones and teeth strong. Phosphorus is important for bone and protein formation, digestion and hormone balance.

Immune-enhancing activities
Promote proper cell communication
Low-glycemic addition to recipes
Oxygenation of the blood

It’s now clear how we can call these foods ‘Superfoods’, they truly are amazing!!! You can instantly feel the benfits of them once consumed, and best of all, they are SO! tasty! A great addition to a mid morning snack, to help boost your energy levels, and a whole lot more.

Cacao

Cacao is chocolate, chocolate in its raw state – unheated, NO trans fats, NO sugars, NO dairy. 100% pure, dark chocolate. Cacao is the second highest antioxidant food in the world (second only to blue-green algae). Raw Cacao is also a fantastic food source of heart-supporting Magnesium. Cacao contains anti-depressant properties and a great source of well-studied neurotransmitters such as serotonin and Dopamine, which are associated with feelings of well being. Cacao contains mood enhancing nutrients. Cacao contains MAO Inhibitors, which helps to diminish the appetite making it a very satisfying snack. Cacao is of the highest grade and quality worldwide and are certified to have been grown organically – free from any chemicals.

Source: www.rawlicious.co.za

Ingredients

2 Cups of dates (soaked in warm water)
2 Cups of raw Cashews
2 TBS coconut shavings
2 TBS of Almond pulp (left over from making almond milk)
1 TBS Coconut Oil
3 TBS Raw Cacao
1 TBS Maca
1 TBS Lucuma
1/3 Tsp of Himalayan Salt
Desiccated coconut for decorating

Recipe

Soak your dates in a little hot water, just to soften them. This makes it easier for the food processor.

While the dates are soaking, put the cashews into your food processor, and pulse for a couple of seconds, slowly adding the almond pulp. Once they are roughly the size of a raisin, add the dates, coconut oil and coconut shavings. Add the Cacao, Maca, Lucuma and salt.

The mixture should be coming together quite nicely, and will probably begin to stick to the sides of the processor. When that happens, you know it’s ready to (rock and) roll.

Now it’s time to get a little messy. Using a spoon, get some of the mixture into your hands, and begin rolling into balls. Big ones, small ones, the size is totally up to you.

A great tip here is to rub a little coconut oil into your hands. This helps the mixture to not stick to your fingers and roll easily into balls.

Once all the balls are rolled, you can roll them around in the desiccated coconut shavings, and pop into the fridge to set.