If you are busy most of the time, it’s quite challenging to think of and make some snacks that you can easily grab on the go. If you are into yoga and need some snacks that you can take with you and eat before or after your session, there are many options out there. After yoga, it is essential to be aware of your body and notice the changes undergone by movement, stillness, balance, and breathing. To fully benefit from your efforts, nutrition is also important.
If you want your yoga session to contribute to your overall wellbeing, you also need to eat healthy foods. Choose clean and unprocessed foods like nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and as well as unprocessed whole grains. Try to avoid consuming coffee after your yoga practice, no matter how tempting it is. You can instead opt for some herbal tea or hot water with a slice of lemon for less acidic options. It’s because coffee is one of the strongest acid-forming drinks, which can make your muscles cramp and stiff.
One of the best snacks that we can recommend for people who are into yoga is Yogi Date Balls. Many people like them because they are easy to make ahead of time, store in the freezer, and grab as you run out the door. In addition, they are also nutritious and packed with protein and fiber that can give you fuel throughout your yoga practice.
What are Yogi Date Balls?
Yogi Date Balls are also known as energy balls. They are bite-sized energy snacks that you can make in just 5 minutes. These energy balls are made from dates, which are the fruit of the date palm tree. There are different variations of dates, but Medjool dates are the most popular. Dates are very healthy and are known to be rich in fiber, protein, potassium, manganese, magnesium, and vitamin B6, making them one of the best snacks out there.
Yogi date balls are high-energy snacks that are also raw, and no baking is required. This means that the nutrients in the ingredients used will stay intact. You can include different ingredients in making Yogi Date Balls. Most of the time, they include hemp seeds, chia seeds, nuts, cocoa powder, and some dried fruits. These energy balls are also naturally sweetened. It means that you don’t need to use unhealthy sweeteners to make them sweet.
How to Make Yogi Date Balls?
If you are looking into making some of these energy balls, here’s a Yogi Date Ball recipe we can share that you might want to try. We also added some tips on what are healthy snacks to eat while gambling.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of pitted dates
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons of warm water
- ¾ cup oats
- 1 cup of coconut flakes
- ¼ cup of sesame seeds
- ¼ cup of sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon of chopped almonds
Procedure:
1. Put the pitted dates and warm water in a food processor. Process them until they reach a smooth texture.
2. Using a spoon, scoop the processed dates into a bowl and add in the remaining ingredients, except half of the coconut flakes. If you find the mixture soggy, you can add in more oats. But if it’s too dry, add some warm water slowly.
3. After mixing all the ingredients, shape balls between 3 to 4cm in diameter, then roll the balls in the reserved ½ cup coconut flakes.
4. You can enjoy the Yogi Date Balls immediately after making them, or you can also place them on a baking sheet in the freezer and let them sit for 30 minutes. You can then enjoy them straight out of the freezer for quick pre-yoga energy.
Flavorful Yogi Date Balls
You can also add in more ingredients when making Yogi Date Balls. The recipe above is a vegan version. If you want to make the energy balls more flavorful, here’s another recipe that you might want to try.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of pitted Medjool dates
- 1 cup of nuts of choice (examples: cashews, walnuts, almonds, or a combination of all)
- 2 tablespoons of dark cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon of hemp seeds
- 2 tablespoons of ground flax seeds
- ¼ cup of dried cranberries
- ¼ cup of golden raisins
- ¼ cup of pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup of dark chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon of non-dairy milk
Procedure:
- If the Medjool dates you have, are hard, you can place them inside a heatproof bowl and pour some boiling water over them. Leave them for 10 minutes or until they are soft, then drain the water.
- Put the pitted dates and nuts in a food processer. Run the processor until the ingredients have crumbled and look similar to breadcrumbs.
- Add all the remaining ingredients into the mixture and blend them well until it becomes a sticky dough.
- After mixing the ingredients into a sticky dough, scoop heaping teaspoons of it and roll them into little balls.
- Place the balls on a parchment-lined plate and store them in the fridge for around 30 minutes, or until you are ready to eat them.
4 Ingredient Date Balls
The 4 ingredient date balls are easy to make vegan snacks to satisfy your cravings. Also, the bite-size of these yogi date balls makes them convenient to eat. In this recipe, you should be using raw and fresh dates instead of coated dates.
Ingredients:
- Raw Dates – 1 Cup
- Almond Flour – 1 Cup
- Raw Almonds – 1/4 Cup, Chopped
- Shredded Coconut – 1/2 Cup
Procedure:
1. If the almonds are not chopped, then chop them. Place them in a shallow container and set them aside for a while. Now, put a piece of baking paper on a plate or at the bottom of the container. It will be used for storing the yogi date balls.
2. Now place the dates in a food processor such as a powerful blender and blend them until a date is formed. If the dates are too dry, then you can use a tablespoon of lukewarm water.
3. Once you have a paste, you can add the shredded coconut and almond flavor. Now pulse the mixture until it is well combined. As a result, you will get sticky dough.
4. Use a large spoon or shovel to scoop up the date paste. It will be used for the first ball. To form a ball, roll the paste in your hands. Once the ball is formed, dip it in crushed almonds for coating.
5. Place the yogi date ball on the parchment paper you have already laid out in the container or plate. Repeat step 4 for making yogi date balls.
6. With the ingredients of this recipe, you will get 10 yogi date balls. After making all date balls, refrigerate them for half an hour before serving.
Almond Butter Yogi Date Balls
Almond butter yogi date balls are the ones that you can keep in the fridge for days. The ingredients of these energy balls are already available in your home. Also, these are sugar-free and healthy snacks with protein that comes from nuts.
Ingredients:
- Walnuts – 1/2 Cup
- Pitted Dates – 1/2 Cup, Cut into Quarters
- Cocoa Powder – 1/2 Cup
- Maple Syrup – 1/2 Cup, Scant
- Almond Butter – 1/2 Cup
- Vanilla Extract – 1/2 Teaspoon
- Whole Almonds 1/2 Cup
- Fine Sea Salt – 1/4 Teaspoon
- Cooking Spray
Topping:
- Coconut – 1/2 Cup, Unsweetened, Shredded
- Cocoa Powder – 1/2 Cup
Procedure:
1. Place the dates and walnuts in the bowl of a food processor and toss several times until combined. The pieces should resemble a coarse crumble. Now add the cocoa powder, almond butter, maple syrup, sea salt, and vanilla extract and mix until a thick and smooth mixture is formed. It should peel off the edge of the bowl.
At this point, stop the food processor but if it keeps buzzing, then it might get stuck. It happens when the ingredients are too sticky.
2. Add the almonds and pulse several times to incorporate them. Keep in mind that the uneven size of almonds will give a variety of textures and crisps.
3. Place a baking sheet with waxed paper or parchment paper. Now place the coconut in one bowl and cocoa powder in another. You can use a cookie scoop measuring about 1 1/2 tbsp and cooking spray for easy release.
4. Remove the dough and roll it into a yogi date ball shape and roll it in the grated cocoa and coconut powder.
5. Now transfer the date balls to the baking sheet and refrigerate them for a few hours or overnight. Once they have hardened, transfer them to a container with a plastic lid. As a result, you can have them for several weeks. With this recipe, you will be able to make 15 or 16 yogi date balls.
Salted Caramel Coconut Bliss Balls
The best thing about these types of vegan balls is that they are easy to make. Also, it only requires 4 ingredients to make yogi date balls. The secret to the salty caramel flavor balls is the use of Medjool dates. These dates are smoother, larger, and have a caramel flavor than the regular dates.
The 100% natural ingredients and no added sugar make them the best healthy yogi date balls.
Ingredients:
- Medjool Dates – 1 Cup, Pitted
- Almonds – 1 Cup
- Coconut – 1/4 Cup, Unsweetened Shredded
- Salt – 1/4 tsp
Procedure:
1. Add almonds, Medjool dates, grated coconut, and salt to a food processor and mix until a sticky dough forms.
2. With your hands, roll the dough into bite-sized balls. For garnishing, roll the balls in a plate of grated coconut.
3. Store the balls in an airtight container and refrigerate them. With this recipe, you can make 12 yogi date balls but if you increase the number of ingredients, you can make 36 balls.
| Nutrition | Value |
| Calories | 129 |
| Sugar | 12g |
| Fat | 6g |
| Saturated Fat | 3g |
| Carbohydrates | 16g |
| Fiber | 3g |
| Protein | 3g |
View this post on Instagram
Conclusion
Yogi Date Balls are indeed great high energy snacks for those who are into yoga. They are also perfect if you are searching for easy-to-make snacks that you can take on-the-go. Making these energy balls is very easy, and you can also add in other ingredients you like, such as nuts and fruits, to make them more delicious and nutritious.
Yogi date balls are perfect for children, youngsters, and adults who want instant energy snacks. The best thing about yogi date balls is that they are full of energy and protein without a higher sugar content. Hence, it makes it a perfect post- or pre-workout and yoga snack.