Oats, peanut butter, flaxseed meal, protein powder, honey and chocolate chips.

Makes 11 energy balls

My goal in creating these delicious morsels, was to include mostly nutritious food with a little chocolate to make them tempting.

Being that they are calorically dense, these little bites provide compact calories, carbs and a little protein to fuel the long-distance hiker or runner, backpacker, snowshoer, cross-country skier or mountain climber. Eat two of these an hour for the recommended amount of carbohydrate.

Oats contain the soluble fiber beta-glucan, which helps slow digestion, increase satiety, and suppress appetite. Beta glucan is linked to improving cholesterol levels and boosting heart health.

Oats also contain polyphenols that act as antioxidants to reduce the damaging effects of chronic inflammation that is associated with various diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes

Flaxseed contains the polyphenol lignan which has several properties including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumor activities.

½ cup old fashion rolled oats

3 Tbsp flaxseed meal

¼ cup chocolate chips, roughly chopped

2 Tbsp chocolate protein powder

¼ cup crunchy or creamy peanut butter

3 Tbsp honey

Mix the oats, flaxseed meal, chocolate chips and chocolate protein powder together in a medium sized bowl.

In another medium sized bowl, mix the peanut butter and honey together.

Pour the oats mixture into the peanut butter and honey mixture and mix well to combine.

Wash and dry your hands.

Using a 1 Tbsp measure, scoop out a level 1 Tbsp of the mixture and with your clean hands roll into a ball. These will keep well covered and stored in the refrigerator for a week or wrap well and freeze for up to 3 months.