Oatmeal Goji Berry Balls

Oatmeal Goji Berry Balls

The goji berry looks like a red raisin and is very high in antioxidants. It’s sure to make a quick and nutritious snack—an addition that will make lunchbox meals everywhere that much more special.

This recipe is courtesy of Kristin Doyle, R.N. She combines her nursing background with her holistic approach to nutrition to specialize in therapeutic cooking and use nutrition to prevent illness and treat symptoms. She uses her knowledge to work with each of her clients individually to develop recipes designed for their specific health needs. Kristin is a nutrition consultant and a certified natural chef.

 

Directions

  • 2 1/2 cups rolled oats or quinoa flakes
  • 3 medium ripe bananas
  • 1/3 cup raw almonds or walnuts, ground in a food processor until coarse crumbs
  • 1 cup chopped pitted dates (chopped to same size as goji berries)
  • 1 cup goji berries, soaked for 15 minutes in warm water, then drained
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt or Himalayan salt
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325 F. Line a cookie sheet with unbleached parchment paper.

Place oats or quinoa flakes in a blender or a food processor and pulse on and off until oats/quinoa flakes turn into coarse crumbs/flour.

In a medium bowl, mash bananas with a fork. Add ground almonds or walnuts, dates, and drained goji berries. Mix well. Add salt, vanilla, and ground oats or quinoa flakes and stir well to combine.

Use wet hands to form tablespoon-size balls. Place on parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes, rotating pan halfway through bake time. Makes 3 dozen.

Nutrition Information

Per two balls: 110 calories | 2.2 g fat | 0.2 g saturated fat | 16.5% calories from fat | 0 mg cholesterol | 20.9 g carbohydrate | 3.1 g fiber | 8.5 g sugar | 2.9 g protein | 66 mg sodium | 2 mg vitamin C | 47 mcg beta-carotene | 0.8 mg vitamin E | 18 mg calcium | 0.8 mg iron

Recipe from Therapeutic Chef: Recipes to Prevent Cancer, Heart Disease and Diabetes by Kristin Doyle