September 21, 2017

I was talking with my sister a few weeks ago, and she mentioned that she had made some protein balls. Great, I thought, that’s an excellent snack and so much better for the kids than a bag of chips.

As we talked, it became obvious that what she had made were carb balls, not protein balls at all. They were full of dates, honey, coconut flour, organic this, that and the other, and also some good sources of fat, but almost no mention of anything that contained protein.

Just because they’re small, round and taste great does not mean they are protein balls!

A protein ball should have a larger amount of protein in it than any other macronutrient. If this is not the case, then it’s more accurate to call them carb balls or fat balls. I guess that’s not as fashionable.

This is not a commentary on the relative healthfulness of one recipe for these delectable little morsels compared to another. It’s the name that’s of concern.

Protein seems to be a ‘selling point’ for many products. With the negative focus on sugar and carbs, consumers are being led to believe that protein is the wonder-nutrient. It is, of course, but we need to be aware of misleading claims. Too often, protein balls and recipes for them are victims of these claims.

We have some great recipes for protein balls using our protein powders. They taste amazing, have very low carb and excellent sources of fat, and protein is the primary macronutrient. These are the best recipes to fit a low-carb eating plan, especially where losing weight is the focus.  Here’s a really tasty one:

Choc-orange protein balls with goji berries and pumpkin seeds 
2 cups almond meal
4 scoops Shaken Jamaican Choc-orange protein powder
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup coconut cream
1/2 cup goji berries
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
Extra desiccated coconut for rolling

1. Mix the almond meal, protein powder and desiccated coconut.
2. Add coconut cream and mix well to combine.
3. Mix in the goji berries and pumpkin seeds.
4. Roll the mixture into 15 balls, about the six of golf balls. Roll each ball in the extra desiccated coconut and serve or refrigerate.

Next time you’re tempted, have a look at the ingredients of the protein balls or the recipe. If there’s a nutrition panel or breakdown, all the better. If not, some detective work might be needed.