Coconut Date Protein Balls

In my recent blog posts, I’ve talked about the many benefits of magnesium and why it is so important to eat a diet rich in magnesium. Click here to see those posts.
 
Now that you have a more thorough understanding of the importance of magnesium, I want to talk to you about the different ways you can work magnesium into your everyday routine. Of course, the first way to do this is by adding magnesium-rich foods to your diet.
 
The following foods are known to be extremely rich in magnesium:
 

• Dark leafy vegetables, such as spinach and chard
• Nuts and seeds, specifically almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts and pumpkin seeds
• Yogurt and kefir
• Black beans
• Buckwheat
• Avocados
• Bananas and figs

 
Because I know some of these foods might seem bland and boring and even a little challenging to cook with, I want to share a recipe with you as something to try, or if nothing else, just for ideas! Coconut Date Protein Balls are a snack I enjoy often and they have two of the above foods in them – almonds and cashews.
 
Coconut Date Protein Balls
 
Ingredients:
½ cup raw almonds*
½ cup flaked unsweetened coconut
6 oz. Medjool dates (weigh after the pits have been removed)
½ cup raw cashews*
1 ½ tsp. unrefined coconut oil
 
*Note: measure the almonds & cashews before grinding them in the food processor.
 
Directions:
 
Blend almonds & coconut in a food processor; add dates and blend until well chopped. Add cashews & coconut oil and blend completely.
 
Scoop out a heaping tablespoon of the mixture into your hand & press into a ball. Freeze the protein balls on a parchment lined baking sheet until firm & transfer to a freezer bag or sealed container.
 
Yield: Approximately 22 protein balls
 
Avocados are another food rich in magnesium, but I know it can be challenging to figure out how to eat them. One way I enjoy eating avocado is cut up and placed on top a warm bowl of soup. Of course, avocado can be eaten in many other ways as well, such as sliced and eaten with fried eggs in the morning or eaten as a mid-afternoon snack.
 
As a mid-afternoon snack, cut an avocado in half vertically, remove the pit and put a couple scoops of salsa in the middle. This makes a fun guacamole-inspired “dip” for veggies, but is also good eaten just the way it is!
 
Of course, some of us are so magnesium deficient that we need a magnesium supplement in addition to eating magnesium-rich foods. For information about the importance of a magnesium supplement and the specific supplement I recommend, check your inbox later this week!

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