"Let's talk about FAT bay-be, let's talk about why it's so yum-me"

This week's recipe is a recipe I like to make frequently and keep in the fridge for a quick snack! These powerballs are loaded with sustainable, yum-me nutrition.

First, let's check the facts about some of the ingredients in the powerball recipe.

“Regular peanut butter has too much fat so I use PB2 because it doesn’t have as much fat or calories”

“Let’s talk about FAT bay-be, let’s talk about how it’s so yum-me”

In the 90s we saw the “fat-free” or “low fat” diet craze, and I’d say it’s still sticking around to this day, unfortunately. Dietary fat is necessary for life. It’s called, Essential Fatty Acids, EFAs, because we need it and our body can’t make them itself. So we must get this from our diet

Without dietary fats, we can’t absorb certain vitamins, we may feel tired, have dry skin and hair, you may lose your period, you may get cold easily. Fats are needed for brain development, too! The brain doesn’t stop developing until about 25 years and it’s recommended that when babies start eating until age 2 to have unlimited amounts of fats, which speaks to how important fats are for brain development . Fats are also a great source of sustainable energy, and you may not feel as satiated without it.

Fat has more energy per gram than carbs and protein, so this makes peanut butter an energy dense food with is a great source of nutrition and why peanut butter has more calories than PB2. Calories are just energy, like gasoline is a fuel source for a car, calories are a fuel source for our bodies.

Also, if you like PB2, use it! It's just not the same as peanut butter, but still nourishing. But if you're using it because you think peanut butter has too many calories or too much fat, it doesn't so use peanut butter instead!

Pumpkin Powerballs

Makes: 24

Ingredients:

1 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 1/2 cups oats (uncooked, meaning just pour them from the container you bought them in)

1/4 cup chia seeds

1 tbsp pumpkin spice

a dash of cinnamon (optional)

1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used the mini, but regular are fine too! That's just what I had)

Recipe:

1. Add peanut butter, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and vanilla extra to a mixing bowl and use a spoon to mix until mixed well.

2. Add oats, chia seeds, chocolate chips, pumpkin spice and cinnamon (optional) to the bowl. Stir until dough is formed.

3. Place in the freezer or fridge for 15-20 minutes to make the dough more firm.

4. Remove the dough from freezer or fridge. Use a Tbsp measuring spoon to scoop the dough and roll it by hand into small balls. Store in a air tight container in the fridge.

5. Enjoy!