Nut Free Chocolate Bliss Balls

Bliss balls are such a handy snack for kids or mum for that matter. I am gearing up for my eldest to start school. Which means nut free bliss balls are needed for lunch box packing.

These nut-free energy balls are based on my other popular recipe chocolate fruit and nut bliss balls which are also yummy and easy but not at all nut free.

Are energy balls healthy?

On the surface, the ingredients for these nut-free bliss balls would seem quite healthy.

• Dates
• Sultanas/raisins 
• Sunflower seeds
• Cocoa
• Coconut

I mean there aren’t any ‘nasty’ ingredients in there, no preservatives, additives or overly processed ingredients which is great.

But the thing is most bliss balls, energy balls, protein balls, whatever you want to call them are actually pretty high in sugar. These ones are as well.

The sugar content is because they are made with dried fruit.

Dried fruit isn’t bad per se, but it is quite a concentrated source of energy/sugar/fruit compared to fresh fruit.

 

I, therefore, think of energy bites as a bit of a treat snack rather than a ‘free reign eat as many as you want as often as you want snack’. But they are yummy, and sometimes yum factor wins out!

The other thing to think about when it comes to bliss balls and/or dried fruit is teeth. Dried fruits are not great for teeth, they stick to the teeth and can cause decay. So keep this in mind as well.

I have a couple of bliss ball recipes that are much lower in sugar, they are lower in sugar because they contain far less dried fruit. So if that is more your cup of tea then check out either my strawberry breakfast bites  or my carrot oat energy bites 

Making Peanut Free and Nut Free Bliss Balls

 

As I mentioned my kiddos are starting school. Many schools have nut-free or peanut-free policies. (Not all schools, but quite. few).  Nut-free lunch box recipes is one of the things I get asked for the most by my readers. 

If you come across a protein bite recipe that seems absolutely divine, but contains nuts.. a really simple substitute is sunflower seeds! Just take out the nuts and sub for sunflower seeds,

and boom you will have created your own nut-free energy balls!