Protein Power Ball to Conquer Cravings
Cravings? It is actually a sign your body is not balanced nutritionally and hormonally. Anywhere from not eating enough fat so your brain feels deprived thus sending out an alert in the form of usually needing something satisfying and fast! To having your blood sugars on a roller coaster ride because of some of those most satisfying and fast treats you may be feeding your brain. Eating too much sugar or processed grains will keep you in this craving mode, thus sabotaging any of those weight loss/feel healthy goals most people have for themselves.
Here are some of my tips for people:
1. Craving chocolate? Your brain is really trying to tell you, eat more minerals like magnesium! Go for nuts and seeds instead. I also find those eating the right ratios of fat and proteins also don’t get this as much- the brain is satisfied!
2. Craving bread, pasta, potatoes, and everything white? You are on the blood sugar roller coaster and about to throw up. Time to get off before you become insulin resistant and diabetic!! Make sure you start your day out with protein and fat, that bowl of cold cereal is doing you no good! How about 2 eggs with half of avocado, maybe some spinach and feta cheese in an omelet? How about that bacon and frying your egg in the grease? If you are ‘needing’ a mid-morning snack or have the afternoon sleepy time, the food you are eating currently is not meeting your nutritional needs.
3. Eat lots of vegetable fibers to stay full longer! Along with the benefits of staying full, your colon will have a greater chance of producing more healthy bacteria by giving it a job to do. Studies have found that having healthy bacteria in your gut can lead to a healthy weight among a number of other benefits to your immune system. I love this recipe for the fact it also has some non-gluten grains in it, particularly the psyllium husk, to gently scrape your intestinal lining clean. Along with lots of water to give the colon a daily workout, this concoction is VERY good for the gut.
Less bad bacteria in your gut, good healthy fats, and working on balancing hormones and blood sugar levels equals less cravings for carbs and sugars!
- 1 cup plus 2-4 tablespoons gluten free oats
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup 60% or higher cocoa choc chips
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 3/4 cup ground flaxseed
- 4 tablespoons protein powder
- 3 tablespoons chia seed
- 3 tablespoons psyllium husk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder or Chocolate Dynamic Fruits and Greens for more chocolate flavor
- 1/3 cup honey
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Mix all together in a large bowl. Roll into ball shape of desired size, such as the cookie scooper; ingredients should stick together but finished product should not be sticky. Add more moisture with the coconut oil/peanut butter if the mixture is too dry. Add more ground flaxseed if the mixture is too moist. No baking required. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a couple of weeks. Makes about 36 balls. Serving size = 1-2 per day.