The chia seeds and almond butter add texture and depth to the recipe and the very subtle zest from the lemon brings it all together.

What are chia seeds?

Chia seeds are small black seeds from the Salvia hispanica plant, traditionally found in South and Central America.

Nutritional benefits of chia seeds

Don’t be fooled by their size. For a seed so small, chia seeds contain some vital nutrients. A 25g portion of chia seeds contains approximately 9g of fibre and 4g of protein. Chia seeds also contain omega-3 fatty acids, known for anti-inflammatory and heart health benefits.

The combination of fat, protein and fibre found in chia seeds will provide long, slow releasing energy to keep blood-sugar levels in check and kick-start that recovery.

Ingredients

– 180g of dried pitted dates
– 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
– 2 generous tablespoons of almond butter
– 1 banana
– Juice of 1/3 lemon
– 2 tablespoons of agave syrup
– 30g of rolled oats

Directions

– First, preheat your oven to 180 degrees.
– Place a sheet of baking paper on a baking tray and evenly spread out the oats.
– Put in the oven for wait for 5-7 minutes or until the oats are golden brown.
– While the oats are toasting, chop the dates finely and slice the banana and mix until it becomes a paste-like consistency.
– Next, mix together the dates and banana paste with the chia seeds, almond butter, and agave syrup.
– Finally, mix in the toasted oats and the fresh lemon juice.
– Roll the mixture together into ball shapes and store in the fridge in an airtight container.

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