No-bake power balls

Pictured is a plate of no-bake power balls.

Energy is something we always wish we had more of. Healthy eating can help and preparing foods that taste good make it easier to do.

We like to pass on fun, easy recipes that are also healthy choices. We have come up with what we call no-bake power balls. They are sweet, crunchy and taste like fudge.

This recipe makes up fast and is easy for children to make as well. Having children help with food preparation can teach them good nutrition but they also use their math skills when measuring out the ingredients.

The cooking and baking at our house is done by both of us. Our children both learned to cook and were given responsibilities for making meals for the family when growing up. One summer we had a Japanese student live with us and she was impressed with the fact that our son knew how to cook. She said the girl he married would be very lucky. According to her, Japanese men had nothing to do with food preparation.

Several of the ingredients in this recipe can be changed depending on personal preference.

The ingredients include:

¼ cup margarine

½ cup honey

½ cup carob powder or cocoa powder

½ cup chopped walnuts or other nuts

¾ cup soy milk powder or regular milk powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon flax seeds or sesame seeds, optional

These ingredients are mixed together in a bowl. Then we form the mix into balls and roll them in unsweetened coconut flakes, granola or more chopped nuts. The recipe we use for granola is in our June 29 blog.

The power balls can be eaten as soon as they are made or stored in the refrigerator for later use.

Soy products is something we are trying to use more of in our diet. The nutritional benefits are many. The soybean is the best source for protein from the vegetable kingdom.

Minerals found in they soybean include calcium, phosphorus and iron. Vitamins contained in the dried soybeans include A and B. The oil has vitamins A, D, E, F and K. Another virtue of the soybean is that is contains lecithin, a fat-soluble substance containing phosphorus and choline, both necessary for normal body functions.

Soy milk is used by those that are allergic to cow’s milk and has been suggested for those who have suffered or are at high risk for degenerative heart disease. It is used by some who are seeking an unsaturated fat alternative for dairy milk.

Again our goal is to have our nutrition come from a variety of foods. We want the benefit of as many vitamins, minerals and other things that can help us maintain good health for our bodies.