We’ve all been brain-washed by those milk moustache commercials to believe that milk is the only way to get calcium and that dairy is necessary for a healthy diet. I’m here to let you know, that’s just not true! While calcium is an important mineral for health, it’s certainly not the only mineral important for bone health (Hello, Vitamin D, Magnesium, phosphorus), nor is dairy the only good source of Calcium (almonds, salmon, leafy greens, broccoli, nuts, seeds). With 60-65% of the worlds population lactose intolerant, there’s just no way that dairy is a necessary component to a healthy diet. It certainly can be, but if you’re looking to eliminate dairy and worried about calcium, there are other options!
One of my favourites is Tahini. Tahini is ground sesame seeds and it’s traditionally used in hummus and baba ganoush. I love to use it in salad dressings like this one and this one. But it can also work beautifully in desserts if you do it right. These Calcium Rich Oatmeal Cookie Energy Balls definitely do it right. They remind me of chewy oatmeal raisin cookies. Nicely spiced, sweet-without any crap, nutty, and just a tad earthy from the oats and tahini.
I hope you enjoy these little bites for a perfect healthy treat. My kids love them and I’ve been keeping extras stashed in the freezer for easy snacks. If you try them, let me know what you think in the comments below. And let me know: do you try to avoid dairy?!
| Calcium Rich Oatmeal Cookie Energy Balls | | Print |
- ½ cup tahini
- 1 packed cup pitted medjool dates
- ¾ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup hemp seeds (also known as hemp hearts)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of sea salt
- Add the tahini and pitted dates to a food processor and process for about one minute until combined.
- Add the remaining ingredients and process another 1-2 minutes. The mixture should stick together when you pinch it with your fingers. If it's too dry for some reason, add another 1-2 teaspoons of tahini. If too wet, add 1-2 tablespoons of oats until you have a consistency you can roll into balls.
- Roll into balls and store in a glass container in the fridge or freezer.
- Enjoy!
