If there’s one thing I know, it’s that turning up at the school gates without a suitable snack in hand is tantamount to treason when you’re six years old and you’ve just finished a busy day of doing all the things at school. Like many schools these days, Azaria’s school is nut free, and given that she has usually demanded (in a nice way) and devoured (in a messy way) whatever I bring before we’ve even got out of the playground, these balls are the perfect thing to stave off hunger until dinner time and power her through on the walk home from school. Of course when I bring one for her I have to bring one for the boys too, so I end up making quite a lot of these each week, and that’s before I even get a look in!

These balls are also great for packed lunches, they do contain cacao so if your school doesn’t want chocolate looking things appearing in lunchboxes, you can always omit it.

They are so easy to make, and a great source of fibre and energy too. What’s not to like!

Ingredients

• 1 cup dates (medjool are squishier but more expensive so if yours aren’t as soft just soak them in water for a few mins)
• 3/4 cup oats
• 2 tbsp cacao powder
• a handful of raisins, optional

Blend the ingredients except the raisins until they form a sticky mixture. Chuck in the raisins and shape into balls, that’s it!

Store in an airtight container for upto a week or freeze for upto 2 months! As if they’ll last that long though!

Love, Mrs H xx