The Lean Green Bean
  • Home
  • About
  • Become An RD
  • Recipes
  • Ebooks
  • Food Prep
  • Kids
  • Other
    • Videos
    • Work With Me
    • My Favorite Things
    • Workouts

12 Kid-Friendly Energy Ball Recipes Made Without Protein Powder

April 27, 2016 by Lindsay 19 Comments

32546shares
  • Facebook 1089
  • Twitter
  • Email

Looking for a quick, healthy snack made with real food ingredients? Here are 12 kid-friendly energy ball recipes made without protein powder. 

Looking for a quick, healthy snack made with real food ingredients? Here are 12 kid-friendly energy ball recipes made without protein powder.

Hi friends!

Let’s talk about snacks for a minute, shall we? More specifically, snacks for Squish. Because lord knows he eats a lot of them. In fact, he pretty much eats every 2 hours all day long. We’ve tried giving him bigger meals and it just doesn’t work well for us. So for now, we’re sticking with three main meals and 3-4 snacks during the day.

These aren’t giant snacks by any means, but they do occur multiple times per day, so I do my best to make sure they’re minimally processed, made with real food ingredients, and full of nutrients.  Some of his favorites include:

  • Sweet Potato Bites
  • String cheese
  • Hard boiled eggs
  • Avocado or peanut butter toast
  • Smoothies
  • Raisins
  • Popsicles (made with sweet potatoes, prunes & pb)
  • Jello (made with grape juice and gelatin)
  • Anything dipped in hummus
  • Energy balls

I try to rotate through this list to keep him from getting bored, but if I had to name one thing I make sure to prep every single week to have on hand, it’s energy balls. He absolutely loves my Lemon Energy Balls but he’s also a fan of my no-bake mint chocolate version (i make them without the crushed peppermint when it’s not Christmas time!)

Kid-Friendly Energy Ball Recipes

Looking for a quick, healthy snack made with real food ingredients? Here are 12 kid-friendly energy ball recipes made without protein powder.

I love them because it’s so easy to make a batch ahead of time and pop them in the freezer and just pull them out whenever we need a quick snack. I’ve decided that since we’re eating them weekly, it’s about time I start branching out a little bit and trying some new flavor combos. Instead of doing all the work myself, I turned to some of my blogger friends and asked them to share their favorite energy balls and bites!

Note that while a lot of energy balls are made with protein powder, for this roundup, I chose only recipes that do not include protein powder. You guys know I’m not a huge protein powder user myself (although I do use it to make my No Bake Protein Bars), but I don’t feel it’s something Squish needs to be eating at his age.

So here’s the list I came up with, including a few of my favorites from The Bean archives:

Bursting with citrus flavor, these Lemon Energy balls make the perfect snack. Made with just 5 ingredients, they're gluten-free, paleo-friendly and perfect for stashing in the fridge or freezer!

Lemon Energy Balls

These No-Bake Peppermint Chocolate Bites are simple, healthy and ready in minutes. This gluten-free recipe would make a great addition to your holiday cookie tray!

No-Bake Mint Chocolate Bites

Pumpkin Energy Balls make a great grab-and-go snack to have on hand and stock your freezer with. They're full of healthy fats, fiber, and protein - plus all the flavors of fall!

Pumpkin Energy Balls

Apple Cinnamon Cookie Energy Bites

Apple Cinnamon Cookie Energy Bites via Kristine’s Kitchen Blog

Dark Chocolate Blueberry Energy Bites

Dark Chocolate & Blueberry Energy Bites via The Creative Bite

Cherry Larabar Balls

Cherry Larabar Balls via Eating Bird Food

Key Lime Pie Energy Bites

Key Lime Pie Energy Bites via Peas and Crayons

Chocolate Pistachio Coconut Energy Balls

Chocolate Coconut Pistachio Bites via Cotter Crunch

Raw Vegan Brownie Bites

Raw Vegan Brownie Bites via Happy, Healthy Motivated

No Bake Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Energy Bites

Dark Chocolate Coconut Almond Butter Energy Bites via Joyful Healthy Eats

Strawberry Cheesecake Swirl Energy Bites

Strawberry Cheesecake Swirl Energy Balls via The Healthy Maven

PB&J Swirl Energy Bites

PB & J Swirl Energy Bites via Fit Foodie Finds

So if you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen working my way through this list with my little assistant. Which should we try first?!

Try one of these 12 Kid-Friendly Energy Bite Recipes from @leangrnbeanblog! No protein powder needed

Click To Tweet

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Top Food Prep Tips
WANT TO FOOD PREP LIKE A PRO?

Get my top 3 tips!
Plus quick, healthy recipe ideas right to your inbox every week!

Enter your email here ...

Filed Under: Snack, Round-Ups

About Lindsay

Lindsay Livingston is a Registered Dietitian and new mom from Columbus, Ohio. On her blog, she shares simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, workouts and snapshots of her life. Follow her on Twitter @LeanGrnBeanBlog and Instagram @TheLeanGreenBean and be sure to subscribe via RSS or email so you never miss a post!

« Pesto Chicken Pizza Rolls
Dear Chase – Months 17 and 18 »

Comments

  1. Heather @ Polyglot Jot says

    April 27, 2016 at 8:36 AM

    I’m watching my niece this weekend–perfect!! These look great!

    Reply
  2. lindsay Cotter says

    April 27, 2016 at 9:34 AM

    you know i am all about this. kid friendly and adult friendly! YAY!

    Reply
  3. Megan says

    April 27, 2016 at 10:15 AM

    Yum! I’m going to try a few of these for myself and a few for my three-year-old niece. She’s usually more interested in exploring rather than eating, but I have a feeling she’ll love the pb&j bites. Thanks for sharing all of these recipes!

    Reply
  4. FPS says

    April 27, 2016 at 3:47 PM

    Wow my mind is blown with all of these fabulous options! Mmmm mint-chocolate bites, I’ll take 1,000!

    Reply
  5. Renee says

    April 27, 2016 at 10:57 PM

    What a great round-up of delicious recipes. I look forward to making a few of these for my grand babes!

    Reply
  6. Kristine | Kristine's Kitchen says

    April 28, 2016 at 12:31 AM

    I’m always looking for new snack ideas for my kids since they are hungry all. the. time! These recipes look perfect and I can’t wait to try them! Thanks for including my apple cinnamon bites. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Heather Kinnaird says

    April 28, 2016 at 10:08 AM

    I bet my kids would love them all! what a great collection

    Reply
  8. Jenn @ Peas and Crayons says

    April 28, 2016 at 4:38 PM

    lemon, cherry, and mint OH MY! Haha these are phenom – thanks so much for including me!

    Reply
  9. Jill Castle says

    May 2, 2016 at 8:58 PM

    Thanks for leaving out the protein powder! When it comes to kids, they don’t need it!!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      May 2, 2016 at 8:59 PM

      I agree!

      Reply
  10. Katie says

    March 7, 2018 at 11:10 AM

    Would you give all of these to an 11 month old? I may blend oats to make them smaller and I didn’t check them all for honey but otherwise I think these could be good for my guy. Any you’d recommend for the littler guy specifically? For some reason he will only take things I offer in ball form lately haha

    Reply
    • Katie says

      March 7, 2018 at 11:12 AM

      Also obviously no raw nuts as he has only one tooth.

      Reply
    • Lindsay says

      March 7, 2018 at 7:36 PM

      my kids love the lemon ones from my site. sometimes i add like 1/2 cup frozen wild blueberries as well.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 13 Protein Snacks for Youth Athletes – Youth Weightlifting says:
    January 31, 2018 at 4:41 PM

    […] cookies for these Dark Chocolate & Blueberry Energy Bites. For more flavors, check out 12 Kid-Friendly Energy Ball Recipes Made Without Protein Powder. […]

    Reply
  2. 50 Packable Lunch Ideas | Lunch Ideas for Work | The Lean Green Bean says:
    March 6, 2018 at 4:02 PM

    […] Energy Balls Lemon Energy Balls 12 Kid-Friendly Energy Balls […]

    Reply
  3. Eat Right: Healthy foods for a Spring in Your Step | New Jammies says:
    March 30, 2018 at 1:24 PM

    […] Kid Friendly Energy Balls Courtesy The Lean Green Bean […]

    Reply
  4. Peanut Butter Hemp Energy Balls says:
    July 9, 2018 at 12:00 AM

    […] Looking for more energy balls? Here are 12 Kid-Friendly Energy Ball Recipes Made Without Protein Powder. […]

    Reply
  5. Kids In The Kitchen - Simple Cooking With Kids | Fun Is Better Than Perfect says:
    November 14, 2018 at 10:21 PM

    […] Energy Bites : This is such a versatile recipe, and perfect for snacks on the go or even quick breakfasts. […]

    Reply
  6. No Bake Energy Balls (or Fancy Laddoos) | Protein Rich Snacks for Kids says:
    February 6, 2019 at 1:43 AM

    […] kid friendly energy ball recipes from The Lean Green Bean are our new favourite in the snacks department. And just like Healthy Muffin Recipes for Kids, […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

lindsay livingston, Registered Dietitian from Columbus, OH, owner of the lean green bean

Hi, I’m Lindsay! I’m a Registered Dietitian and mom of three from Columbus, Ohio. I use this blog to share simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, and an honest glimpse of motherhood!

Questions? Comments? Email me:
[email protected]

Want Quick and Healthy Dinners?GET MY TOP FOOD PREP TIPS !

... plus, weekly quick and healthy recipes the whole family will love.

Top Food Prep Tips
[email protected]

Search

Buy My Ebooks!

sidebar

Most Recent Posts

These Easy Banana Oat Bars are gluten-free, kid-friendly and make the perfect snack. Grab the kids and try this recipe today!
Freezer Chicken Tenders with steamed peas and mac and cheese for dinner
A list of Lower Sugar Cereals for Kids if you are looking for some new options for breakfasts or snacks. They all have six grams of added sugar or less and at least two grams of both protein and fiber.
collage of apple breakfast recipes
toddler snack ideas
Healthy Snack Bars for Kids and granola bars
This list of healthy packaged snacks for kids (and adults too!) is meant to provide inspiration for busy parents who are looking for some new ideas. Homemade snacks are great but there are also some good store-bought snacks available!
One Pot Comfort Meals collage of 6 recipe photos

The Lean Green Bean is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Read the full privacy and disclosure policy here.


Copyright © 2021 · The Lean Green Bean · Customized by Grits Design