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A Protein-Packed Lunch Option: No Bake Energy Balls

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Back-to-school time is creeping upon us, which means that it will soon be time again for bedtimes, homework, lots of new school supplies, and life falling back into more of a routine.  One of those school time routines that Molly has grown to love is taking her lunch to school.  While she eats the majority of her lunches as school hot lunches, she meticulously plans out her days of taking her own lunch to school at the beginning of each month when the school lunch menus come home.

Even though Molly tends to enjoy the school lunches, she loves deciding on what she’ll eat and then packing up her lunch.  She tries to come up with lots of creative ideas to make her lunch fun, and I often find her grabbing out things like our special sandwich cutter (that turns a regular sandwich into two dinosaurs).

A Protein-Packed Meal Option: No Bake Energy Balls {easy enough that even kids can make them!}

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One of her complaints, however, is that she enjoys drinking milk with her lunch, but then that means waiting in line with the kids getting hot lunches just to get and pay for her milk.  This means that, sometimes, she opts to take juice to drink so that she can head straight to her lunch table.  She was very excited when we got to try out the perfect-for-lunch boxes, and other single-serving situations, 12 oz Shamrock Farms on-­the-­go mmmmilk bottles, which include a choice of chocolate, white, and strawberry milk.

Shamrock Farms milk-on-the-go

One of the recipes we made was the No-Bake Energy Bites.  Molly decided on a couple of modifications that she wanted to make.  Yep, that’s right.  She checked out the recipe and decided that she wanted to make it all on her own.  To make that happen, we used regular flake coconut that was not toasted.  She also decided on mini chocolate chips instead of regular ones.  Lastly, she decided she wanted to add some chia seeds.

A Protein-Packed Lunch Option: No Bake Energy Balls {plus fruit kabob skewers - all easy enough for kids to make on their own!}

Molly’s Modified No-Bake Energy Bites

Ingredients

  • ½ cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1 cup flaked coconut
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup peanut butter (though any nut butter would work)
  • 1 cup dry oatmeal
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl until well blended.  These can be difficult to blend well, but I suggested to Molly that she mix it with her (clean!) hands when she was running into difficulty.

2. Roll mixture into balls.  You may need to add another tablespoon or less of the nut butter if you have too much difficulty binding dry ingredients together.

3. Chill the energy balls in the refrigerator until they are firm.

We thought that another fabulous addition to the lunch was fruit kabobs.  To make them easier to fit in a small plastic storage container, we opted to thread fresh fruit onto 4-inch sucker sticks that we had.  This also meant there were no pointed ends.  Score!

A Protein-Packed Lunch Option: No Bake Energy Balls {This recipe is just part of this protein-packed lunch!}

In addition to the No-Bake Energy Balls and Fruit Kabobs, we rounded out the meal with string cheese, a few crackers, and a 12 oz Shamrock Farms 2% Strawberry Milk.  Although we are sharing the meal by showing it on a plate, these are all things that could be easily packed up in Molly’s insulated lunch bag with a cold pack.

A Protein-Packed Lunch Option: No Bake Energy Balls

A Protein-Packed Lunch Option: No Bake Energy Balls

Molly's No-Bake Energy Bites

These make-ahead energy balls are full of protein and other tasty ingredients to keep you fueled
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1 cup flaked coconut
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup peanut butter or your preferred nut butter
  • 1 cup dry oatmeal
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds optional

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl until well blended.  These can be difficult to blend well, but I suggested to Molly that she mix it with her (clean!) hands when she was running into difficulty.
  • Roll mixture into balls.  You may need to add another tablespoon or less of the nut butter if you have too much difficulty binding dry ingredients together.
  • Chill the energy balls in the refrigerator until they are firm.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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About Angie Kauffman

Angie, mom to three very fun kids, is the founder of Real Life at Home.  With degrees in elementary education (B.A.) and special education (M.S.Ed.), as well as being a former homeschooler, she is passionate about supporting both parents and teachers by providing printables, crafts, and activities to help children learn and grow.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. lisa brown says

    I like to pack a sandwich, piece of fruit or raisins, a juice box, milk, or water, cheese crackers or cheerios, maybe nuts or pretzel sticks.

    Reply

  7. Natalie says

    I like to pack fresh fruit, especially apples, yogurt and crackers for lunch. If I want a more substantial lunch I love to pack a turkey sub or chicken wrap!

    Reply

  11. steve weber says

    I pack: a sandwich, yogurt, fruit, chips, granola bar, veggies and a dessert

    groogruxking40 @ gmail dot com

    Reply

  14. Kelly D says

    I like to pack a cheese sandwich, a box of raisins and some fresh veggies with a dip. I also like to pack a frozen yogurt tube to help keep everything cool and it makes a great snack.

    Reply

  21. Jeffrey says

    My kids like homemade cookies, they take after me! I usually make monster cookies or chocolate chip.

    Reply

  23. rachel cartucci says

    I like to an orange,carrots and usually some type of sandwich for my son….and he really loves kale chips too.

    Reply

  25. Jessie C. says

    I like to pack Mac & cheese bites and mini chicken pot pie in my child’s lunchbox.
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com

    Reply

  27. shelly peterson says

    I like to pack a sandwich or meat, cheese and crackers with a veggie and a gogurt and some fruit.

    cshell090869 at aol dot com

    Reply

  29. Mena says

    I usually pack a sandwich or soup, vegetable (they love carrots/celery with ranch), fruit (oranges, grapes, melon), with a Thermos of ice cold water. For fun, at times, a Hershey kiss or other small candy. Thanks for all the ideas and contest!

    Reply

  32. Heather says

    I love making lunch fun for my kiddos, they tend to eat it all if it is fun to eat, so bite size, fun size shapes or pieces! They love when I pack olives, and healthy sandwiches that are in a shape. I do veggies and dips, fruits and yogurts, bottled water. My kiddos are now 2nd and 6th, and they still look forward to finding out what Mom packed, and sometimes I also include a fun, loving note. My kiddos have food allergies, so this has always helped them look forward to eating, instead of it being a chore and uncomfortable. It’s helped them develop the right habits for eating and we don’t eat processed food. 🙂

    Reply

  34. Amy M. says

    For my lunch I love eating salad, sandwiches, or leftovers! For sides I usually stick with fruit, veggies, yogurt, or pretzels.

    Reply

  36. Barbara M says

    I like to pack turkey roll ups – a big hit with the kids!
    Add crackers with hummus and fresh fruit.
    thank you

    Reply

  40. Monica F says

    We love to have salads with cheese sticks or a sandwich with all the fillings but not the bread. We try to have more veggies and less fruit with lunch but my youngest definitely has a sweet tooth.

    Reply

  41. Mindy Sims says

    I like to pack easy, paleo-ish, gluten-free items like these energy balls!!! Thank you for the recipe and giveaway!

    Reply

  42. Mindy Sims says

    I tweeted this:

    No Bake Energy Balls @RealLifeAtHome + a giveaway! reallifeathome.com/protein-packed… #SweepstakesEntry

    But I don’t know how to get the url! 🙁

    Reply

  53. Tabathia B says

    I like to pack fruit every day, either a muffin, wrap with turkey and cheese or a mini sub with turkey and cheese and milk/juice

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

    Reply

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