Healthy Pumpkin Protein Balls with Pecans and Cranberries

These healthy pumpkin protein balls with pecans and cranberries are the ultimate easy and healthy snack for fall that’s great for meal prep and busy moms! (gluten free, vegan)

It’s no secret that being a mom has turned my life upside down in terms of time management. Even though I work from home, I still have zero time to do anything. Most of the time the laundry is piled up, the floor hasn’t been swept since the last time the housekeeper came, I’m running on day four of dry shampoo, and we probably are eating leftovers for dinner. That’s just life taking care of a tiny human who depends of you for everything.

BUT I still have to eat. Because if I don’t eat, that sweet tiny human doesn’t eat.

Which is why I’ve basically been living off of some variation of these oatmeal snack bites/ protein balls/ energy balls/ whatever you want to call them. They’re just so darn easy to make and convenient to have around for snacking on. If I’m starving and know I won’t have the chance to eat a meal for a little bit (or I’m up in the middle of the night feeding), I’ll grab one or two snack balls from the fridge for quick nourishment to hold me over.

I love the fall flavor of these healthy pumpkin protein balls with pecans and cranberries. They’re full of yummy pumpkin spice flavor, and they have a great combination of fiber, healthy fat, and protein that is filling and nutritious. The oats are also great for lactation, for you nursing mamas!

I don’t typically add protein powder to my snack balls, mostly because I don’t like the taste. But I’ve bee adding collagen peptides to my diet lately to see if it helps my joints and postpartum hair loss, so I added a scoop of collagen to these pumpkin protein balls. I like that collagen is unflavored, so it doesn’t affect the taste of these. You can totally leave it out, though, if protein powders aren’t your jam.

These healthy pumpkin protein balls with pecans and cranberries are such a delicious and easy seasonal snack, especially for busy new mamas! I recently brought some to a friend who just had a baby, and she loved them, too. Of course, they’re also great for meal prep and taking on the go!

Healthy Pumpkin Protein Balls with Pecans and Cranberries

These healthy pumpkin protein balls with pecans and cranberries are the ultimate easy and healthy snack for fall that’s great for meal prep and busy moms! (gluten free, vegan)

• Author: Kaleigh
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: about 15 balls
• Category: snack

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup pecans
• 1/2 cup pumpkin
• 1 scoop unflavored protein powder, optional* (I use Vital Proteins Collagen)
• 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• Pinch salt
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries

Instructions

1. In a food processor, pulse oats and pecans until they are broken up into small crumbs.
2. Add remaining ingredients and pulse until combined.
3. Scoop mixture (I use a small cookie scoop) and roll into balls. They will stick to your hands less if you coat your hands in some type of cooking oil first.
4. Place balls on a plate or baking sheet and refrigerate until firm. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.

Notes

*Use vegan protein or omit protein powder for vegan option

Keywords: snack, pumpkin, protein balls

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