Did you know eating date fruit can help you have a faster labor? Plus they taste amazing and have lots of health benefits. These pregnancy energy balls are a great healthy pregnancy snack that you can take on the go for extra energy and nutrition.
During pregnancy you need to be eating healthy for your own health and for your growing baby.
But it can be hard with all the cravings to resist junk food.
That’s why it’s important to have a collection of pregnancy recipes that you can make that contain the best pregnancy super foods.
Pregnancy protein balls, or energy ball, (whatever you want to call them!) are an excellent snack option for pregnant Moms because they are high in protein and healthy fats which we need more of during pregnancy. Plus they are low in sugar. This combination can help reduce blood sugar spikes, cravings and feel full for longer.
Check out our whole Guide to Healthy Pregnancy here.
The date fruit in this recipe also has benefits during pregnancy. While dates can help prepare your body for labor, it does not induce labor until your body is ready, so date fruit is safe to eat throughout pregnancy.
This recipe for pregnancy energy balls is great snack for the third trimester or as a labor snack!
If you are past your due date, dates are among the safe foods that induce labor to try.
Many mothers report that eating 6 date fruit a day has helped them have faster and easier labor. Read more about how to eat 6 dates a day here.
The best part about this recipe is it is quick and requires only a few ingredients.
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What you need to make pregnancy protein balls
This recipe calls for 6 ingredients that you can easily find in your grocery store. It is naturally a gluten free, grain free and dairy free recipe.
See the notes below on ingredient selection.
You’ll Need:
- date fruit (Deglet Noor)
- unsweetened shredded coconut
- raw almonds
- cacao powder (or cocoa powder if that’s what you have)
- chia seeds
- coconut oil
While we used Deglet Noor dates for this recipe, you can also use Medjool Dates, just use 1/2 as much as they are much bigger. The texture may be slightly stickier as well. (if you use Medjool dates in the recipe, please let us know in the comments how they come out!)
Make sure when purchasing shredded coconut that you get one that is raw and unsweetened.
For the almonds look for raw, unsalted ones like these.
We use cacao powder in these protein balls because it contains a higher antioxidant content than cocoa. But if that is what you have it will work just fine.
For the coconut oil, semi solid works best. If your coconut oil is hard, simple heat until soft enough to mix with a spoon. This brand is our favorite.
You can also totally make these customizable and add any ingredients you may have on hand like raisins, chocolate chips, hemp seeds or even pregnancy protein powder for an added nutritional boost.
Supplies you’ll need:
- a good food processor like this one
- spatula
- parchment paper
- measuring cups/spoons
- baking pan
How to make date balls recipe for pregnancy
These No Bake Chia Date Fruit Energy bites are so easy to make!
First soak about 12-14 Deglet Noor dates in bowl of water for about 20 minutes. You can skip this step, but I find soaking makes it easier to blend and gives it a creamier texture.
Add the dates, 1/2 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut, 1 cup of raw almonds, 1 tbsp of cacao powder, 1 tbsp coconut oil and 1 tsp of chia seeds to the food processor.
Blend until smooth (about 3 mins). Scrape down the side and blend again for 2-3 mins.
If dough seems too dry and isn’t sticking add a tbsp of coconut oil at a time and blend again. Too sticky, add additional tbsp of cacao, or a few extra nuts.
Roll into little balls and place on a parchment lined baking pan.
You can definitely eat them at this point if you want, it can be hard to resist. But I find putting them in the freezer brings it all together nicely.
Place in freezer for 15-30 minutes and then enjoy!
Store these in the fridge for soft chewy bites or in the freezer for harder bites.
These keep great in the freezer for up to 3 months. Energy balls are a great addition to your postpartum meal prep too.
Totally recommend making a double batch of these because they go fast!
Check out more recipes that induce labor here.
If you try these, let us know in the comments how they come out for you! OR on IG use @birtheatlove and #birtheatlove
Want more ways to eat date fruit during pregnancy?
Check out these 15 pregnancy recipes with dates!
And this date smoothie for labor!
And these pumpkin energy balls with date fruit!
Pregnancy energy balls recipe
Easy to make pregnancy energy balls with date fruit, chia seeds, cacao, coconut and almonds. Packed with protein and healthy fats this pregnancy snack will keep you full longer. Gluten free, dairy free and grain free.
Ingredients
- 12-14 dates (Deglet Noor)
- 1/2 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup of raw almonds
- 1 tbsp of cacao powder (or cocoa)
- 1 tsp of chia seeds
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
Instructions
- First soak the dates in bowl of water for about 20 minutes.
- Blend until smooth. Scrape down the side and blend again. (2-3 mins)
- If dough seems too dry and isn't sticking add a additonal 1-2 tbsps of coconut oil and blend again.
- Roll into little balls and place on a parchment lined baking pan.
- Place in freezer for 30 minutes and then enjoy!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 2Amount Per Serving: Calories: 188Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 4gSugar: 9gProtein: 4g
More Pregnancy Recipes & Meals
Our goal here at Birth Eat Love is to make healthy eating easier for pregnant Moms. Here are some of our best resources for figuring out what to eat while pregnant:
Healthy Pregnancy Breakfast Ideas
Guide to Pregnancy Meal Planning (using Pinterest!)
Clean Eating Pregnancy Recipes Collection
Pregnancy Protein Shakes (guide to choosing the best one)
Hello, can you provide a weight equivalent for the dates? I’m finding that the dates I have are a bit smaller, and need to eat about 10 of them (70g worth) a day these last few weeks of pregnancy.
Hi Lindsay, I used deglet noor dates in this recipe. Checking now for 14 dates it’s about 100 g. So I’d think anywhere from 90-100 g of dates will work for this recipe.