Emily Newlands teaches at our Carlsbad Center and holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of California Santa Barbara in Global Studies and French plus is currently working towards her MS in Human Clinical Nutrition from the Maryland University of Integrative Health. Emily has performed at Jazzercise LIVE! Events, led Elite Instructor trainings, and taught at the Beach Fitness Festival in Bibione, Italy.

We love the holidays! It’s a time of year that’s electric with excitement and laden with lovely things to eat. With all the delicious and festive temptation, how do we stay healthy? Getting to class is one great solution - both for our sanity and for our waistlines. And, when we need a little sweet, we ditch deprivation and make our calories count with a treat that’s packed with whole grains, protein and healthy fats to keep us going strong, all season long.

At around 100 calories per piece, these No-Bake Oatmeal Powerballs are the perfect guilt-free holiday indulgence. They provide a perfect 4:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio, which is the optimal post-workout combination recommended by nutritionists. Good carbs from whole-grain oats and anti-oxidant-rich dark chocolate replenish your energy stores. Nut butter, flax, and chia seeds provide valuable protein to build and repair muscle. The best part is, you don’t even have to turn on the oven! Read on for the recipe.

No-Bake Oatmeal Powerballs

• 1 cup dry oats
• 2/3 cup toasted, unsweentened coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup unsweetened nut butter
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional, see note below)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Mix all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl.
2. Cover and refrigerate in the bowl for 30 minutes.
3. Remove mixture from fridge and roll into balls approximately 1-inch wide.
4. Enjoy right away, or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week.

Note: Chia seeds add great texture and are known to promote fat loss, but if you can’t find them, the recipe works just fine without them. Feel free to swap out the ingredients to accommodate allergies or personal taste. We like almond butter, dried cranberries, and even a touch of cinnamon. Go ahead, get creative, and enjoy!