Strawberry Power Balls

Power balls a.k.a. energy balls are exactly what they sound like- little nutrient-dense balls of food that provide a burst of power or energy. They are jam packed with a good balance of fats, protein and carbs to provide a boost during an afternoon energy slump or to fuel or refuel before or after a workout.Beet powder is simply dried beets that have been ground down into a powder. If you have a dehydrator and a powerful food processor or some kind of grinder this can be made at home, but if not it can be found in many health food stores or online. The downside is that it does taste strongly of beets and can stain everything (just like fresh beets) so it is best used sparingly and carefully but it does add a vibrant pink hue to any food or drinks you can imagine using it in. I put some in the balls themselves but the brown dates kept them dark and toned down the pink so I sprinkled some on top. The balls could be rolled completely in the beet powder for a more striking visual effect for those that like the flavor of beets. The colour of the powder will deepen to red the longer it sits on the surface of the balls so for a brighter effect it is best to coat the balls right before serving, though they can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to a few weeks.Freeze dried fruit tastes more like fresh fruit than regularly dried fruit so a little can go a long way. Like the beet powder it can be found in health food stores and online but the prices can get pretty extravagant so any dried berries can be substituted- even raisins or dried cranberries can be good too.