5 Rawsome Protein Ball Recipes

Raw, real, unprocessed, containing just the ingredients you want and nothing else!  It's easier than you think to whip up these protein balls or bars at home (also known as a bliss ball, goodie ball, treat ball!).

Here's five of our favourite rawsome protein ball recipes, perfect for a pick me up any time of day.

1.  Tree Nut, Tahini and Loving Earth Cacao Protein Ball

Protein ball recipe image copyright accidental-greenie.blogpost.com

We whipped up this raw, vegan protein ball recipe to celebrate the arrival of Loving Earth raw cacao at Biome. Woo hoo!  Super simple recipe (free range with your preferred substitutions): place approx. 4 tblsp Loving Earth raw cacao, cup or so of dates, 2 tblsp tahini, cup of mixed nuts like almonds and cashews, and 1 tblsp coconut oil into a food processor and whizz! Adjust ingredients till you can scrunch together into small balls. They set hard in the fridge or freezer.


2. Walnut and Raw Cacao Nib Bliss Balls

This recipe is from Thermomix super-cook Quirky Cooking.  Jo says the mixture of dates, nuts and raw cacao make these balls like mini 'high protein power bars' - but they're much better for you than commercial power bars!  Why are they called 'bliss balls'? Because raw cacao contains "naturally occurring phytochemicals like theobromine (considered an aphrodisiac), phenylethylamine (PEA – released when we fall in love), and anandamide (the ‘bliss' chemical)."  See the full recipe at Quirkycooking.blogpost.com.au


3. Coconut Lemon Meltaways

Contains almond flour (you can make this, or buy it - however most store bought Almond flour is not raw), dried shredded unsweetened coconut, coconut flour, salt.  Combine wet ingredients separately: agave, maple syrup or honey, lemon juice, vanilla and lemon zest.  Strem wet ingredients into dry in a food mixer. Then mix in coconut oil to thicken (buy coconut oil here).  Form into balls.  The trick now: warm them in a dehydrator or oven (set at it's lowest heat, leaving the door cracked open) for an hour or longer.  Finished balls will be dry on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth moist on the inside. Leave to chill and set in the fridge before you eat. Full recipe at addicitedtoveggies.com 

4. Carob & Tofu Balls

 Made with medium firm tofu (patted dry and mashed), dates, maple syrup, carob powder, vanilla, tahini, ground almonds and dessicated coconut.  Mix together and shape into balls with your hands.  Full recipe at mydarlinglemonthyme.com.au


 5. Raw Cinnamon Orange Energy Bars with Orange White Cacao Icing

A bar rather than a ball, but still raw, delicious and packed with protein from chia!  Contains almond butter, dates, organic coconut oil, orange juice and zest, agave or other sweetener, chia seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, raisins, raw oats, cinnamon.  Uses a food processor to blend and then press out ingredients in tray and leave to dry overnight.  For the Orange White Cacao Glaze use raw cacao butter (not coconut butter), sweetener and orange zest.   Full recipe on rawmazing.com

Find more protein ball recipes on our Pinterest collection. And for even more delicious inspiration check out NaturalNewAgeMum's post 10 amazing bliss ball recipes.

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Ta‘Kaiya Blaney - children are our future

Image from http://bcrainforest.com/saying-no-to-oil-sands-mining/

Young Candian, Ta‘Kaiya Blaney is a Sliammon First Nations singer, songwriter and environmental activist. Now about 12, she has campaigned more for environmental protection in a few years than most adults. 

This is an incredible TEDx talk she made at TEN years of age - she lays out the issues with oil and consumerism so beautifully.  At the end of this talk she has a message for children: "You have a gift - a voice - be heard". Wow!




In Ta'Kaiya's words: 
Hi, my name is Ta’Kaiya, I’m from the Sliammon First Nation and I am 12 years old.    I feel that as humans, as participants and beings that walk upon  this earth, it is our responsibility to help the earth. We all need to take steps towards a clean and healthy future regarding animals, humans, plants, and the various ecosystems. Our earth is our home. Over the past four years I’ve been an advocate for providing better qualities of living in Indigenous First Nations territories, and ending the oppression, racism, and corruption we face from our government and within our community. I’ve spoke at UN meeting across the globe, including The TUNZA UN children and youth conference on the environment in Bandung Indonesia, and the Rio+20 UN conference on the environment In Rio de Janiero. I advocate to change not only the human condition, but also in the condition of our planet. In my culture it’s a fact, and an understanding of life, that everything is connected, and we were put on this earth to be stewards and caretakers of the environment. In my culture, it’s a teaching to do more than connect the dots, to see the picture as a whole.  I feel that advocating, and speaking at mere conferences isn’t enough. Actions speak louder than words.

You can also see her original song "Shallow Waters" on You Tube here.

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Australian made goodies

Mungalli Creek Dairies ~ North Queensland, Australia

To help support Aussie industry and encourage us all to choose locally grown and made, we recently asked our Biome blog and Facebook followers to share their favourite Australian-made products. Here's a compilation of their suggestions to look out for next time you are shopping.*  Please feel free to share your favourites in the comments.

Food

Alexandrina Cheese Company
Angelica Organic Farm:  Australian Certified Organic garlic - seasonally available.
Barambah Organics:  Certified organic dairy products made on the NSW/QLD border.
B.-d. Farm Paris Creek:  Organic & biodynamic dairy products.
Buderim Ginger:  Ginger products.
Bundaberg:  Brewed drinks.
Cafe 26:  Dressings, sauces & marinades.
Carmans Kitchen:  Muesli products.
Chocolatier
Daintree Estates:  Chocolate made from cocoa grown in Australia.

“Daintree Tea. One of the nicest teas I have tasted and anyone who comes to my place and has a cup of tea has commented...grown without the use of insecticides or fungicides.” Sharyn W, via FB

Darrell Lee
Dick Smith Foods
five:am:  Certified organic flavoured yoghurts.
Fountain Sauces

Green Grove organic licorice ~ Junee, New South Wales

Green Grove Organics:  Certified organic chocolate and licorice.
Haigh’s Chocolates
Highland Organics:  Organic dairy products.
Hightree Estates:  Organic coffee from northern NSW.
Kenilworth Country Foods:  Gourmet dairy products.
Koko Black:  Chocolates.  
Kurrajong Kitchens:  Lavosh made in NSW.
Loving Earth:  Raw chocolate and other raw foods.
Maleny Dairies:  Cow and goats milk, Queensland.
Melinda’s Gluten Free Goodies
Meredith Dairy:  Handmade goat and sheep dairy products.
Mungalli Creek Dairy:  Biodynamic milk, yoghurt and cheese made in North QLD.
Nudie:  Juices and smoothies.
Outback Spirit:  Chutney, preserves, sauces, dressings, and herbs.

“We love...Oz Tukka for their amazing range of authentic blends and easy to use products.” Theresa W, via FB

Pana Chocolate
Queensland Yoghurt Company
Table of Plenty:  Spices, cereals, snacks and breads.
Vanilla Australia
Yarra Valley Dairy
Yummabubba:  Brisbane-based home-style baby food.

Bathroom cabinet (skin, body & hair care)

A'kin
Aesop
Aura
Beauty and the Bees
Cleopatra's Bath Milk

Corrynne's Soaps ~ Dunsborough, Western Australia

“I love Corrynne's Eco Soap - orange, patchouli, clay and red ochre! Love the natural scent on my body, and look forward to having a shower especially in the warm summer! The scent gives a very relaxing and soothing effect...best of all it is made of natural ingredients! Love me, love my skin and love nature! A must have, must buy!!!” Lorraine K, via FB

Davroe
De Lorenzo
Eco Tan
Gaia

“I love the Jack ‘n Jill Natural Calendula Toothpaste Raspberry Flavour that I just bought for my toddler! It is natural product, best for toddler, and amazingly the toothpaste is safe to swallow...which I hardly can find other products in the shelf!”  Yew J F, via FB

Kosmea
Jurlique
MooGoo
Sukin


Cleaning supplies

“Clean Conscience cleaning products from fabulous Tasmania....ethical, vegan, environmentally sound and they smell great (plus they get the cleaning done really fast)!!!”  Fiona L, via FB

EucoClean

"Discovered Kin-Kin Naturals recently. Being super sensitive to chemicals, was delighted that their wonderful range - dishwash, laundry liquid, oxy-bleach - did not give me any skin reaction. I am actively supportive of locally grown businesses also, especially eco-conscious ones!! ps. their products smell wonderful too.”  Sharon L, via FB

Orange Power
Planet Ark
Thursday Plantation
Tri Nature


Lifestyle products

“I love my Keep Cup. Reusable, and no polystyrene after-taste.” Pauline O, via FB

Driza-Bone
Inky Co.
Lambykins:  Australia merino products.
Master & Miss:  Organic childrens clothing designed and made in Australia.
Pure Pod:  Australian made sustainable womens fashion.
St Albans   Mohair and alpaca products.

If you loved this list, check out the products made in Australia from Biome.

*While we have done our best to confirm that these companies produce their products in Australia, please check for yourself and let us know if we need to update our information.

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Organic coconut oil

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Where can you buy certified organic coconut oil?


You can buy coconut oil online and in store at Biome  Brisbane.  We are impressed by the Niugini Organics story, which being produced in Papua New Guinea, has the lowest food miles for delivery to Australia.  It is extracted without heat and is jarred and boxed by the community of growers who grow the coconuts from which the oil comes.  The other organic coconut oils also have good features. Choose from at Biome:

Niugini Organics certified organic coconut oil  
Coconut Magic
Banaban coconut oil
Oil4life organic coconut oil.
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We've learned many times at Biome that every idea will have its day!  And it appears that the time has come for the idea of Organic Coconut Oil.  Although some people, like Bruce Fife of the Coconut Research Centre cracked this coconut wide open many years ago. 

Fife believes that in the 80's coconut oil was wrongly lumped in with harmful saturated fats (partly due to propoganda by the soy bean industry) and it was replaced in general food use by hydrogenated soy bean oil, with devastating economic impacts for the Pacific communities that grow organic coconut oil.  He says:
The connection between heart disease and coconut oil that frightened so many people never existed. What most people didn't understand at the time was that there are many different types of saturated fat and that the fat in coconut oil is completely different from that found in animal fats. This difference is important because it's what makes coconut oil unique and gives it its remarkable healing properties.

Of course, there are some who are not so upbeat about coconut oil, so please do research and decide for yourself.  Remember that virgin (unprocessed or raw) organic coconut oil is very different to hydrogenated coconut oil, which is not healthy.
 
Biome has sold organic coconut oil for about two years.  Originally it was a customer in store who suggested we should take a look.  Then it turned out that some of the healthy living Biome team were already experiementing with coconut oil!

Healthy eating role models like Sarah Wilson have promoted the organic coconut oil message for many years (here is a 2011 post from Sarah Wilson that explains perfectly what is so great about coconut oil).  Sarah is now regularly called upon by the media to talk about coconut oil.

Yet, it was way back in 2004 that Bruce Fife released The Coconut Oil Miracle  where he outlined his research that found when taken as a dietary supplement, used in cooking, or applied directly to the skin, coconut oil could:

• Promote weight loss
• Help prevent heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and many other degenerative diseases
• Strengthen the immune system
• Improve digestion
• Alleviate premature aging of the skin

You can read more about Coconut Oil on the Coconut Research Center website, where Dr Fife explains the drastic economic impact there has been for Pacific communities.  He writes: Up until the mid-1980s coconut oil was commonly used in many foods. The anti-saturated fat campaigns sponsored by the soybean industry and misguided special interest groups succeeded in frightening the public away from using coconut oil and food manufacturers and restaurants eventually replaced it with hydrogenated soybean oil. By 1990, coconut had virtually disappeared from American and European diets... Demand for coconut products plummeted and the coconut industry fell into a deep depression that lasted for two decades... Literally millions of farmers, pickers, consolidators, truckers, and processors were no longer able to earn a living...They barely eked out a living year by year on a pauper's wage.
 

Why is organic coconut oil finally having its day?

It appears that the relationship between coconut oil and "sugar" has propelled it into the mainstream.  We have seen the Sweet Poison and no sugar diet phenomenom, coupled with more people needing to manage Type 2 Diabetes.  And, as Sarah Wilson explains, coconut oil helps stop sugar cravings and energy slumps.  Your body sends medium-chain fatty acids straight to your liver to use as energy. This means that coconut oil is a source of instant energy to your body, much like when you eat simple carbohydrates. But although they both deliver quick energy to your body, unlike the carbohydrates, coconut oil does not produce an insulin spike in your bloodstream. This saves you from a slump, and is good news for anyone struggling with insulin issues.
 
Niugini Organics claims that reliable scientific evidence indicates that coconut oil stimulates the metabolism without the production of insulin, assisting with the management of Type 2 Diabetes and Cholesterol.

Secondly, we are also learning that some vegetable oils, like olive oil, can be harmful when heated - whereas organic coconut oil can be heated to 170 degrees Celsius without turning itself into a trans-fatty-acid or transfat.  People using safe, non stick cookware such as Neoflam, know to use coconut oil because it does not ruin the non stick cookware surface.

Read more here about Coconut oil for skin and which coconut oil is best?

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