I have loved energy balls for years now as a quick and easy snack that is also great for on the go! You can see my original energy ball recipe here. Today's recipe is the same base, but with a few added extras that are helpful for your fertility and pregnancy needs. I made about 4 batches of these before Iris was born and it was the perfect breastfeeding snack!

You can enjoy these whether you're pregnant, are preparing your body to become pregnant, or just want a deliciously easy protein ball. If you want more of a creamy and sweeter peanut butter taste than crunchy energy ball, halve the oats. If you want to make them vegan, sub agave for the honey. Also, feel free to make your own peanut butter or use any nut/butter you wish...all of the ingredients other than the peanut butter and honey are completely optional and customizable. Go nuts! I know, I've already perfected my Mom Jokes...

Fertility, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding Energy Balls | MALLORIE OWENS

In case anyone wants to know the science behind any of it, like I always do, here's the reasons I've added the ingredients I did...

Honey ≫≫ Can help stimulate the ovaries.

Orange Juice ≫≫ Vitamin C is great for men and women's fertility and Folic Acid is key for pregnancy! It also helps with the absorption of iron.

Dates ≫≫ Contain key pregnancy vitamins and can aid labor (google it!)...mine was super fast and wonderful.

Prunes ≫≫ Rich in iron.

Chia Seeds ≫≫ A complete source of protein and high in calcium, fiber, vitamins, and anti-oxidants. All great for you and your developing baby's brain.

Ground Flaxseed ≫≫ High in both Omega 3 and 6, regulate hormones and aid fertility.

Cinnamon ≫≫ Can help with ovarian function. This is especially helpful for women with PCOS.

Oats ≫≫ A valuable source of potassium and iron in a pregnancy and breastfeeding diet.

Maca ≫≫ Supports hormonal balance and increases energy.

Ingredients ≫≫

1 Cup Peanut Butter 

1/2 C Raw Local Honey

2 Tbsp Orange Juice

1 tsp Vanilla

1 Cup Oats

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

8 Dates (if pregnant) or Prunes (if ttc)

2 Tbsp Chia Seeds

1 Tbsp Ground Flaxseed (double if pregnant)

1 Tbsp Maca Powder (leave out if pregnant)

Directions ≫≫

If using dates or prunes chop them into small pieces. Throw everything into a mixing bowl or Kitchenaid and mix until thoroughly combined.

Refrigerate for at least an hour. You can skip this step if you don’t have time or are extra hungry, but it will make the next step extra messy.

Scoop a heaping tablespoon worth of the mixture and roll into a ball. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Enjoy!

print recipe

I hope you all enjoy the recipe, let me know if you try it, I'd love to see your photos and to know if you loved it as much as we did! You can find other recipes here.

♡ MALLORIE

follow along

This smoothie is easy and delicious for anyone, doesn't matter if you're trying to conceive, already pregnant, or just a dude that wants a smoothie. The frozen bananas and protein powder make it taste like a milkshake, instead of the protein and nutrient packed smoothie that it is. I call it my fertility and pregnancy smoothie because pretty much all of the ingredients are known to be beneficial when trying to conceive or for pregnant women.

I made this Fertility and Pregnancy Smoothie recipe pretty much every morning for breakfast after we'd been trying to conceive for a long time and now I love having it as a healthy snack in pregnancy. I've made a few changes to the recipe during pregnancy (as noted below), but will go back to the original once she's born. I know it will be a great boost while I'm breastfeeding!

I'm not a nutritionist (just someone who loves studying foods and their effects on our bodies and health), so I can't say whether this made a difference in my fertility for sure, but I can say that it's a great way to start the day and delicious too! I keep cut up over ripe bananas in a container in the freezer so they're ready to go for smoothies...or banana bread. ;)

MORE SMOOTHIE RECIPES

Fertility and Pregnancy Smoothie Recipe | Mallorie Owens

Ingredients ≫≫

4 Dates, chopped (great for fertility and softening cervix at the end of pregnancy!)

Almond Milk (to taste)

1 Frozen Banana

1-2 Tbsp Chia Seeds (I vary day to day)

1 Tbsp Almond Butter

1 scoop Protein Powder

1 Tbsp Ground Flaxmeal

1 tsp Maca Root Powder (I stopped adding this once pregnant, no studies whether it's safe or not.)

print recipe here

Directions ≫≫

Pulse the dates with a bit of almond milk, until it's nice and smooth. Throw the rest of the ingredients and pulse until smooth. After a few pulses I usually push everything down again and add a bit more almond milk. Pulse and blend until smooth.

See? Easy and delicious...enjoy!

Also, in case anyone is wondering, I use this Vitamix to make my smoothies. I love my it sooo much, we put off ordering one forever because of the price tag but I use it several times every single day and my only regret is not getting one sooner! And for the protein powder, I use this organic blend from Costco.

♡ MALLORIE