Need a quick afternoon pick-me-up? Try Annabel Karmel’s no-sugar, five-ingredient energy balls

The bestselling author held a cooking demonstration during a virtual session in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

These no-sugar chocolate orange energy balls by Annabel Karmel use just five ingredients

Looking for healthy snacks you can whip up quickly from the comfort of your home?

Children’s nutritionist and author Annabel Karmel makes a case for turning cooking time into family time using simple, healthy ingredients.

“There are a lot of advantages to getting kids involved in the kitchen at an early age,” Karmel said during a virtual session in association with the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair on Tuesday evening.

“It’s a great way to bond with your kids. Cooking is an important life skill and those who learn how to do it at an early age have a better diet and are less fussy. It also helps kids learn more about measuring and time management – but in a practical way.”

This is why Karmel is encouraging parents of young children to use this time in isolation to cook up a storm in the kitchen. The author shared some helpful tips on how to get (and keep) them interested:

1. Use recipes that are quick (because children have short attention spans).

2. Have a rewards system in the kitchen – make a sheet and give them stars every time they try something new.
3. Get them involved with the practical side of cooking – like measuring ingredients and rolling up dough.

Want to put these suggestions into practical use? Karmel also demonstrated how to make easy-peasy chocolate orange energy balls. These don’t require any cooking either – the perfect recipe to involve little ones. Here's how to make them:

Annabel Karmel's chocolate orange energy balls

Ingredients:

160g cashews

160g dates (seedless)

100g raisins

½ tsp orange essence

2 tbsp cocoa powder

Recipe:

Blitz the above ingredients in a blender until they reach a sticky consistency. Remove and roll into walnut-shaped balls (best to get the kids involved here). Roll the balls in desiccated coconut, cocoa or chocolate sprinkles for that final touch. Refrigerate for an hour and they’re ready. These energy balls last up to a week.

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