Knowledgeable runner since 2015, Quigley’s greater than used to logging main exercises. But it surely seems that coaching in three completely different sports activities concurrently—swimming, biking, and operating—comes with one huge distinction: “I’m tremendous hungry on a regular basis!” she says. “I am going to eat a meal after which actually an hour and a half later, I will be going about my life, making an attempt to be productive, and it will be like, ugh, I am hungry once more.”
The morning we spoke, she’d simply gotten again from a six-mile run and was about to move to the pool for an hour of laborious tons of, then deliberate to relaxation for a pair hours earlier than hopping on her bike. No surprise she’s hungry: Crushing exercise after exercise, day after day takes critical gasoline.
Quigley has a level in dietetics from Florida State College, so she is aware of the worth of filling up on nutritious, complete meals. Though many endurance athletes depend on gels and bars to maintain up their power (and glucose stores) throughout exercises, Quigley likes to arrange her personal exercise meals at any time when she will be able to. “Anytime I could make snacks that do not come pre-packaged, that is a win,” she says.
Her go-to? Date balls. “I used to see them round at fancy grocery shops, they usually’re normally fairly expensive, however so scrumptious,” she says. Understanding that dates are a fantastic supply of pure sugars that your physique can rapidly flip into gasoline, she determined to make her personal.
As she constructed her recipe, she folded in almond butter for a tasty dose of protein, fiber, magnesium, and monounsaturated fatty acids, chia seeds for a heart-healthy increase of omega-3s, whey protein powder to jumpstart her muscle restoration, and low grounds for a caffeinated performance boost.
Immediately, she makes a batch about each two to a few weeks. They take about 20 minutes to place collectively (your blender or meals processor does many of the be just right for you, she says). Quigley retains them within the freezer for simple storage, then will sometimes seize a pair to let thaw and munch on earlier than a exercise, or will stash some in her pouch for a scrumptious increase on lengthy bike rides.
The very best half? You may combine and match substances based mostly on what occurs to be in your pantry—pistachios, chocolate chips, coconut flakes might not be listed within the recipe however they’re all honest sport. As Quigley says, “You may’t actually mess it up.”
Colleen Quigley’s Date Balls
Yields 20–30 balls, relying on measurement
Components
20 medjool dates (pits eliminated)
1/2 cup almond butter (or nut butter of selection)
1/2 cup roasted cashews (or different nut)
1/4 cup chia seeds
3 Tbsp finely floor espresso
1/4 cup protein powder (Quigley makes use of Vital Performance chocolate protein powder or Vital Proteins chocolate collagen peptides)
1/4 cup rolled oats
1. In a food processor or blender, mix the dates with a couple of tablespoon of water (or extra if wanted) till easy.
2. In a medium bowl, mix date puree with almond butter, chia seeds, espresso, and protein powder.
3. Pulse the cashews in your blender/meals processor (no want to scrub it out from earlier than) till you get small chunks and a few finer mud.
4. Add the cashews to your bowl and blend till easy and sticky. In case your combination is just too dry, add a tablespoon or two of water. If it is too moist, pulse some extra cashews or oats and add to the combination to dry it out.
5. When the consistency is correct, scoop the batter into balls—as huge or small as you want. (Quigley makes use of a heaping tablespoon to measure hers out.) Roll along with your fingers till easy and set on a plate.
6. Place within the freezer for a number of hours till they’re laborious and pop off the plate. Then retailer in a plastic bag within the freezer till you’re able to get pleasure from!
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