Date Cocoa Balls and Nova Scotia Masters Men's Soccer

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Nova Scotia Masters 

Fans!

Mike's soccer team made it to the over 35 men's national tournament representing Nova Scotia.
I love it that Mike is so healthy and fit - he was the oldest player in the tournament!
Imagine, my Ontario boy representing Nova Scotia - ain't that special!!

Whenever this team has a tournament I like to offer them a few tips on food choices between games. Several tournaments ago they asked if beer was o.k. the night before the final game(s). They asked my opinion, so I  recommended: no beer. I guess the fellas thought that I was being too prudent, so they asked me, the dietitian, whether sex was allowed - so, my final answer was: sex OR one beer, but not both! I believe they have been abiding by this 'rule' as it always comes up during tournaments.

This was an important tournament, so I decided to make some post- game snacks for optimal glycogen reloading of their muscles right after the games ended.

A good post-game snack will be carbohydrate-rich with some protein.

Dates are high in energy and potassium and the sunflower seeds lend some protein. The jalapeno peppers are there just for a kick!



DATE COCOA BALLS

1 banana

3 cups dates - soaked in water for 20-30 minutes and drained

1/2 cup oat flour (rolled oats ground in coffee grinder)

1 cup sunflower seeds

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 small jalapeno pepper, minced

flaxseed and / or wheat germ on a plate

Combine all ingredients- except the flax and wheat germ, in a food processor.

Process until it is a homogeneous mixture. If it is too sticky to form into balls, add a little more oat flour.

Form into balls and roll in flaxseed and wheat germ.

Put in freezer to firm

Mike looks pretty pleased about their bronze medal win!