Bounce energy balls are popular snack high in protein and fibre but are they as healthy as they seem? What is so good about them and is it a good idea to consume them regularly as part of a healthy diet?
In this review, you will find out everything you need to know – from their nutritional values to benefits, calories and more.
Ingredients in Bounce protein balls
The ingredients in these protein balls vary, depending on the flavour but they do have some things in common:
- They all contain protein powder either in a form of whey protein, rice protein or soya protein (vegan flavours)
- They are filled with nut butter (this is a new recipe, previous versions were simply energy balls with no filling)
- They are palm oil-free
- Made with natural ingredients they contain no artificial ingredients
- No refined sugar is added but instead, they are sweetened with natural sweeteners such as rice syrup and grape juice concentrate. However, some of them do have refined sugar which comes from dark chocolate (one of the ingredients in certain flavours).
Here are the ingredients of some of the most popular Bounce ball flavours:
Bounce ball flavour | Ingredients |
---|---|
Almond | Almonds (40%), Brown Rice Syrup, Whey Protein Crispies (from Milk) (Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Tapioca Starch, Anti-Caking Agent: Calcium Carbonate, Emulsifier: Sunflower Lecithin) (7%) Grape Juice Concentrate, Rice Starch, Rice Bran, Rice Protein, Whey Protein Isolate (from Milk) (4%) Partially Hydrolysed Whey Protein Isolate (from Milk) (3%) Chicory Fibre, Whey Protein Concentrate (from Milk) (2%) Rice Flour, Natural Flavourings, Stabiliser: Guar Gum, Sea Salt, Antioxidant: Natural Mixed Tocopherols |
Almond (Vegan) | Almonds (40%), Brown Rice Syrup, Soya Protein Crispies (Soya Protein Isolate, Tapioca Starch, Salt) (7%), Grape Juice Concentrate, Rice Starch, Soya Protein Isolate (6%), Rice Bran Rice Protein (4%), Chicory Fibre, Soya Flour, Rice Flour, Natural Flavourings, Stabiliser: Guar Gum, Sea Salt. |
Coconut Macadamia | Almonds (19%), Cashews, Brown Rice Syrup, Whey Protein Crispies (from Milk) (Whey Protein Isolate (from Milk), Whey Protein Concentrate (from Milk), Tapioca Starch, Anti-Caking Agent: Calcium Carbonate, Emulsifier: Sunflower Lecithin) (9%), Chicory Fibre, Agave Nectar, Desiccated Coconut (6%), Rice Bran, Whey Protein Isolate (from Milk) (4%), Macadamia Nuts (4%), Rice Flour, Partially Hydrolysed Whey Protein Isolate (from Milk) (3%), Whey Protein Concentrate (from Milk) (3%), Grape Juice Concentrate, Rice Starch, Stabiliser: Guar Gum, Natural Flavourings, Sea Salt, Antioxidant: Natural Mixed Tocopherols. |
Peanut | Peanuts (44%), Brown Rice Syrup, Whey Protein Crispies (from Milk) (Whey Protein Isolate (from Milk), Whey Protein Concentrate (from Milk), Tapioca Starch, Anti-Caking Agent: Calcium Carbonate, Emulsifier, Sunflower Lecithin) (8%), Defatted Peanut Flour (7%), Grape Juice Concentrate, Rice Starch, Partially Hydrolysed Whey Protein Isolate (from Milk)(5%), Chicory Fibre, Rice Bran, Whey Protein Isolate (from Milk) (1%), Stabiliser: Guar Gum, Sea Salt, Natural Flavouring, Antioxidant: Natural Mixed Tocopherols. |
Salted Caramel | Almonds (26%), Cashews (18%), Brown Rice Syrup, Whey Protein Crispies (from Milk), (Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Tapioca Starch, Anti-Caking Agent: Calcium Carbonate, Emulsifier: Sunflower Lecithin) (8%), Grape Juice Concentrate, Rice Starch, Whey Protein Isolate (from Milk) (6%), Whey Protein Concentrate (from Milk) (5%), Chicory Fibre, Date Syrup, Rice Bran, Rice Protein, Stabiliser: Guar Gum, Sea Salt (<1%), Natural Flavourings, Antioxidant: Natural Mixed Tocopherols. |
Bounce energy balls nutrition
Here are some of the most popular Bounce energy balls flavours and their nutritional values and calories (per 35g ball):
Flavour | Protein | Fat | Fibre | Sugar | Salt | Calories |
Almond | 8.4g | 8.4g | 2.3g | 7.7g | 0.12g | 158kcal |
Almond (Vegan) | 8.4g | 8.5g | 2.5g | 7.7g | 0.21g | 158kcal |
Peanut | 9.7g | 8.0g | 2.1g | 7.5g | 0.18g | 159kcal |
Coconut Macadamia | 7.8g | 8.5g | 4.0g | 6.2g | 0.15g | 154kcal |
Salted Caramel | 9.2g | 8.4g | 2.1g | 7.2g | 0.25g | 158kcal |
Protein in Bounce Energy Balls
When it comes to Bounce energy balls’ nutritional values, what really stands out is their high protein content.
The protein content varies from around 8g to almost 10g per 35g ball. That’s a lot of protein in one little ball! They don’t have as much protein as protein bars, but still, it’s a good amount of protein.
The recommended daily protein intake for an average adult is 50g so one Bounce ball will contribute towards almost one-fifth of your daily protein intake.
Fat content
Bounce Protein Balls are not low in fat since their main ingredient are nuts (or seeds) which are high in fat. But this type of fat is not bad fat – it is mainly unsaturated fat which is a healthy fat that helps to lower a person’s levels of LDL cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and build stronger cell membranes in the body.
Fibre
We should all consume at least 30 g fibre a day to stay healthy and lower risk of certain diseases such as heart disease, bowel cancer and type 2 diabetes.
One Bounce ball contains typically around 2g of fibre but some Bounce balls contain much more than that, for example, Coconut Macadamia which has a whopping 4g of fibre. This is all positive since many of us struggle to meet the recommended daily fibre intake.
Salt
Bounce energy balls don’t seem to contain an excessive amount of salt which is a good thing. At less than 0.3g of salt per ball, you can rest assured this will not have a negative impact on your health.
Sugar content
Bounce balls contain natural sugars coming from brown rice syrup, grape juice concentrate and date syrup. Although these are natural, they are still sugar and have calories.
The sugar content in Bounce balls varies from around 6g to almost 8g per ball. This translates into around 1.5 teaspoons of sugar per ball which seems like a lot.
If you are a sportsperson this is a perfect snack for you as it will give you loads of energy, otherwise, you really have to ask yourself whether you need all that natural sugar. If Bounce ball is the only sugary snack you have in a day as part of a healthy, balanced diet, then you have nothing to worry about.
Calories in Bounce Energy Balls
Calories depend on the flavour and some Bounce Energy balls have much more calories than others. However, all of them contain less than 200 kcal.
We found that the Coconut Macadamia flavour is the lowest in calories containing 154kcal while the Bounce ball with the most calories is Hazelnut Praline (182kcal)
Are Bounce Protein Energy balls good for you?
There are definitely some good things about Bounce Protein Energy Balls, for example:
- High in protein – If you struggle with your protein intake, these little balls will certainly help. Getting enough protein will help you recover faster after exercise, build muscle and help you lose weight since it will reduce your appetite and boost metabolism.
- A good source of fibre – Many of us struggle to consume enough fibre daily so this is a good snack to help you meet the recommended quota.
- Low in salt
- Filling – Due to their high protein and high fibre content Bounce protein balls are a filling snack so they will keep you satisfied for a while.
- A great source of energy – With their natural sweeteners, Bounce balls will give you plenty of energy if you eat them before exercise.
Taking everything into account, Bounce Protein Energy Balls are not a bad snack to have as a part of a healthy diet. They are especially beneficial if you are an active person as they will give you energy before exercise and help you recover faster after exercise due to their high protein content.
If you are trying to lose weight, it’s no harm having them once in a while but definitely not in excess as they are calorific.
If you are not active, this snack is much healthier than crisps and chocolate so do have it instead of unhealthy options, at least it’s nutritious and comes with some benefits at least.
The final verdict
We recommend having these protein snacks as part of a healthy and balanced diet but stick with the ones lower in calories to avoid unwanted weight gain.