I'm a little embarrassed to be starting this blog off with a dessert post. If you know me, you probably aren't surprised. It wasn't exactly my intention, and there will be more "serious" posts to come, but let's start with something sweet.
If you're like me, no matter how healthy you try to eat you still have the occasional (or frequent-- this is a no judgement zone) craving for chocolate. I am not one of those people who is so strict about nutrition that they NEVER allow themselves a piece of dessert. There are times when that is a wise choice-- like if you are fighting an illness and need to eat as cleanly as possible-- however, in your regular everyday life, I think it is fine to be mostly good about what you eat, and then don't beat yourself up for indulging.
The other day my mother showed me a recipe that her friend from work had given her, and it looked like it would even be the perfect treat for people who don't like to indulge. It was chock full of healthy ingredients like coconut oil, chia seeds, flax seed meal, and sunflower seeds, so I decided to give it a try. The wonderful thing about this recipe, aside from the fact that it is full of great nutrients and healthy omega-3 fats, is that it is also vegan and gluten-free! It is delicious and pretty sinless dessert, with only a little bit of raw honey and coconut sugar as sweeteners. Plus it can be easily modified to suit your tastes. Definitely a keeper!
If you're like me, no matter how healthy you try to eat you still have the occasional (or frequent-- this is a no judgement zone) craving for chocolate. I am not one of those people who is so strict about nutrition that they NEVER allow themselves a piece of dessert. There are times when that is a wise choice-- like if you are fighting an illness and need to eat as cleanly as possible-- however, in your regular everyday life, I think it is fine to be mostly good about what you eat, and then don't beat yourself up for indulging.
The other day my mother showed me a recipe that her friend from work had given her, and it looked like it would even be the perfect treat for people who don't like to indulge. It was chock full of healthy ingredients like coconut oil, chia seeds, flax seed meal, and sunflower seeds, so I decided to give it a try. The wonderful thing about this recipe, aside from the fact that it is full of great nutrients and healthy omega-3 fats, is that it is also vegan and gluten-free! It is delicious and pretty sinless dessert, with only a little bit of raw honey and coconut sugar as sweeteners. Plus it can be easily modified to suit your tastes. Definitely a keeper!
Here's what you'll need (extra points if it's all organic):
1 cup Coconut Oil
¾ cup Salt-Free Peanut Butter
¼ cup Almond Butter
¼ cup Raw Unfiltered Honey
½ cup Coconut or Date Sugar
¾ cup Carob Powder (or Raw Cacao Powder)
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 tsp. Almond Extract
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1 cup Favorite Unsalted Nuts of Choice (I used Pecans)
½ cup Raw Sunflower Seeds
1 cup Gluten Free/ Sugar Free Puffed Rice Cereal
2 Tlbs. Flax Seed Meal
1 Tlbs. Chia Seeds
1 Cup Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
1 cup Coconut Oil
¾ cup Salt-Free Peanut Butter
¼ cup Almond Butter
¼ cup Raw Unfiltered Honey
½ cup Coconut or Date Sugar
¾ cup Carob Powder (or Raw Cacao Powder)
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 tsp. Almond Extract
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1 cup Favorite Unsalted Nuts of Choice (I used Pecans)
½ cup Raw Sunflower Seeds
1 cup Gluten Free/ Sugar Free Puffed Rice Cereal
2 Tlbs. Flax Seed Meal
1 Tlbs. Chia Seeds
1 Cup Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
In a sauce pan, melt (on LOW) the Coconut Oil, Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Raw Honey, and Coconut or Date Sugar.
Add Carob Powder and mix.
Add the Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract, and Cinnamon.
Add all of the rest of the ingredients.
Place in a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze. Once frozen, break into pieces and store in freezer or fridge.
When you and your family inevitably eat these way too quickly, remind yourself about some of the health benefits of the ingredients to stave off guilt. For example,
Coconut Oil is a superfood that is a rich source Medium-Chain Fatty Acids, which have been shown to have neuroprotective properties. Not only is coconut oil good for your brain, it also has powerful antiviral and antibacterial capabilities, helping your body fight off pathogens. My Traditional Medicine professor in college LOVED to talk about coconut oil and how exceptional it is. His passion for it got me interested in it and my family has been using it regularly for a few years now. We love it. It is a great oil for cooking with and for using as a natural skin moisturizer. If you want to read about more of its benefits, there's a great article at AuthorityNutrition that I recommend.
Chia seeds are pretty awesome, aside from the fact that they are tiny little things that get stuck in your teeth when you put them in smoothies or on top of cereal (which are both great ways to eat them, just have a toothbrush handy!). They are extraordinary because they are the richest plant source of omega-3 fat. One thing that they can help with is dry eyes. My father has chronic severe dry eyes and since he began incorporating chia seeds into his diet, they have improved tremendously. I also was experiencing dryness (fairly suddenly last summer) and it was keeping me from comfortably wearing my contacts. I started putting chia seeds in smoothies and on top of my cereal, and I was able to wear my contacts again after a few weeks. This may not sound too impressive if you've never experienced dry eyes, but it is quite significant. On top of that, studies have shown that Omega 3's "help overcome drug-resistant cancer" (1).
Definitely a good reason to eat more fudge! Enjoy, and please let me how yours come out!
Be well,
Lauren
p.s. My family and I already finished these. I will be making more soon.
Add Carob Powder and mix.
Add the Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract, and Cinnamon.
Add all of the rest of the ingredients.
Place in a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze. Once frozen, break into pieces and store in freezer or fridge.
When you and your family inevitably eat these way too quickly, remind yourself about some of the health benefits of the ingredients to stave off guilt. For example,
Coconut Oil is a superfood that is a rich source Medium-Chain Fatty Acids, which have been shown to have neuroprotective properties. Not only is coconut oil good for your brain, it also has powerful antiviral and antibacterial capabilities, helping your body fight off pathogens. My Traditional Medicine professor in college LOVED to talk about coconut oil and how exceptional it is. His passion for it got me interested in it and my family has been using it regularly for a few years now. We love it. It is a great oil for cooking with and for using as a natural skin moisturizer. If you want to read about more of its benefits, there's a great article at AuthorityNutrition that I recommend.
Chia seeds are pretty awesome, aside from the fact that they are tiny little things that get stuck in your teeth when you put them in smoothies or on top of cereal (which are both great ways to eat them, just have a toothbrush handy!). They are extraordinary because they are the richest plant source of omega-3 fat. One thing that they can help with is dry eyes. My father has chronic severe dry eyes and since he began incorporating chia seeds into his diet, they have improved tremendously. I also was experiencing dryness (fairly suddenly last summer) and it was keeping me from comfortably wearing my contacts. I started putting chia seeds in smoothies and on top of my cereal, and I was able to wear my contacts again after a few weeks. This may not sound too impressive if you've never experienced dry eyes, but it is quite significant. On top of that, studies have shown that Omega 3's "help overcome drug-resistant cancer" (1).
Definitely a good reason to eat more fudge! Enjoy, and please let me how yours come out!
Be well,
Lauren
p.s. My family and I already finished these. I will be making more soon.