The perfect Valentine's Day Treat!
While my February newsletter won't be coming out until next week – I received so much feedback on Instagram regarding my “healthy” V-Day treat, I decided to create a Valentine's Day Special, just for you! Based on my Trader Joe's haul this week, I came up with some yummy chocolatey bites that will surely satisfy your sweet tooth + get you in the mood, if you tweak the recipe a bit and add a special ingredient! Find out what it is below!
Makes 6 Bites (feel free to double the recipe!)
INGREDIENTS:
1 tsp cacao powder
1 tsp fruit spread
2 tsp almond butter
2 tsp melted coconut oil
2 tsp chia seeds
1 oz of dried strawberries
1 handful of cacao chips
1 handful of coconut flakes
(Don't have all these ingredients? Feel free to swap out or add in items of your choice like a different nut butter, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and hemp seeds!)
DIRECTIONS:
Using a food processor, blend dried strawberries and then store in a small bowl
Combine cacao powder, fruit spread, almond butter, coconut oil, chia seeds, and coconut flakes to the same food processor and blend until smooth.
Add the handful of cacao chips to the mixture and then scoop with spoon into hand and roll to create small bites.
Roll the bites in the strawberry powder and set aside on a plate while you create the remainder. **If the bites are really sticky you can blend the dried strawberries with the rest of the mixture to give it a easier texture to mold.
Place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes & then ENJOY!!
*Interested in the secret ingredient you can add to get you in the mood?! Maca Powder! This magical adaptogen aids in maintaining stress levels, increases energy naturally & can help balance your hormones by increasing you estrogen and testosterone levels which can boost your libido! (Note: Adaptogens are not recommended to consume while pregnant -- read more about them here.)
HEALTH BENEFITS:
Cacao: have a high content of polyphenols and flavonoids making it a great antioxidant.
Strawberries: Also high in flavonoids which protect us against inflammation, cancer, and heart disease.
Chia Seeds: provide an excellent source of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids that have numerous benefits, including glowing skin and mental clarity. Just one ounce of chia seeds packs a whopping 10 grams of fiber. Its insoluble fiber acts as a prebiotic that feeds friendly gut bacteria and ferments into short-chain fatty acids to support gut health. Chia seeds also contain more protein than most plant foods & they contain more calcium than milk.
Coconut Oil: High in saturated fats which increase our good cholesterol (HDL), and helps convert the bad cholesterol (LDL) into good. The medium chain fatty acids also support brain health and gut health by support our good gut bacteria. Coconut oil is really one of those magical foods - it's good for our skin, hair, nails, brain, digestion, heart, energy -- you name it -- it supports it all! :)
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