I love chocolate. It is one of my big downfalls, and I can admit it.
My 4-year-old said it all today when we asked him what fun shape he wanted for his birthday cake, and he said “It doesn’t matter what it looks like, as long as it’s chocolate!”. That’s my boy!
The problem with most chocolate – it comes with LOADS of sugar and additives. Sugar is a health-robber – it has the same addictive qualities as alcohol and cocaine!
I have a sugarholics group on facebook with 25 sugarholics supporting each other as we kick our sugar habits. I have been sharing with them the dangers of sugar, and ways to kick the habit.
Did you know:
- Sugar depletes your immune system up to 90% for hours after devouring it
- Sugar increases acidity in your body which can promote bone loss, cancer and other serious illnesses
- Sugar increases stress hormones which give us that not-so-fun jelly belly
- Sugar eats away the collagen in your skin leaving you with wrinkles, sagging and dull, aging skin
The good news – there are great natural sugar substitutes, and ways to have that sweet taste while avoiding the not-so-sweet health concerns. My favorites are:
- Natural honey
- Palm Sugar
- Stevia
- Pure maple syrup
Here is a delicious recipe {that is even gluten-free!} that are like rice crispy squares – without the bad stuff – that my kids just love…. ok, so do I! This is a great time of year to start reducing your sugar intake. Cold/flu season means you want every bit of your immune system you can get!
Enjoy!
Yummy Yummy Crispy Rice Squares
4 cups crispy brown rice cereal, puffed quinoa, puffed amaranth or other dry cereal of choice 1/3 cup chopped nuts/seeds (Use what you have on hand – I used part almonds and part pumpkin seeds) 1/2 cup almond butter 3 Tbs coconut oil 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1/3 cup honey 1/3 cup bitter-sweet dairy free dark chocolate (optional though without use an additional 1/4 cup almond butter) 3 Tbs ground flax pinch of cinnamon pinch of sea salt
You could also add in coconut flakes, cacao nibs, goji berries, golden berries or other dried fruit of choice
- In a large pot on medium heat, melt together the almond butter, honey, coconut oil, vanilla extract, chocolate, cinnamon and sea salt.
- Once melted together, stir in the cereal, nuts, flax and optional dried fruit. Stir until thoroughly mixed
- Lightly oil a glass dish with coconut oil and spread mixture out evenly
- Press down with the back of a spatula until firmly pressed together
- Refrigerate for 30-40 minutes until hardened and then cut into squares.
