Posts tagged with ‘cacao’

  • Jan222018

    healthy hot cacao

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    This recipe is very basic and you can add whatever you want to make it more interesting. A little cinnamon or maca or mushroom powder or all of the above! The coconut oil makes it nice and frothy and the only sweetener is dates which adds some fiber and iron! The cacao is a great source of antioxidants (think anti-cancer and anti-aging) and magnesium! I would love to hear your thoughts on the recipe and see your variations! Make sure you comment here or on Instagram and hashtag #hellowholefoods!

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  • Jan152018

    hemp protein bars

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    I know some of you were asking for granola bars, and while these aren’t granola bars per se, they are delicious! Made with four types of seeds, they’re packed with protein, iron, B vitamins, magnesium and omega-3s (those essential fatty acids you keep hearing about that reduce inflammation). Omega-3s are important for baby’s brain development as well as brain health for all ages! Both hemp and chia seeds are complete plant proteins, meaning they contain all 9 essential amino acids we need as humans. Hemp is also one of the world’s most sustainable crops because it grows in nearly every climate and is used all over the world as a source of food, fiber, textile, paper and even fuel! To make these bars a little more toddler friendly, I cut them up into bite sized chunks.

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  • Dec122017

    chocolate cauliflower smoothie

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    This is my go-to smoothie for when I’m running out of the house and need something substantial. It tastes amazing and you would never know there’s cauliflower and mushrooms in it! My two year old is also a fan. So hashtag winning! The cauliflower leaves the smoothie nice and creamy and the chocolate masks the cauliflower taste, I promise!

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  • Sep122017

    guilt-free brownies

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    Yes, these guilt-free brownies actually taste amazing and are good for you! When I make these for other people I always ask them what they think they’re made out of and no one ever guesses the secret ingredient… BEANS! Yes, beans… packed with protein, fiber, and cancer fighting, blood sugar lowering, and stroke reducing properties! The high fiber content in beans prevents blood sugar levels from rising rapidly after a meal as well as lowering cholesterol levels. In other words, you can feel really good about eating one of these brownies! I would love to hear what you think of them!

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  • Aug222017

    chocolate ice cream

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    Dr. Hyman has said, “dairy is nature’s perfect food… but only if you’re a calf.” We now know that consuming dairy is not necessarily healthful. Studies have shown that countries with the lowest consumption of dairy also have the lowest rates of osteoporosis and hip fracture. Dairy is acidic to our bodies, which signals calcium to be released from our bones to alkalize our blood, in turn creating weak bones (the opposite of what most people think). Approximately 75% of the world’s population do not even have the digestive enzymes to break down dairy causing indigestion, bloating, diarrhea, and wreaking havoc in the gut. Dairy is also associated with increased risk of cancer as well as causing chronic ear infections (especially in children), sinus issues, eczema and acne.

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  • Jul252017

    cold brew coffee smoothie

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    Coffee… is it healthy or not? There’s all kinds of studies saying it is and isn’t. Truth is, one cup of coffee per day likely isn’t going to cause you harm, but when you’re using coffee as a false source of energy, health problems are likely to follow. There’s no substitute for a good night’s sleep and if we are fueling our bodies with caffeine, we are likely interfering with the depth of our sleep and our body’s signs telling us that we are tired. Bottom line, you can have your morning cup of coffee, just don’t have four! Too much coffee has been linked to raising blood pressure, LDL (bad cholesterol), homocysteine (elevated levels associated with heart attack and stroke) and causing adrenal fatigue by keeping your body in a chronic state of stress. To be fair, there are a few benefits to coffee, like antioxidants which fight free-radical damage, but probably not enough to call it a health food.

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  • Jan172017

    guilt-free chocolate mousse

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    One of the most common concerns I hear when people start talking about changing their diets to eat whole foods is that they will feel deprived or they won’t be able to enjoy the sweets they crave. I tell people over and over that the more whole foods they eat, the less they will even want the processed sugar and desserts. It is really a hard concept to wrap your head around but it is true! It doesn’t happen overnight but it did happen to me and I also watched it happen to my husband over a few years’ time. He jokes with me and asks me what I did to him (he seriously is a different person now), but really it wasn’t me, it was his taste buds changing as he added more and more whole foods into his diet. He even agreed to write about it so you know I’m not making it up.

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  • Aug312016

    no-bake cacao bites

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    Lazy chocolate lovers, this post is for you. These easy four-ingredient raw cookies are perfect to snack on or have for dessert. They are packed with healthy fats, biotin and vitamin E from the almonds, fiber and iron from the dates, and antioxidants, magnesium and iron from the cacao. This recipe calls for raw cacao powder because the beans are milled at low temperatures to protect the nutrients and flavor. If you tend to like super sweet desserts, you may want to add an extra date or two.

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