Tag Archives: chocolate

Food, Going Healthy, NuttZo

Sugar Free Chocolate NuttZo Protein Brownies

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sugar free chocolate nuttzo protein brownies, recipe, healthy, treat, dessert, cooking

Do you like brownies nice and gooey in the center or fluffy like a cake? I prefer the gooey version, making me feel like I’m indulging in something that packs 500 calories into each tiny square. That’s not hard to find, just go to Starbucks or any place selling brownies and their uber-rich baked goods are sure to all be around 500 calories for one serving. Luckily, these brownies offer all of the tastebud pleasing flavor with lower calories.

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Maybe calories are what you’re after, but it’s best to get them from more nutritive sources like fresh fruits, veggies and lean protein. The gobs of refined sugar and oil used for most baked goods won’t do much for your body besides put you on the fast track to diabetes-ville.

sugar free chocolate nuttzo protein brownies, recipe, healthy, treat, dessert, cooking

Instead, satisfy your sweet tooth and support a healthy body with these decadent and guilt-free brownies.

Sugar Free Chocolate NuttZo Protein Brownies

Ingredients:

 The easiest directions ever:

  • Add all ingredients to large bowl, blender, or food processor and blend well.
  • Pour into 7x11in brownie pan lined with parchment or greased with coconut oil
  • Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. Stick a butter knife in the center to see if it comes out clean. If not, let bake another 5 minutes but watch it closely!

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Include your kids by having them mash the bananas and help measure ingredients. When kids participate with healthy food prep in the kitchen it’s almost a guarantee that they will want to eat that healthy food!

Do you avoid turning on the oven when it’s hot outside?

How do you like your brownies; moist in the middle or crumbly and baked through?

Food, Going Healthy

Healthy Chocolate Protein Dip Recipe

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How about a healthy chocolate dessert dip recipe that’s easy to make and perfect to enjoy this upcoming weekend? Loaded with protein and creamy goodness, it’s good just eating right from a spoon!

Healthy Chocolate Protein Dip

I’ll spare you the long talk and get right to it. Our time is precious, so why go on about…..never mind, I’ll do that again soon. 🙂

Topped with Greek yogurt and cocoa nibs, chocolate
Topped with Greek yogurt and cocoa nibs

Chocolate Protein Dip

Ingredients:

1 can of chickpeas or white beans, drained and rinsed

2 medium ripe bananas (the more spots the better to me!)*See note below if you don’t have bananas

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/8 tsp baking soda

rounded1/8 tsp salt

3 packets of stevia or about 2 tsp; it takes a while get the right amount since so many stevia products are different, so just adjust to taste. If you’re not into stevia, you can use 2/3 cup of brown sugar or honey, but this will detract a little of the “healthy” part.

2 Tbsp raw cacao powder

1/4 cup rolled oats, ground flax seeds, or chia seeds (you can omit this, it just helps to make it really thick)

*If you don’t have or like bananas, try using 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, pumpkin puree, or Greek yogurt as a substitute. I have tried all of these and still like the outcome. There’s no wrong way, just what you have on hand.

Directions:

Add everything in a blender or food processor and blend until you have a smooth, creamy consistency.

The dip will firm up a little more if you let it cool in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Or make a double batch so you can eat one right away like I do!

This is perfect to treat the whole family, and a wonderful way to get any picky eaters to think they’re getting away with something. Have it alone or smear it on a banana, you’ll be happy either way!

 

Have you ever made a sweet dip that’s healthy and delicious?

What do you think about using chickpeas as the main ingredient?

Food, Going Healthy

Going Healthy: Pumpkin Black Bean Chocolate Pudding *Easy and Healthy*

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Since I’ve started eating a whole foods based diet and avoiding most processed foods, many of my unhealthy cravings have vanished. To those reluctant to switch, I promise, it gets easier if you stick with it. Plus, you’ll look better and feel amazing!

I used to have ice cream and boxed cereal on a daily basis, and although the ice cream was usually a lighter version, it was loaded with either sugar or artificial sweeteners along with other chemicals to attain that “perfect” consistency.

The cereal I had seemed healthy, but even those whole wheat biscuits have to undergo processing to be transformed into pretty little shreds of wheat compacted together to get their shape. To me, that’s not really in its “whole” form anymore.

One thing I am unable to shake, though, is how these things are consumed; with a spoon (and cup in my case). So, I still have my cup and spoon, but you’ll usually find organic carrots that I diced and put in the freezer along with frozen organic wild blueberries. The carrots satisfy my desire for crunch and the blueberries are just awesome.

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Yes, I like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and this cup has been with me since I was a little boy. It’s the perfect serving size and I’m pretty sure everything tastes better inside my turtle cup!

I simply love eating cool, creamy, and/or crunchy food with a spoon and cup. I’ve nixed the ice cream a long time ago, and only eat the Ezekiel Sprouted Grain Cereal for my boxed choice.

Think Grape Nuts, only a lot healthier! I love it plain with almond milk or as a crunchy topping to my homemade puddings/purees. Like, for instance, this super healthy and scrumptious chocolate pudding made with black beans and pumpkin.

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Here’s all you need to make your own healthy pudding to savor guilt free…

Pumpkin Black Bean Chocolate Pudding

Ingredients

  • 1 15oz. can pumpkin puree (I use the Farmer’s Market Pumpkin Puree in a BPA-Free can)
  • 1 15oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed (I used organic, BPA-Free canned beans)
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp pure stevia powder (if you are not a fan of using all stevia, use only 1/4 tsp and add 2 tbsp raw honey or more if you want it really sweet)
  • 1/2 cup milk of choice (I used unsweetened coconut milk from the can and have had success with unsweetened almond milk too)
  • pinch of baking soda
  • dash of sea salt
  • *Optional: 1 tbsp natural peanut butter and/or 2 scoops high quality chocolate or vanilla protein powder (Sunwarrior makes a great protein powder)
  • *Optional #2: Add 1 or 2 digestive enzyme or probiotic capsules to help digestion and bloating because you will want to eat a lot of this!

Directions

  • I like to keep things simple and easy; add all ingredients to your food processor and mix until you have a creamy consistency. I pulsed it a few times and then let it run non-stop for almost a minute.
  • Put into an air-tight container and chill in the fridge until ready to devour.

Here are what the cans I used look like…

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And then you transform these into this!

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What do you think? Does this sound like something you’d try or are you repulsed by the combo?

If you make this, please let me know how you like it and if you made any changes. I bet adding banana and shredded coconut would seriously up the flavor profile!