WELLNESS WEEKEND
A nutty, sweet, guilt-free twist to your favourite type of sugar-free dark chocolate. To celebrate some pure good fats!
This week we covered our last macro, which is fats! The fats that are actually good for you and yes, they can be! They are!
Our first fat is dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is one of those rare health foods that actually taste incredible.
It is very high in fat, with fat at around 65% of calories.
Dark chocolate is 11% fiber and contains over 50% of the RDA for iron, magnesium, copper and manganese.
It is also loaded with antioxidants, so much that it is one of the highest-scoring foods tested, even outranking blueberries!
Some of the antioxidants in it have potent biological activity and can lower blood pressure.
Studies also show that people who eat dark chocolate 5 or more times per week are less than half as likely to die from heart disease, compared to people who don't eat dark chocolate! Count me in!
Next up in this recipe we have coconut oil. Coconuts, and coconut oil, are the richest sources of saturated fat on the planet. In fact, about 90% of the fatty acids in them are saturated.
Even so, populations that consume large amounts of coconut do not have high levels of heart disease and are in excellent health.
These fatty acids are metabolized differently, going straight to the liver where they may be turned into ketone bodies. Studies show that medium-chain fats suppress appetite, helping people eat fewer calories, and can boost metabolism by up to 120 calories per day!
Lastly, we have nuts! You can use any nuts, I just love almonds so they go in everything! Nuts are incredibly healthy. They are high in healthy fats and fiber, and are a good plant-based source of protein. Nuts are also high in vitamin E and loaded with magnesium, a mineral that most people don't get enough of.
Studies show that people who eat nuts tend to be healthier, and have a lower risk of various diseases. This includes obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Let's get into the recipe!
Ingredients:
*chopped up raw almonds (to taste - we have used approx 6 almonds for this batch)
*1 big slab sugar-free dark chocolate
*chopped up dates
*coarse sea salt
* 2 tbsp coconut oil
You'll also need a baking tray, I used a bread loaf pan and some wax/parchment paper!
Instructions:
Bring the dark chocolate to melt in a medium heated pan.
Add the 2 tbsp coconut oil.
Stir for a few minutes until smooth.
Add the almonds and sea salt and stir in.
Spray the wax paper with coconut oil spray or spray and cook.
Pour the mixture into the pan and spread evenly.
Refrigerate overnight.
When your chocolate bark is set in the morning you can add it to your oats or enjoy it as is, for your healthy fats for the day!