Have your dessert and eat it too!

Let me first start out by saying, what you eat is your choice.  I'm not hear to judge, or tell you what not to eat.  My purpose and goal, is to help you eat all the things you really want to, and to bring awareness to what you're actually eating. 

Food is not about restricting yourself.  It's fuel.  It's what gets you through the day.  It's what helps you do the things you want to be doing.  It's your energy.  What you put in your body does matter. What would happen if you put soda into your car?  Would it run properly?  No.  Because it was designed to run off gasoline.  Think of your body the same way: It was made to run off of natural, unrefined, WHOLE FOODS.  So what happens when you start putting processed food into it?  It's not going to run properly, and eventually it will fail you.

When you eat whole foods, your body does its job.  It tells you when you're full: you won't overeat.  When you eat processed food, your mind is having to determine what is enough.  And how it does that is by counting calories or limiting yourself to a very small portion.  Processed food also has the uncanny ability to addict you, making you crave and eat more and more. 

So, what is the solution?  It's almost too simple.  Find the taste you crave in whole foods.  We can revamp any recipe, it's just about retraining your mind and old way of thinking, to create something new and delicious! 

My must have?  Sweets after dinner.  I don't like anything sweet during the day, but after dinner, I want something.  I found this recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie, and have revamped it slightly.  It is perfect for all of you chocolate lovers out there.  Warning: It is extremely decadent!

Chocolate Fudge Bars

Picture from Chocolate Covered Katie

• 2 cups medjool dates
• 1 cup almonds, unsalted
• 1/2 cup walnuts, unsalted
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cacao powder
• 2 ripe bananas
• 8 Tbsp natural almond butter
• 1/2 cup more unsweetened cacao powder
• 6 Tbsp unpasteurized honey (note: strict vegans can use agave or 1 cup date paste)

1. Put dates in a bowl with warm water, allow dates to soak for at 30 minutes.  Pit the dates and drain excess water.

2. Mix together dates, almonds, walnuts, and 1/2 cup cacao powder in a food processor or high speed blender, such as the Vitamix until well blended. (I like mine slightly lumpy with some chunks of almond.)  Spread mixture in a 8×8 baking pan until evenly distributed, and press down gently with a spoon.

3. In the same container (no cleaning required!) mix together bananas, almond butter, honey, and other 1/2 cup cacao powder until very well blended (you don't want lumps in this mixture). Spread mixture over bottom layer until evenly distributed.

4. Place in freezer for at least 30 minutes.  Take out what you want and store in freezer to eat whenever that craving arises. Makes 16 bars.

* To make date paste: Soak 1 cup dates in warm water for at least 30 minutes.  Pit dates and mix with 1/4 cup of the soaked water in a food processor or high speed blender.  Add more of the soaked water until you have a gooey consistency like that of honey. 

*Cacao Power can be found at health stores such as Whole Foods, or you can purchase online.  I like to order in bulk from nutsonline.com.  It's important to use Cacao powder instead of unsweetened cocoa powder that you find in the regular grocery store.  There is a difference!  However, if you don't have any and are dying to make the recipe, go ahead and use the cocoa...it's still better than eating a candy bar.

*Costco carries the medjool dates pretty cheap.  If you can't find medjool dates, any will do.  I just find them to be a bit sweeter.  And don't let the pits scare you...they are super easy to get rid of once the dates have soaked. 

Nutrition Info per Square:

Total Calories: 280

Total Fat: 11.6 g

Saturated Fat: 1.2 g

Protein: 6.2 g

Fiber: 6.2 g

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