I’m a chocoholic and have always had a major sweet tooth. It has gotten me in trouble in the past, from high cholesterol, fluctuating blood sugars, and weight gain. Last year, I put on some quarantine weight on top of the weight I had previously gained from low thyroid years ago, so I hired a personal trainer. While working with this trainer, I also used the My Fitness Pal app to track calories and macros based on my goal weight. The app opened up my eyes to just how much sugar I was consuming. And I realized that both the excess sugar and saturated fat came largely from chocolate, both regular and dark. As I adjusted to my new diet plan and began shedding pounds, I found a semi-fix for my chocolate cravings that also gives me some of my nutrients.
Guilt Free Hot Cocoa
This recipe can be either hot or cold, depending on your preference. You may also blend it all in a smoothie maker for proper mixing if you prefer cold.
Ingredients Needed:
– 1–2 tbsp Navitas cacao
– 1 scoop of vegan protein powder of your choice
– 1 tsp cinnamon
– 1 cup plant milk of choice
– For a smoothie: 1 banana, 1 tbsp of flax seed
1. Warm up milk over stovetop to desired temperature. OR put in a blender if you’d like to make a smoothie.
2. Mix the cacao, followed by cinnamon and the protein powder.
3. Mix thoroughly with a spoon (for a hot drink).
Steel Cut Oats With Cacao and Fruit
This recipe makes for a chocolatey, fruity breakfast that provides both carbs and protein to start off your morning! I enjoy it alongside dark, sugar-free coffee. I like to make it the night before work the next morning, and eat it at my desk.
Ingredients:
– ¼ cup of steel cut oats (I use 365 brand)
– 1–2 tbsp Navitas cacao
– 1 scoop of vegan protein powder of your choice (optional)
– 1 tsp cinnamon
– 1/2 sliced banana or granny smith apple
– 1 tbsp brown sugar
– Handful of berries of choice
– Honey or maple syrup
1. Cook oats over the stovetop per directions on the package. Remove from stovetop when water absorbs.
2. Mix in cacao, cinnamon, brown sugar, and protein powder, and banana or apple
3. Garnish with berries.
4. Mix in as much honey or maple syrup as desired for taste.
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Photo: Tiard Schulz via Unsplash
