As a part of our Fresh Food Feb, we have been offering samples and promoting healthy eating. It’s all really about choices. We can choose to select easy, cheap, non sustainable, fast food solutions (mostly highly refined poor nutritional sources) or we can invest some of our precious time into making healthy, nutritious, sufficient and sustainable choices with what we choose to put in our body.
I am an unashamed chocolate lover (wouldn’t touch milk chocolate with a barge pole saying that) but dark chocolate, ideally organic, free of emulsifier (soy lecithin) and nasty oil (palm/vege etc) is my drug of choice. It is a pretty good source of magnesium (which depletes when we are stressed and is essential for good health especially muscle tension/cramps/spasms) and contains antioxidants, as well as less sugar than milk chocolate. I will limit myself to 2 squares, each square containing about ¾ teaspoon of sugar (2.8gm). The equivalent serve of Cadbury Milk contains around 1 ½ teaspoons of sugar (5.6gm). Sure, dates still contain loads of fructose, but at least they are a natural, whole food and contain healthy nutrients. Also, they’re rich in vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, A1 and C, proteins, dietary fiber, iron (11 percent), potassium (16 percent), calcium, manganese, copper, and as I said, magnesium. The soluble and insoluble fibres and amino acids present in dates can also help to improve the digestive system. Get stuck in!
100g almonds
100g walnuts
250g pitted fresh dates (organic if possible)
65g desiccated organic coconut (mine is sulphur free - no preservatives)
30g organic cocoa.
1/4 tsp pink Himalayan salt or quality salt
20g raw organic honey (find in Health food shop)
70g organic coconut oil, melted (cold pressed, unrefined)
½ teaspoon of good quality vanilla extract
Grind nuts in a food processor until quite fine, almost almond meal consistency. Set aside.
Process dates, coconut, cacao, salt, vanilla and honey until blended.
Add nuts, add coconut oil and process until completely mixed.
Feel free to add more cocao, dates, nuts whatever depending on the consistency you want, but you're looking for a thick mix that needs some good pressure to flatten into the tin.
Press mixture into slice tin and set in refrigerator/freezer. I make mine to thickness of Lindt but please yourself here.
Help yourself when ever you get your chocolate cravings! The cocoa hit is very similar to the real thing and much closer to nature than your off the shelf variety.
Let us know in comments below if it went well for you or if you added your own twist.
Happy, healthy eating.
Dr Andrew, Chiropractor
Please note, as a Chiropractor I have an intimate understanding of what it takes to make our body function correctly and maintain excellent health. This includes nutritional requirements to keep our body working well. I am not a Nutritionist or a Dietitian so please consult your friendly GP or one of the previously mentioned local specialists for advice pertaining to you. We’re happy to guide you should you need this, just ask us when you’re next at Live! Chiropractic.