Good For You Chocolate
Updated: 3 hours ago
Chocolate is one of life's joys. We should be able to enjoy it guilt free.
The problem with most chocolates nowadays as with most food in the grocery stores is that they are loaded with harmful and unnecessary ingredients. Preservatives, additives, artificial colors and flavors, hydrogenated oils, refined oils and sugars, soy, and the list goes on.
The most popular and most harmful ingredients you’ll find in store-bought chocolate, no matter what the brand is…
Sugar
Specifically refined sugar as is it the cheapest but the most harmful to our brains, liver, and gut microbiomes. An actual poison to the body.
Soy Lecithin
An additive derived from soy that can cause your body to not absorb nutrients properly. This is found in endless packaged foods.
Refined Oils
Like palm and vegetable oil, that is also a poison to the body as anything refined is. It causes the gut microbiome to be thrown off, causes massive inflammation, causes our cell membranes to become unhealthy resulting in the inability to absorb nutrients, and can cause many cardiovascular issues.
Milk Fats
Saturated fat that also causes a lot of cardiovascular issues.
Artificial Flavors & Colors
Nothing artificial should be going into our body as it kills the good gut microbiomes, feeds the bad ones, and our poor digestive organs and cells do not know how to process them within the body causing inflammation which is the root of most diseases.
I don't know about you but these ingredients totally turn me off from buying chocolate at the stores. Although convenient when you're having a craving, it’s not worth putting your body through the trauma.
We don’t need to give up chocolate completely, I mean that's just not an option! So I concocted this super simple, three ingredient, raw, and vegan recipe! It’s so good you’ll never think about buying packaged chocolate again! Plus it’s fun and satisfy to make your own 🍫
Good For You Chocolate Recipe
What you’ll need:
Cacao powder - cacao is a superfood packed with nutrients, it’s what regular cocoa powder is derived from. Think of cocoa powder as the refined version of real chocolate, stripped of all its nutrients.
Coconut oil - a healthy oil for the body aka your cells! Do make sure it is not refined and is cold pressed. Any oils you purchase should always be cold pressed.
Pure maple syrup or raw honey - both of these are sweeteners from nature, they contain nutrients and your body knows how to process them properly. They don't negatively affect the brain, liver, and gut microbiome however copious amounts still aren't recommended. Using raw honey would make this recipe non vegan.
Healthy add-ins - any kind of nut or seed like almonds, walnuts, pistachios, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds. Dried fruit like coconut shavings, cranberries, & apples are amazing as well! Make sure it’s organic as many dried fruits are filled with sugar and other things to make them more colorful and appealing to the eye. I love adding cinnamon as well!
How to prepare:
In a medium mixing bowl add ¼ cup of cacao powder.
3 tablespoons of melted or softened coconut oil.
2-3 tablespoons of pure maple syrup or raw honey.
Mix well.
Add in any extras you desire, mix well again.
Pour into a small pan, chocolate mold, or container.
Decorate the top to make it look pretty like in the picture (optional but recommended).
Place in the refrigerator or the freezer for at least an hour and enjoy!
I do recommend leaving the chocolate in the fridge or freezer as there are no preservatives in the chocolate to help keep it from melting or getting really soft.
Another way to use this chocolate is before freezing or refrigerating it, use it as a melted chocolate dip! I love doing this with dried figs or dates! You can also make chocolate covered fruit like strawberries, bananas, pineapple or any other fruit you like! Chocolate covered nuts and coffee beans are another delicious idea as well.
It’s time to ditch the store bought chocolate and feed your body the best of the best! I am going to leave the links to the ingredients that I use below, they are all high quality and affordable!
P.S. This is just one of the many recipes that are going to be included in something very special and exciting that I’m creating! Cannot wait to share it with you so stay tuned and don’t forget to join my email list so that you’ll be the first to know about it!
Wishing you a beautiful day 🌿
Much Love,
Bellamy Ryder