BALANCED EATING + HAZELNUT BITES

Balanced eating.  It’s not about labeling a food as ‘good’ or ‘bad’.  It’s not about restricting and binging. It’s not about counting macro’s and calories.  It’s not about deprivation and reward.  Balanced eating is about listening to your body and fuelling it with what it needs.  And guess what, that changes!

For me, it’s about the freedom to choose what I fuel my body with, respecting it and treating it with kindness.  I used to start so many conversations about food in my head with, “I can’t eat that”...”I can’t have that”. Not only was I reinforcing a restrictive behavoir, I was also reinforcing a negative dialogue around certain foods, which turned into food fear.  

It was only when I realized this that I began to truly understand what balanced eating means to me - food freedom.  Freedom to eat anything without shame or guilt or negativity. There is no need to label a food ‘good’ or ‘bad’, a ‘cheat’ or ‘treat’.  Instead I say, “I can have this” and then ask “do I really want it?” Sometimes what we’re craving is emotional, spiritual, habitual. Sometimes we aren’t being satisfied in areas of our lives and turn to food to do it for us.  And sometimes we just need chocolate. Whatever the reason, it’s OKAY. Once you are able to drop the negativity and look at food as fuel, you are so much better equipped to give your body what it needs and eat intuitively.  

So some days after dinner, all I need is a hot shower, flannel pj’s and a mug of tea.  And some days that just doesn’t cut it. Sometimes my childhood, gigantic-sized sweet tooth comes out of hiding and there is no ignoring it.  And for those times I need something on hand that will take care of business. And that’s where these HAZELNUT FUDGE COOKIE BITES come to the rescue.  Seriously these taste like nutella + cookies + fudge. They contain healthy fats to keep you satiated, improve brain function and super-fuel you with no refined sugar, no grains or gluten and no weird fillers or preservatives.  They also contain protein from collagen which is great for the gut, skin, joints, hair and nails. These make for a great snack, post-meal dessert, or for whatever else your heart (and body) desires!

HAZELNUT FUDGE COOKIE BITES 

(makes about 15 cubes)

Base:

2 cups hazelnuts

1 tbsp coconut flour

3 tbsp coconut butter

1 tbsp MCT oil or melted coconut oil

1 tbsp unsalted vanilla bean ghee *

2 scoops collagen peptides *

1 ½ tbsp LAKANTO monk fruit sweetener

½ tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp mucuna pruriens (optional but highly recommended)

Pinch of salt

Magicacao shell:

½ cup melted coconut oil

¾ cup cacao powder

1 tbsp lacuma (optional)

1 tbsp maca (optional)

Directions:

Toast hazelnuts in the oven at 350 for approximately 10mins - make sure you keep an eye on them.  Allow to cool, and then using a clean dish towel rub the nuts to remove the skins. Add nuts and the rest of the base ingredients to a food processor and mix on high until well combined.  Spoon the mixture into a silicone ice cube tray or any freezable mold and place in the freezer to set up. To make the magicacao shell, simply combine all the ingredients and either drizzle on top or dip the bites in it.  Store in the freezer and enjoy xx

* For an entirely vegan version, use coconut oil instead of ghee and leave out the collagen peptides or add a vegan protein powder