Crunchy Choc Almond Butter Cups

I've been wanting to make these for sooooo long...and finally Easter seemed like the perfect opportunity!

These are so delicious and 100% satisfying - I devoured 2 or 3 the day I made them (...oops!).

What better way to enjoy chocolatey goodness on Easter than these little beauties!?

This is the perfect treat for when you feel like something naughty but don't want to be naughty...it is a wholesome treat you can enjoy (in moderation) without the guilt.

Ingredients: Half cup cacao powder Half cup coconut oil 2 tablespoons maple syrup or stevia equivalent 1 tbsp cacao nibs (optional - makes it crunchy!) Quarter (1/4) cup almond butter slivered almonds

Method: Combine the cacao powder, coconut oil, and syrup together in a bowl and stir vigorously until the mixture is thick but pourable. Pour the chocolate mixture into small cupcake moulds, only filling them halfway. Refridgerate. Once set, top with a small amount of almond butter. Add the cacao nibs to the remaining chocolate mixture and pour over each mould. Top with slivered almonds. Refridgerate until set. Take the chocolates out of the moulds and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Yum yum!

I think these are my new favourite way to enjoy chocolate the healthy way!

What is your favourite healthy sweet treat?

Maximising your nutrient intake

I often get asked by my clients what the best way is to make sure that they achieve their requirements for their vitamins and minerals. There are two answers -

1. If you want to make 100% sure, see an accredited practicing dietitian who can analyse your diet in detail.

AND

2. Eat a wide variety of different foods (at least 20 different foods per day) and eat them in lots of different colours!!

Why? The more colour a fruit or vegetable has, the more concentrated the vitamins or minerals! This is almost always an indicator that it will be more nutritious.

Here are some examples of colourful fruit and vegetables and how they can benefit your health:

Red - strawberries, tomatoes, radishes, beetroot, rhubarb, pomegranate. These contain lycopenes and anthocyans, believed to help reduce the risk of certain cancers, improve heart health, and help fight off infections.

Orange & Yellow - sweet potato, mango, carrots, pumpkin, oranges. These contain carotenoids and bioflavonoids which help improve vision, fight off cancer, slow ageing, and maintain a healthy immune system.

Green - kiwi fruit, avocado, spinach, kale, asparagus, broccoli, zucchini. These contain phytochemicals that help antioxidants fight carcinogens and strengthen our bones!

Purple & blue - blueberries, raisins, eggplant, figs, plums. They contain anthocyans and resveratol that may reduce cancer risk and slow down ageing.

This is more than enough reason for me to eat colourful! So that's what I did for lunch today...

The Humble Cup

One of my friends popped over last week during her lunch break for a quick catch-up and a debrief of how her wedding plans are coming along (I'm her bridesmaid - yay!).   She already had her lunch packed, so I thought what better way than a perfectly brewed pot of tea to try and keep my friend here as long as I can (muahahaha).  

As I was looking over my selection of teas  deciding on which one to make, I got thinking about the custom of drinking tea and the benefits that come from it.

Tea is believed to be the most popular drink in the world, after water. The british alone consume 165 million cups per day or 60.2 billion per year. That is a lot of tea! So what are the benefits? I'm glad you asked...

1. Antioxidants - helps us fight free radicals (nasties that causes cancer/disease/ageing)
2. Less caffeine - an average cup of coffee contains 135mg of caffeine whereas tea only has 30mg per cup
3. L-theanine - an amino acid in tea that keeps us calm yet allert and enhances our mood. Who needs coffee?
4. Fat burner - clinical trials have shown that green tea raises metabolism and speeds up fat oxidation!
5. Studies have shown that people who drink tea have stronger bones possibly due to the polyphenols found in tea.

I can go on and on about how good tea is for you because there are just so many benefits!

But if there is only one thing I want you to get out of today it would be to:

Drink more tea, not coffee!  Savour it, enjoy it and think of how your body is going to love you for it!

It really is a humble cup...quite frankly I think it deserves a gold medal!

Question of the day:

What is your favourite tea?

Mine is Rooibos, a traditional South African tea that is grown only in the highlands of the Cape region. It means "Red Bush" if directly translated and it is a dark warm red colour when brewed. It is naturally sweet and it has MANY health benefits. Just talk to your fellow South African friend and they will tell you...

My favourite way to drink Rooibos in summer - Rooibos Iced Tea Cooler. You will love it!

The Humble Cup

One of my friends popped over last week during her lunch break for a quick catch-up and a debrief of how her wedding plans are coming along (I'm her bridesmaid - yay!).   She already had her lunch packed, so I thought what better way than a perfectly brewed pot of tea to try and keep my friend here as long as I can (muahahaha).  

As I was looking over my selection of teas  deciding on which one to make, I got thinking about the custom of drinking tea and the benefits that come from it.

Tea is believed to be the most popular drink in the world, after water. The british alone consume 165 million cups per day or 60.2 billion per year. That is a lot of tea! So what are the benefits? I'm glad you asked...

1. Antioxidants - helps us fight free radicals (nasties that causes cancer/disease/ageing)
2. Less caffeine - an average cup of coffee contains 135mg of caffeine whereas tea only has 30mg per cup
3. L-theanine - an amino acid in tea that keeps us calm yet allert and enhances our mood. Who needs coffee?
4. Fat burner - clinical trials have shown that green tea raises metabolism and speeds up fat oxidation!
5. Studies have shown that people who drink tea have stronger bones possibly due to the polyphenols found in tea.

I can go on and on about how good tea is for you because there are just so many benefits!

But if there is only one thing I want you to get out of today it would be to:

Drink more tea, not coffee!  Savour it, enjoy it and think of how your body is going to love you for it!

It really is a humble cup...quite frankly I think it deserves a gold medal!

Question of the day:

What is your favourite tea?

Mine is Rooibos, a traditional South African tea that is grown only in the highlands of the Cape region. It means "Red Bush" if directly translated and it is a dark warm red colour when brewed. It is naturally sweet and it has MANY health benefits. Just talk to your fellow South African friend and they will tell you...

My favourite way to drink Rooibos in summer - Rooibos Iced Tea Cooler. You will love it!