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Healthy Sweets for your treats!!!

It's that Holiday again!  Where we show our special sweet hearts how much we adore them by giving treats filled with simple sugars, artificial flavors and food coloring.  Sounds yummy right? 
Now I know we don’t mean to harm our loved ones.  This idea always bothered me.  Why would I give someone that I love, a box of chocolates that are not good for them?  Well I do it because I’ve trained (dare I say brainwashed) to this for 30 plus years.

The thought process went like this…

Instead of buying a box of chocolates and battling with my guilty conscious; I could make a treat I would be proud to give to my lovelies.  We should be spoiling our loved ones with delicious healthy treats.  Filled with nutritious yet scrumptious ingredients.   I promise this can be fun and healthy without the sugar level drop!

Let's compare nutrition facts here.  This is what I could find on the internet.  A box of See's candies has a serving size of 3 candies.

 Three pieces of chocolate candy has 170 calories and 9 grams of fat.  Saturated fats are 5 grams, total carbohydrates are 21 grams.  Now there are 10 of these candies per box.  If you are like me, this would be one serving. YIKES!



I found two great recipes for chocolate covered strawberries.  These recipes are both easy to do and have few ingredients.  Who doesn't love a chocolate dipped fruit?



Nutrition facts for Chocolate Covered Organic Strawberries:

Again, this is what I found on the internet: Three medium strawberries dipped in semi-sweet chocolate is about 53 calories.  Double dipping is about 150 calories.  This without added food coloring and no worries of raising your cholesterol.

Plus, you are getting an abundant source of antioxidants and a source of Vitamin C!


First recipe is from Arbonne.  I personally use Arbonne products and love them.  If you do not use them, that's ok I have another fantastic recipe.

*I couldn’t find nutrition facts on this recipe*

Arbonne Vegan Chocolate Dipped Organic Strawberries

2 Scoops Arbonne Chocolate Protein Powder

Ingredients:  (Pea Protein isolate, cranberry protein, rice protein, cane sugar, gum acacia, chicory root, natural flavors, sunflower oil, flax seed, stevia leaf extract, xanthan gum, guar gum, modified tapioca starch, dicalcium phosphate, rice starch, tricalcium phosphate, rice hull concentrate, water, sodium ascorbate tocopherol, silicon dioxide)

½ c Organic Coconut Oil
10 large Organic Strawberries
Drizzle (Optional)
½ scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
3 tbls Organic Coconut Oil

Wash strawberries, pat dry. Mix 2 Scoops Chocolate Protein Powder with coconut oil and dip strawberries. Add less coconut oil if you want the consistency to be thicker or more for a thinner consistency. Place strawberries on a platter and put into the refrigerator for 5 minutes while making the drizzle.

Mix ½ scoop Vanilla Protein Powder with coconut oil and use a teaspoon to drizzle over the strawberries. Place strawberries in refrigerator until serving time.

The flavor of the coconut oil and chocolate is perfection!

Recipe from Eating Well website
This recipe didn’t call for organic strawberries, but I would recommend organic if possible. *Side note pesticides are the highest in strawberries.  Check out the dirty dozen list*
Ingredients
•
o ½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips
o 12 large strawberries or 24 small, stems attached, at room temperature
•
o 2 tablespoons freshly grated lime zest
Directions
• 1 Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.
• 2 Place chocolate chips in a small glass bowl. Microwave on Medium for 1 minute. Stir, then continue microwaving in 20-second intervals until melted, stirring after each interval. (Alternatively, melt in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water.)
• 3 Dip half to two-thirds of each strawberry into the melted chocolate. Let the excess drip back into the bowl. Place the dipped fruit on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle lime zest over the chocolate. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.
• Make Ahead Tip: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 day.
You could add numerous toppings to these edible presents:
Chia seeds
Coffee grounds
Crushed pistachios
Crushed chocolate mint cookies. * My favorite mint cookies are “Goodie Girl Gluten Free Mint Slims*
Coconut flakes
Graham cracker crumbles

The list could go on.  You can add your unique touch for toppings or just leave these berries covered in chocolate.

Put these sweets on a pretty glass cake stand or on a festive holiday plate.  These will surely be eaten.  Your loved ones will appreciate you thinking of their health!
*Thrifty tip* If you have a local dollar store near you, they have a great Valentine section you could browse through. 

So, let’s try something new this year!  Instead of diabetes in a heart shaped box, let’s celebrate with healthy treats for your sweets. 

Blessings and love to you all!

Misti C