When I eat, I always try to find healthier alternatives rather than depriving myself of my favorite foods. Sometimes it takes just a little effort to find a healthier alternative…or sometimes it takes a little creativity to make it yourself. Try it!
Home-made Pizza!
For example, when I pass by a pizza place on my way home, I start craving pizza, so i make it myself when i get home! Knowing exactly what I’m eating makes me feel great and choosing high quality ingredients makes me feel even better…not to mention, that its SO easy, and takes only about 2 minutes to prepare and 4 minutes to actually cook.
ARIELLE’S PIZZA
– Ezekial Buns (made of sprouted grains aka unprocessed wheat)
– Organicville Tomato Sauce (I like Organicville bc its made with agave- many tomato sauces are made with sugar)
– Organic Mozzarella (or daiya- dairy free alternative)
– basil sprinkled on top
– sesame seeds sprinkled on top (optional- for added calcium and crunch!)
Toast bread, add tomato sauce, cheese, basil and sesame seeds. Broil or Bake in oven for 4 minutes or until melted.
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Yesterday, my friend went into surgery so I wanted to surprise him with his favorite snack to sweeten up his day. He loves mounds bars. According to the back of the label, Mounds bars are made of: “Corn Syrup, Semi-Sweet Chocolate, (Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa, Milk Fat, Cocoa Butter, and Soy Lecithin and PGPR, Elmulsifiers), Coconut, Sugar, Slat, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Caramel Color, Sodium Metabisulfite and Sulfur Dioxide, to Maintain Freshness, and Milk”. Since we know that ingredients are labeled in descending order, this means that a mounds bar is made up mostly of corn syrup! Corn syrup is added to foods to extend shelf life and sweeten, however it is heavily processed so its best to steer clear of this ingredient, especially if a food is mostly made up of it!
As an alternative, I made one of my favorite snacks/desserts (coconut chews from Susan Silberstein’s Hungry for Health book) and dipped them in melted dark chocolate. Voila! They turned out really looking and tasting like mounds bars- I was so impressed with myself! And, to spice it up a little, i drizzled some chocolate on a few, sifted some raw cacao on a few too.
COCONUT CHEWS
1 1/2 C raw almonds
1 1/2 C raw cashews
1 T flaxseeds, finely ground
1/4 C sesame tahini
3/4 C honey
1 T vanilla extract
3/4 tsp. sea salt
1 1/2 C unsweetened coconut
Place almonds and cashews in food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add flax, honey, tahini, vanilla, coconut and salt and pulse a few times more. Roll into balls, make shapes with a cookie cutter or press firmly into 9 by 5 by 1 inch brownie pan. Refrigerate several hours. Remove just before serving. DELISH!
Coconut Chews (bars)
CHOCOLATE TOPPING
– 2 bars dark chocolate (preferably over 60% cacao for added benefits)
Boil water in a pan, place cut up chocolate in a metal bowl, place metal bowl over pan. Keep on stirring until melted.
Chunks of Chocolate ready to be melted!
...Melting...
...Melting...
Melted!
Once melted, either dip the chews in the chocolate directly, or use a spoon to drop the chocolate on the chews and then use a spatula or knife to smooth out the chocolate….VOILA!
Yield: About 24 pieces
By the way- I had no idea how to melt chocolate properly- thought I needed to add butter, sugar, etc, but i called my friend, Chef Karolina and she prepped me. Its very easy. As you can see, i improvised because i didnt have the proper bowls but it worked perfectly…and this is a much better alternative (radiation-free way) to using a microwave.
Be Creative. Be Willing. Be Well.
