Satisfy your sweet-tooth cravings without the extra sugar and calories. After a long week (or month) of training it's nice to have a sweet treat.
Sugar isn't a necessary food group. However, there are occasions when something sweet beckons us. Instead of reaching for the candy bowl, make one of these delicious treats below.
Sugar Breakdown
Americans consume about 130 pounds of sugar yearly—that's about 3 pounds a week, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture. Refined sugars, artificial sweeteners and even sugar alcohols, all of which can have a negative impact on your health. Yes, even if you work out and train for marathons and triathlons.
While some sugar is needed to help fuel workouts, it's important to pay attention to what kind is consumed. Instead of conventional products like soft drinks and candy, choose organic real foods like oranges, bananas, dates, watermelon, red beets, tart cherry juice and carrot juice to give your body optimal nutrition it's craving.
More: How to Make Tasty Green Juices
If you like candy, be sure to read the ingredient list. Stay away from anything that's high in fructose corn syrup, coloring dyes, preservatives and other artificial ingredients.
There is a healthier option, bake something sweet.
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Gluten-free
- Paleo-friendly
- Vegan Makes approximately 18 medium-size cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup organic coconut flour
- 1/2 cup organic almond flour
- 1/4 cup organic chia powder
- 1/2 cup organic coconut sugar
- 3 tbsp organic raw cacao powder
- Dash of organic ground cinnamon
- Dash of organic ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup organic chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup made-from-scratch nut milk
- 1 tbsp organic coconut oil, melted
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
- In a medium-size bowl mix together the coconut flour, almond flour, chia powder, coconut sugar, cacao powder, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder and chocolate chips
- Add the nut milk and coconut oil
- Mix all together till the dough forms a loose ball.
- Scoop a small amount of dough and form into a ball. Place on a greased baking sheet. Slightly flatten the dough and bake for about 15 minutes
More: Healthy Mason Jar Recipes
Chocolate Coconut Cream with Raspberries
Ingredients
- 1 can organic full-fat coconut milk (note: must be full fat, not light)
- 2 tbsp raw organic cacao powder
- 1/4 cup organic raspberries or blueberries
- Option: 1/4 tsp 100 percent pure maple syrup or raw honey (imperative that it is raw honey though)
Directions
- Place can of coconut milk in refrigerator for 24 hours.
- Remove coconut milk from fridge and pour into a glass bowl. The coconut whey will have separated from the coconut cream. (Note: if you are looking for a dairy-free whipping cream, simply pour the coconut whey into a separate container and use in smoothies or baking.)
- With a whisk, mix the coconut cream and cacao powder well together. Pour all but about a 1/4 cup into a glass jar. Save this for the rest of the week.
- With the remainder of the coconut cream stir in the raw cacao powder. Mix well together.
- Add berries and enjoy.
More: 8 Savory Pumpkin Recipes
Stay healthy with our nutrition guide.
