Sophie said it ever so well at the table during Wednesday night church last week: "My mommy's weakness is chocolate." I don't deny this. In fact, I am going to tell you 3 of my favorite "healthy" desserts with chocolate- really!
#1 I just had myself some Greek Style Vanilla nonfat yogurt (Trader Joe brand) that almost has a 3 block balance! It has 18g of protein to 30g of carbs per 1 cup! Remember, if you are calculating Zone proportions, 7g is one block of protein and 9g is one block of carbs. The not so great part is that because it is vanilla flavor, there is 26g of sugar. Remember, I have been making better choices as opposed to doing strict Zone. In my last post, I said I was becoming more motivated to being strict. Obviously, todays not that day. So if you are striving to enjoy life's simple pleasures in a balanced way, then by all means, try this vanilla yogurt! AND THEN, put some coco nibs in it! Now you've got a very satisfying alternative to chocolate chip ice cream! Really! I really love this desert!
#2 I recently had a girls' weekend getaway to celebrate a dear friend's 30th birthday. We got snowed in at her house in the woods! It was beautiful, quiet, and relaxing. And the best part was my Pots de Creme! Ha! There were lots of best parts. Actually, everyone there loves to cook and knows how to do it right! But, I did have to make sure we had some sort of chocolate on the premises, so I did my part. This is soooo easy and so back to basics:
Pots de creme (similar to mousse, but heavier): to serve 8
1 twelve oz bag of semisweet chocolate pieces (I used a combination of semi sweet and bittersweet)
4 tbs. of sugar- take it or leave it, I left it
dash of salt
2 eggs
2 teaspoons of vanilla
1 1/2 cups scalded milk
You can also add 3 tsp of dark rum or kahlua- totally optional
Put all ingredients in a blender except the milk. Scald the milk (stir it on med high until it becomes bubbly) and then pour over ingredients in the blender. Blend one minute. Then pour into glasses and chill several hours. You can even chill it in one container and then scoop it like icecream, but the first way works best. Top with whipped cream or mint or berries.
#3 I recently had the best healthy cookie I've ever tasted at my friend Amanda's house. The base of this chocolate chip cookie is banana and it has no sugar added to it. It also calls for almond flour. Jack wanted 2nds (he's 7 years old). Here's the link to Amanda's blog called the beams.
Eat responsibly. Enjoy your chocolate. :)
About this blog
In other words, the Zone + Crossfit = Optimal Heath!
This blog focuses on nutrition, using the Zone Diet as the basis. However, I often eat Paleo foods in Zone proportions.
I love to investigate anything having to do with food- what we eat and why. And what happens within our bodies, our organs, our brain, when we do? My precious mother struggled with eating disorders. I want to avoid this delimma based on research, common sense, and the natural consequences on my body. The Zone shows me where the balance lies between eating too much and eating too little.
My husband runs a Crossfit gym. Exercise and choosing the right foods have become a mission for ourselves and our children. We don't want to be nerds about it, we just want to be healthy.
I have been asked by several friends what I feed our family, especially our kids. My husband and I follow the Crossfit prescription to nutrition (meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar). If you know me, you know that the sugar part of this equation will be a life long struggle given my love for chocolate! Evan adheres to the stricter version known as the Paleo-Zone diet (and I do on my good days!) which requires the same foods in a ratio of 40% protein, 30% carb, and 30% fat. Children require 50% carbs, 30% fat, and 20% protein. If you're wondering how to figure this out, I do it on a per meal basis and I have a "block" chart from the Zone website.
It seems like a headache at first, but if you're interested, just know that it is not that bad once you practice it for a couple of weeks. All you need is a $10 scale and some determination. It really is quite simple and makes my life easier at the grocery store and when cooking dinner. Most of all, I feel great when I eat well- mentally and physically, and we all know that the physical can affect the mental and visa versa!
Evan and I are hunter/gatherer wanna-be's! This blog will track my journey of health as it should be, and the honest reality of living in a sugar fried culture. When it comes down to it, I get excited to talk about nutrition, but I am definitely not perfect at it! If you have the desire to eat well, but it is often a challenge to overcome the temptations along the way, then you are in the right company!
I hope you leave this blog feeling enlightened and encouraged as you go throughout your day!
Thanks for the shout out, Ang! And the Pots de Creme did hit the spot last weekend!
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