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dessert

We are halfway through the 21 day challenge! I was just telling my husband today that it doesn’t seem like this has really even been all that hard. I haven’t wanted any of the off limit foods – at all. Allowing myself no more than a couple teaspoons of sugar/honey per day is just enough. It curbs my sweet tooth and doesn’t leave me hungry for more. According to this article on MSNBC, the average adult eats 22 teaspoons (355 calories!) and the average teenager eats 34 teaspoons of sugar each day… WOW! And those calories aren’t coming straight from the sugar bowl; it’s (not so) disguised in everything from soft drinks to bread. Read your labels. Better yet, don’t eat anything with a label – just make it from scratch. You will feel accomplished and satisfied knowing you don’t have unnecessary sugar and additives.

Speaking of making stuff from scratch… I found the best recipe for a primal treat, and I had all of the ingredients on hand. Thanks Tropical Traditions! This is so easy and it resembles a reece’s peanut buttercup.

primal treat

The simple list of ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup almond butter
  • 4 Tablespoons coconut oil (divided)
  • 4 Tablespoons raw honey (divided)
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 Tablespoons dark chocolate chips (Optional: I didn’t use these, to limit my sugar, since we are on the 21 day challenge)
  • shredded coconut (optional for topping)

Simply melt the almond butter and 2 Tablespoons coconut oil. Once melted and mixed well, take off the burner and add 2 tablespoons raw honey. Mix well and pour into an 8 x 8 pyrex dish. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes.

While the almond butter mixture is setting, make your chocolate topping. Melt 2 tablespoons coconut oil in a saucepan and add 1/2 cup cocoa powder. Once well incorporated, take off the burner and add 2 tablespoons raw honey. Pour this chocolate mixture on top of the frozen almond butter mixture and sprinkle with sea salt, chocolate chips, and coconut if using. Place in the freezer until ready to eat.

Once you get it out of the freezer, it is nearly impossible to cut so I ran warm water on the bottom of the pan for just a few minutes (don’t let it melt) and then I was able to cut it much easier.

These are a great alternative sweet treat. As with anything, eat in moderation, but enjoy knowing that you are giving yourself some healthy ingredients!

Here’s what day 10 looked like in the kitchen:

Breakfast – almond banana pancakes, 1 scrambled egg, 2 slices bacon, black coffee

Lunch – Ground Beef Vegetable Soup. I made this soup early this morning so that we would have it for the next few days. I only had 1 pound of ground beef, so I stocked it full of veggies and about 5 cups of my homemade beef broth. Hopefully this can ward off the flu that’s going around with its many health benefits!

Green Smoothie

Dinner – Ground Beef Vegetable Soup & 2 small Buttercup Bars