A Healthy Halloween Treat {for you!}

If I had trick-or-treaters coming to my door, I would hand out Peeled Snacks instead of candy to help put an end to the rapidly rising rates of childhood obesity and type-II diabetes. Their organic single serving snacks are available at Starbucks, a great alternative to muffins, doughnuts and cookies. 'Much-ado-about-Mango' is my favorite.  But since no trick-or-treaters come to my physical door, I'll have to give out my treats here and maybe you'll be a lucky winner!

What's up for grabs? A Peeled Snacks Organic Fruit Variety Pack (a value of $22.99) which contains 10 single serving snacks: 2 each of pine-4-Pineapple, much-ado-about-Mango, Apricot-a-lot, Cherry-go-round & Apple-2-the-core. So you can throw out the candy that sits in your desk drawer and at 3pm grab one of these snacks. 

How do I win? Leave a comment below before Tuesday 11/1 at 9pm EST telling me what you'd like to see more of here on the Lunchmeat blog. Please include your name. One lucky winner will be chosen at random and announced on Wednesday 11/2.

GOOD LUCK! And Happy Healthy Halloween!

xoxo
Jess

UPDATE: Congrats Nicole! Please send an email to Jessica@JessicaProcini.com with your mailing address so I can send you your prize! Congrats again!

Raw Chocolate Truffles

I bought raw truffles like these at Essene Market a few months ago for an afternoon snack.  They were yummy and satisfying but I thought I could figure out how to make them myself before paying for them again.  They contain raw cacao which as numerous benefits.  Another superfood, cacao contains magnesium, the essential ingredient to help you build bones and high levels of all good stuff to keep you focused, alert and happy. It can come in multiple forms such as cacao powder, cacao nibs and whole seeds.  Cacao is raw chocolate so if you taste the nibs (I do not recommend), which are needed for the recipe, it’ll taste pretty bitter.  That’s why Mr. Milton Hershey adds so much sugar to his chocolate. Now you can have your chocolate without the sugar. 

Need:

¼ cup organic raw cacao nibs

½ cup organic walnuts

1 ½ tablespoons agave nectar (you can use soaked dates or honey instead)

Topping of your choosing: I chose unsweetened coconut but you could use raw cacao powder, ground almonds, or ground walnuts

Do:

Put walnuts in vitamix or food processor and grind until mealy.

Add cacao nibs and continue to blend until combined. Add the agave (the sweetener) and process until a paste texture forms.  Roll into balls and then into the topping of your choosing.  Keep in fridge or freezer until ready to enjoy!

Image via http://www.aconscioussplurge.com/Chocolates---Treats.html

In Love With...

Last time I was in Grenada, I picked up some dark chocolate that was made there locally.  I’ve been having it as a sweet treat after dinner some nights and it really hits the spot. But my stash is running dangerously low and another trip to Grenada is not in the near future.  Lucky for me I’ve found a chocolate that I LOVE to get me through. 

Created by two fellow students of IIN, Nibmor chocolate is AWESOME.  I picked up a bar the last time I was in Whole Foods.  It’s not as bitter as other dark chocolates, perfectly creamy, and melts in your mouth.  It’s completely organic, vegan and free from dairy, gluten, and genetically modified ingredients.  It’s also made with agave nectar rather then sugar which won’t spike your blood sugar (making it friendly to diabetics) since it has the glycemic index of about an apple.  I also noticed it has lower fat and calories than my chocolate from Grenada for a greater portion size. 

I picked up the original kind but they also have bars with almonds, caco nibs, or brown rice.  I’m going online to order a case right now since my one bar won’t make it 24 hours in my house.  I highly recommend you try it out and let me know what you think!

PS. Stay tuned for a recipe I’ll be posting for an easy homemade chocolate treat!