Cacao Truffles

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The choco addict that I am, I’m always on the prowl for snacks that can satisfy my cravings for chocolates. Since I started with my self-imposed dietary restrictions more than a year ago, I discovered so many healthier alternatives that can really replace the snacks that I’m used to eating and are readily available at the mainstream market.

Case in point is this cacao truffles. It’s so yummy, it taste like I’m eating my usual choco bar except for the fact that it’s dairy free, gluten free, raw and cholesterol free. Try it, you’ll love it. Find this at the shelves of your local health food store.

cacao truffle

cacao truffle

cacao truffle

Pick Your Poison

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Family from Hawaii visited us recently and I was the recipient of goodies that bring back good memories of my  multiple trips to Hawaii when I was still single. In fact, my supply of these goodies can last me a year, provided they are consumed in moderation. In the old days, I abused these goodies, eating as much as I can as though there was no tomorrow. Those were the days…

On top of the boxes of Macadamia chocolates, I also got these macadamia nuts covered in rich dark chocolate, Kona coffee and  dry roasted in sea salt. Of the three, my favorite is the one covered in dark chocolate. They are all delicious, but the choco addict that I am, I prefer the one covered in chocolate of course.

How about you?

macadamia coated with dark choco

macadamia coated with dark choco

macadamia coated with dark choco

macadamia with kona coffee

macadamia with kona coffee

macadamia with kona coffee

macadamia with sea salt

macadamia with sea salt

I try so hard to eat healthy most of the time but I just can’t turn my back on the goodies that I used to love. The key is – I have to eat in moderation. It takes a lot of discipline and self-control, especially because they are within easy reach.

Tasteless Cereals

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It’s been more than a year since my last serving of the traditional cold cereals. I figured, I’ve had more than enough of the sugary brands, so my next best option is something more wholesome and bland (yes, not sweet). I can’t believe that I’m even writing that line here (knowing full well how I love sweets).

Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted whole grain cereal comes in 4 different flavors but I only buy the Original (no flavor a.k.a. bland).

ezekiel cereal

ezekiel cereal

The taste is tolerable for a sweet tooth like me because I mix the cereals with organic meusli and add cacao nibs, chia seeds, rolled oats, wheat germ, and raisins or fresh blueberries and raspberries (when in season). With hemp milk added, it makes for a quick and healthy morning pick me up.

ezekiel cereal

ezekiel cereal

ezekiel cereal

Bunny Haven

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On Palm Sunday, we went to Riesterer’s and I was just ecstatic to be in a happy place.

How do you like having a 2 feet Easter bunny (clad in milk chocolate) in your home next Easter? For $250, you can bring it home and be ready to greet smiling faces of your children and the child-at-heart alike.

easter bunny

I was in bunny haven, and I couldn’t stop snapping pics. Yours truly being a permanent fixture in the bakeshop, nobody tried to stop me from taking photos. Easter bunny, Easter eggs, Easter cross. Whatever you fancy, they were just there in one roof. And they were all clad in chocolate.

easter bunny

easter bunny

easter bunny

easter bunny

easter cross

Recalling how the bakeshop looked that day, I can’t wait for next Easter to come.

The Live Grain Difference

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I knew about this brand of bread : Ezekiel 4:9 more than a year ago, and I’ve been hooked since. I don’t want to mask the truth though. The taste is nowhere close to the traditional white bread, those French baguettes or even those Italian bread that we oh so love. Is it awful? No! It actually taste great (with its exceptionally rich, nutty flavor) as compared to other whole grain breads.

ezekiel bread

This flourless, sprouted 100% whole grain bread is all natural, has no preservatives, organic and only 80 calories per slice plus :

  • Source of Complete Protein – Rated 84.3% as efficient as the highest source of protein (comparable to that of milk or eggs)
  • Contains 18 Amino Acids – Including all 9 essential amino acids
  • Increased Digestibility – Sprouting breaks down starches in grains into simple sugars so your body can digest them easily.
  • Increased Absorption of Minerals – Sprouting breaks down enzyme inhibitors, so your body can more easily absorb calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc.
  • Increased Vitamin C – Sprouting produces vitamin C.
  • Increased Vitamin B – Sprouting increases the vitamin B2, B5 & B6.
  • Great source of Fiber – Combining sprouted grains and legumes gives a good amount of natural fiber in each serving.

To top it all, a unique slow-bake process is employed to preserve the natural fiber and bran benefits of the grains.
ezekiel bread

ezekiel bread

ezekiel bread

ezekiel bread

I buy this bread frozen at my nearby health food store. Surprisingly, I have not come across this brand at the major supermarkets, although I’ve seen it on the freezer of Fairway.

So Delicious!

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I’m not a coffee addict, but I take delight in sipping my cup of joe with my breakfast every single day. With the convenience of my K-cups and Nespresso frother, I have my coffee in a snap whenever I want it. However, I can’t drink my coffee without the usual add-ons.

In an effort to ditch the unhealthy stuff in my pantry, I had to look for better options to sweeten my coffee and coffee creamer.

I eradicated white sugar as well as brown sugar. I first used organic Agave nectar but after a few weeks I discovered organic Stevia. I now use Agave nectar and or raw honey for baking and as syrup when I make whole wheat pancakes instead of the usual syrup. Stevia is a multi-purpose natural sweetener that is sweeter than sugar and it is actually perfect for those managing their calorie intake and blood sugar. I usually add 1 packet to my coffee and it’s perfect.

organic stevia

organic stevia

It’s been a year since I was introduced to a healthier alternative to the usual coffee creamer. After years of switching back and forth between half and half and liquid coffee creamers, and experimenting with almond milk, rice milk, hemp milk as add-ons to my coffee, So Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer is now a mainstay. It comes in different flavors but I prefer the Original because of the minimal sugar content.

so delicious coconut milk creamer

so delicious coconut milk creamer

so delicious coconut milk creamer

I have to admit however, that nothing beats the taste (with coffee) of what we universally come to know as the traditional coffee creamer. I simply love that taste in my coffee but sadly, a healthier option is the only way to go for me.  A little sacrifice goes a long way. My experimentation with almond milk, rice milk, as well as hemp milk was only for a short time because I simply didn’t like the taste with coffee. They are instead the perfect partner for my muesli.

I’m not saying that the So Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer is not delicious. Don’t get me wrong, because it is (but not as yummy as the usual creamer) with the slightest hint of the taste of coconut of course. Isn’t it that some health experts say that coconut is healthy?