Best Chocolate Chip Cookie

I am reposting one of my favorite homemade chocolate chip cookie recipes. I whip this up often, as it is easy, FAST, and satisfies my sweet tooth without making me feel too bad :) the cookie uses healthy fats and almond flour. It is sweetened by honey and cooks in 12 minutes! This recipe makes 6 cookies.

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Ingredients:

½ c whole wheat flour

½ c almond meal

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1  egg

2 T honey

1 ½ tsp vanilla

½ cup chocolate chips

1 T coconut oil, melted is ideal

2 T almond milk

Directions:

Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Combine all wet ingredients in a smaller bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry and add chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Makes about 6 cookies.

For a vegan version, use 1 T ground flax seed +  3 T warm water instead of the egg, and use maple syrup instead of honey. Enjoy! What is your favorite type of cookie?

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How NOT to blow your healthy eating this July 4th weekend.

July 4th means a lot of food, drinking, and dessert. But it does not mean that you have to throw your healthy eating out the window! This is what I would do before heading out this weekend:

1. Workout before you leave for your BBQ or outing.  (you could workout after but I like before better)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSrdAwUfCUM&w=560&h=315]

2. Drink a lot of water the morning of. I would eat a light breakfast. Maybe an egg, avocado and toast? Or some nuts and a banana. You could even do a green juice! I would never leave my house with an empty stomach. That would just set me up for disaster. Get something in your belly so you are not starving causing you to overeat.

3. I always try to bring a healthy side dish or appetizer. I am bringing a hearty and delicious salad to my families BBQ. Bringing something is helpful because if there is nothing on the "healthy" side at your BBQ, you know you always have your dish to fall back on!

4. If you are going to a place where there will be a lot of people, loud music and drinking it is easy to get caught up in the excitement and just start shoving food in your mouth. Try to be mindful. Find a seat and enjoy your beer (or cocktail!) and food. Sitting makes a HUGE difference and will somehow make you feel more satisfied.

5.  Fill your plate with veggies or salad, first! Then you can add in your protein and starch. I would grab a sweet potato or brown rice if that is an option!

How I will fill my plate:

- half my plate will be filled with a salad or veggies of some sort

- a protein (probably grilled chicken). About the size of my cell phone, or smaller.

- possibly some type of starch. Brown rice? Sweet potato?

- and I will always leave room for dessert!!!!

6. How I will choose my dessert: I will most likely scope out the table and choose something chocolaty. I love chocolate. And I will take just a little to satisfy me. Look at the table first, then pick your favorite dessert. Who knows, it might even be the fruit!?

7. Try to avoid sugary margarita mixes and drinks. I would stick to the less sugary drinks. After every alcoholic drink grab a water. If you are hosting a BBQ maybe you can try one of these: (Thanks Sarah!)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMPFQxfl5kE&w=560&h=315]

So there you have it. Do not stress about what you are eating, just enjoy every bite. Holidays should be fun. Do not deprive yourself, that will just lead to over indulging. Enjoy your friends and family (or whoever you are with)! Be mindful of what you are putting in your body. And if it is a chocolate chop cookie, enjoy and embrace every bite :)

Be safe and  happy fourth!

4 ingredient brownies

raw brownies

For my wedding Elise catered the perfect lunch for my bridesmaids and I.  She made the best brownies ever.  I invited her to come over so she could show us all how to make these delicious treats!

What you need:

1C cacao powder

1C dates (take the pits out!)

1C walnuts

1tsp salt

food processor

Delicious healthy chocolate chip cookie

Image

I love chocolate. I love dessert. I really do. So when Elise (from Lillybelle Foods) told me about her recipe for a healthier version of a chocolate chip cookie I was alllll about trying it.

Regardless of being considered more healthy, I LOVED IT ! Try it, and YOU tell me how amazing it is, k?

• The only sweetener in the cookie is honey (and the chocolate chips)
• No butter! We used only coconut oil

YUMMMMMMMMM

Ingredients:

½ c whole wheat flour

½ c almond meal

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1  egg

2 T honey

1 ½ tsp vanilla

½ cup chocolate chips

1 T coconut oil, melted is ideal

2 T almond milk

Directions:

Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Combine all wet ingredients in a smaller bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry and add chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Makes about 6 cookies.

For a vegan version, use 1 T ground flax seed +  3 T warm water instead of the egg, and use maple syrup instead of honey.