Aug 17, 2016

BEAT THE HEAT WITH CHOCOLATE COCONUT POPSICLES ~ Jaclyn Irwin, the Holistic Foodie

As someone who loves chocolate and keeping cool in the summer months, creating a healthy and delicious treat that wouldn’t require turning on the oven is crucial. These popsicles are easy to make, contain real whole food ingredients, and have just enough healthy fats to help keep you feeling satisfied. They can also help with your chocolate, sugar cravings without creating a spike in your blood sugar. The hardest part is waiting for them to freeze before you can dig in, but if you make them the night before, they will be read to enjoy the next day!

These popsicles are completely dairy free and can be made nut free by simply omitting the almond butter and crushed almonds on top. Hope you enjoy these delicious popsicles as much as I have.

Collagen boost:

For these popsicles I added withinUs TruMarine™ collagen. Collagen helps maintain the health of your skin, hair, nails, and joints. Typically, after the our mid 20s, we lose approximately 1% of our collagen every year; however, that doesn't mean all hope is lost. With this product, you can help your body naturally produce more collagen.

withinUs TruMarine™ Collagen has been clinically proven by Health Canada to help improve skin hydration and reduce signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, pore size, and pigmentation associated with UVA/UVB-induced skin damage. I really love this particular brand of collagen because not only is it the highest, premium grade available, it is a Type I collagen - the most abundant form of collagen in the body. It also has superior bio-availability with a host of nutritional benefits. Beat the heat and enjoy a delicious, healthy treat.

Chocolate Coconut Popsicles:

1 can full fat coconut milk

½ cup raw cacao powder

1 tbsp. coconut oil

10-15 grams of withinUs TruMarine™ Collagen (feel free to add more if you wish)

1 ½ tbsp. raw honey (or maple syrup)

½ tbsp. vanilla extract

½ frozen banana

2 tbsp. of almond butter or hazelnut butter (optional but recommended)

Pinch of sea salt

BPA-free Popsicle mold

For the drizzle (optional - but highly recommended):

2 TBS chocolate chips

1 tsp coconut oil

1-2 TBS finely chopped almonds (for adding to the mix and adding on top afterwards- optional)

Instructions:

Blend all ingredients for the popsicles in a high powered blender until smooth.
Add in chopped almonds (optional, but I liked the added crunch) to your blender (but do not blend again) and then pour directly into your popsicle mold.
Freeze overnight (at least 6-8 hours).
To remove, run under warm water for about 10-15 seconds, slide out the popsicle and drizzle with melted chocolate and a little extra crushed almonds (finely chopped).
Put back in your freezer (on a plate lined with parchment paper for about 10 minutes) until chocolate drizzle has hardened.
Serve and devour!

Jaclyn Irwin is a Holistic Nutritionist based in Toronto, and the owner of Holistic Foodie - a food and lifestyle blog with a focus on using nutrient dense whole foods to nourish the body from the inside out. With a background in green beauty, working at The Detox Market and a love for real unprocessed food, Jaclyn aims to inspire people to get to know their inner holistic foodie and learn to love food again. Jaclyn has contributed to Jules wellness, The Naked Label, and is featured in Jesse Lane’s e-book. You can connect with Jaclyn on Instagram.