Easter has been and gone. It is the season of chocolate! Have you got a bunch of Easter eggs left in the fridge that you want to get creative with? Well, I have the perfect healthy recipe for you.
A quick disclaimer before we get started though. All foods are healthy in moderation, period. When you see ‘healthy’ in a recipe it can often be a marketing ploy to grab your attention. When I bake, I love to challenge myself to create a recipe that focuses on the inclusion of whole foods with quality nutrients like calcium, fibre and healthy fats rather than predominantly using less nutrient dense, processed foods. This is where the ‘healthy’ comes from in the recipe I will be sharing as it is a healthier alternative to other recipes in this aspect. In saying that, it also doesn’t mean it isn’t healthy to enjoy all baked treats regardless of the ingredients used to create them once in a wile.
This is a perfect intro into a quick chat about food and mindset. Easter is a time where you enjoy a few more sweet treats then you usually would. This is normal! Food is so much more than fuel. It is important to ENJOY food; the tastes, the smells, the social aspects.
Here are a few pointers to remind yourself of in the aftermath of Easter. And not just Easter, these same pointers can be applied across the year for all occasions:
- Indulging in more treats than you usually would over a weekend won’t instill a negative impact on your health.
- Don’t excessively compensate with strict eating or exercise behaviors if you have indulged more than you usually would.
- Comparison is the thief of joy. Don’t compare your choices to other people; your food enjoyment is your food enjoyment and no one (including yourself) should judge you for that.
Being in tune with your thoughts about food is important. Your mind is a catalyst to the relationship you have with food and your body. If you catch yourself thinking negatively about choices you have made, remind yourself of the pointers above. Consistency in all aspects; the food you eat, the movement you do, the encouraging thoughts you have about yourself and your choices will all help you to live a full life.
Another cool thing about all the Easter chocolate is the beautiful baking opportunity it presents. Below is a delicious Healthy Greek Yoghurt Chocolate Brownie Recipe made with leftover Easter eggs. I used lindt balls I had leftover, but you could use any chocolate eggs or chocolate you might have left in the fridge. Greek yoghurt gives this recipe an awesome texture, plus a hit of Calcium #winwin. The use of wholemeal spelt flour ups the fibre content of the treat and the use of olive oil supports the awesome texture whilst providing quality fats.
Servings: 8 Prep time: 15mins Baking Time: 20 mins
INGREDIENTS
2/3 cups (75 g) spelt flour
1/2 cup (40g) cacao powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup Easter eggs, chopped (or 1 x 100g block)
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup (60g) Granulated Sugar
1 heaped cup (300 g) Greek yogurt
4 Large Eggs
2 Teaspoons vanilla extract
8 x Easter eggs of choice, to place on top before baking
METHOD
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
- Line or grease 8 x muffin trays.
- Mix spelt flour, cacao powder and salt in a small bowl; set aside.
- Melt easter eggs of choice in microwave for approximately 30 seconds and combine with olive oil. Mix until completely melted.
- Mix in sugar, Greek yogurt, vanilla then eggs, one at a time until the batter is completely smooth.
- Add dry ingredients, whisk until just combined. Pour batter into prepared muffin times, place Easter eggs on top.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the top is just set.
- When brownies are finished baking, place the pan on a wire rack and cool.
Anyway these are on their way to the kitchen to be devoured by the girls for morning tea… with a side of ice cream of course.