Healthy Fudge Recipe

Two weeks ago I attended a sampling at a local kids center geared towards children with sensory needs. I offered free samples of my products' chewables made from 25 fruits, vegetables, grains, berries and grapes. My product helps kids get more of their recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables. I had also prepared a healthy version of what my community likes to call fudge. It's a fun, easy and healthy recipe! You can definitely get the kids involved as there is no cooking. I would recommend children ages 3 and up. 


Ingredients: 
Cooking non-stick spray of your choice, Juice Plus+ Complete protein powder (or your choice of protein powder), walnuts, dried cranberries, peanut butter (or almond butter), hemp plus granola, and maple syrup. Here are the ingredients I used:

Instructions: 
Mix together dry ingredients then stir in wet ingredients. (You may need some elbow grease at this point.) Press mixture into 9 x 13 pan.  Cover top with a layer of shredded coconut or sesame seeds (I omitted these); press into the surface of the mixture.  Refrigerate.  Cut into bars when mixture is solid.  Keep refrigerated between servings.


Allergens: 
gluten, nuts, milk


Benefits: 
1 cup Chocolate Juice Plus+ Complete powder (non-GMO soy protein)

2 cups Nature’s Path Organic Hemp Plus Granola (Omega 3s/6s)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (improves cholesterol)

1/2 cup dried cranberries (antioxidants - protects cells from free radicals)

1 cup maple syrup (amino acids – essential to cell maintenance, function and regeneration)

1 cup creamy peanut butter (non-hydrogenated; source of protein used to rebuild muscles)

Results: 

I handed out a sample of the fudge to all the parents of the children who attended the Early Bird special at the children's center. All but one refused. The mother who refused said since her children couldn't have gluten she didn't want to sample. Everyone who ate a piece commented on how surprisingly delicious it tasted after hearing the ingredients. Try them for yourself! 

Be well.

Beneficial Supplements

A very small percentage of people get everything they need from eating healthy, whole foods in which most vitamins can be consumed from naturally occuring sources.

I am thankful that my family receives a good portion of their vitamins from fruits, veggies and grains. For me, I eat on average, about 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day - sometimes more and sometimes less. I really enjoy vegetables so sometimes getting fruits in is best done through a smoothie. My son on the other hand really likes fruits (he's 2.5) though he does love carrots, broccoli, along with green beans and sometimes spinach. We keep a good selection of fruits and vegetables on hand. He's learned to love tomatoes last month which made me pretty darn excited (check out blog under "tomatoes" for the story). For his age, he will try anything at least once but typically he will try it again and again until he determines he likes it. I never give up on offering him anything because one day he may want it, like it and ask for it.

For the portion of vitamins we don't get from our whole foods, we take supplements. We also take other types of supplements that have benefits specifically to digestion health.

Every day my son eats one acidophilus (probiotics) chewable, two vitamin C chewables, 10 drops of ALJ herbal extract and his whole foods gummies made of 17 fruits, veggies and grains (usually 8 to 12 gummies - this is double/triple dosage for kids, and it's safe since it's whole foods only).

I take the same whole foods supplement in capsule form, ALJ herbal extract in capsule form, and sometimes (especially during cold season) two vitamin C chewables.

We make smoothies throughout the year and we add local raw honey to help combat allergies to pollen, flax seed meal (omega 3s, positive effect on cholesterol), milk thistle (20-40 drops, protects the liver and an awesome detoxifier among other benefits), and a protein powder by the same company that makes the whole foods supplement.

Now for links to the products:
Vitamin C Chewables (though this link is to their immunity support, it's the same brand and different flavor)
Life Time Acidophilus Chewables
I purchase the local raw honey from a farmer's market in my area. The local business does not have a website that I can find at this time.
ALJ - Herbal Extract - Bronchial and Respiratory Support; another option to fight outdoor allergens.
Flaxseed
Milk Thistle (This is the brand I purchase. Nature's Sunshine carries only capsules. I like to put the drops into my smoothie.)


Would you like to learn more about any of these supplements? Do you take something that's not on my list and you would like to share? Please leave a comment. I enjoy your feedback.