For the Chocolate and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Lovers!

I've decided to dedicate and entire chapter of this healthy eating recipe book to all of us chocolate and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup lovers out there! After all, nothing beats the decadent taste of Godiva Chocolate, or a giant Reese's Peanut Butter Cup! But the average Godiva chocolate bar is around 250 to 300 calories, and a giant Reese's Peanut Butter Cup is a whopping 600 calories!!!! It's safe to say that if we indulge in such things even once per week, we could be looking at a little more of ourselves in the mirror in less than a month's time, no doubt!

 

So, to cure that sweet-tooth, I've developed some recipes that help to keep the chocolate and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup monster fed so that it doesn't undermine our efforts to stay fit and trim.

 

I'm into healthy eating, Folks, not starvation. Clearly, anyone who is on a weight-reduction routine should not indulge in these recipes unless they stick to the lower calorie ones. For the ones of us out there who have reached our weight loss goals and are into developing a strong, lean body mass by replacing unwanted fat with metabolically active muscle (which is the ONLY WAY to keep the fat off, by the way), these recipes can help feed the muscle and burn the fat when eaten at the correct times. Knowing when to eat these snacks and desserts is CRUCIAL to building a strong, lean body. If you eat these snacks and desserts at the wrong time, you could be looking at a few extra pounds of something other than lean muscle!

 

WARNING! None of these snacks or desserts are to be taken to work to be eaten at a desk, Folks! Go ahead and test this theory. Take them to work and eat them at your desk for your mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack and watch your bum grow ever wider! I triple dog dare you!

You are further advised that these recipes for snacks and desserts are to be prepared and eaten as part of a healthy diet and exercise regimen. They are NOT to be eaten in a way so as to 'reward' oneself for exercise or earned activity points, or as a reward or re-feed for 'earned' points for 'diet deficits' at the end of a week!  Those who are seriously losing fat weight should indulge in these recipes with much CAUTION.

 

The first couple recipes in this collection are moderate carbohydrate snacks to be eaten only after weight-training, or cardio/strength training combination workouts ONLY. Never eat these snacks after a cardio-only session; i.e., running, power walking, jogging, or aerobics, or you will be defeating your purpose for your cardio workout! Cardio only workouts are for FAT BURNING, and the body does not need carbohydrates to recover after cardio!

 

I repeat: the following snacks are to replenish glycogen stores and help the body speed recovery for muscle-building and will NOT facilitate FAT LOSS! Timing is all-important here if you want to feed the muscle and STARVE THE FAT … these snacks are to be consumed immediately after weight training so that the body will use the carbs for muscle building purposes. Tip: Drink an 8 oz glass of cold, skim milk with either of these snacks for another 80 to 90 calories and you'll really be doing your body a favour with some extra protein!

 

Peanut Butter Cup Rice Cake

1 whole grain, brown rice cake (not to be confused with rice and corn cakes!)

1 tbsp natural (no sugar, salt, hydrogenated oils, or corn syrup added) peanut butter

1 tbsp dark or natural cocoa powder made into a paste with about 1/4 cup stevia extract and a few drops of water

 

Spread both peanut butter and cocoa paste into a swirl atop a brown rice cake, eat and enjoy! Contains 170 calories.

 

Choco-Nut Energy Bar

1 tbsp cocoa made into a paste with 1/4 cup stevia extract and a few drops water

1/8 cup (2 tbsp) Ann's House Energy Blend trail mix

1 brown rice cake

 

Spread cocoa paste on top of brown rice cake and top with trail mix. Eat and enjoy! Contains 150 calories.

 

 

The following desserts are for post-workout sessions, and may be eaten after cardio workouts and/or weight-training sessions. They are low-carb choices, which are ideal for post cardio/aerobic only workouts. They may also be eaten as any dessert should be eaten … in moderation and not too late at night.

 

Low-Carb Choco-Nut Bar

4 tbsp cocoa powder made into a paste with stevia

1 pack natural almonds (100 calorie portion size), ground

 

Mix ingredients well and put into a very small covered dish, chill well and eat as a dessert. Tastes like a brownie or a piece of fudge without all the sugar or the flour. Contains 145 calories.

 

Low-Carb Peanut Butter Cup

4 tbsp cocoa paste made with stevia extract

1 tbsp peanut butter

 

Place half of the cocoa paste on bottom of a glass dish. Chill until hardened in the freezer. Take out, spread the peanut butter over the hardened chocolate paste. Place back in the freezer and allow to harden again. Take out of the freezer and spread the remaining cocoa paste on top of the peanut butter. Place in freezer for one last time to solidify thoroughly before eating. Allow to thaw a little before eating. Consistency will be a little chewier and a bit messier than a normal peanut butter cup, since stevia is used in the place of cocoa butter. You might consider using a spoon or a fork to eat it so it won't get all over your hands! Contains 140 calories.

 

The following are desserts and snacks that can also be eaten post cardio or weight-training, as well as enjoyed after the early dinner meal.

('Early' means eating the dinner meal prior to 6:00 p.m., Folks! You should never eat any carbs after 6:00 p.m., and no snack after that should be more than 100 calories ... ever! If so, SHAME ON YOU! Congrats, you completely unwound your entire day's worth of good efforts! Try again tomorrow!)

 

Choco-Nut Yoghurt

Sugar-Carb Control yoghurt cup (50 calorie kind, any flavour of choice available on the market)

1 tbsp cocoa powder

About 4 packets stevia extract

1/4 cup Ann's House Energy Blend trail mix

 

Mix all ingredients together well. Chill and enjoy. Tastes like an American-style chocolate pudding dessert. Contains 215 calories. Substitute 1 (100 calorie) pack of almonds in the place of the trail mix to reduce the calories down to 165.