Image: Pana Chocolate/Instagram
I love Easter and adore chocolate but my version of ‘chocolate treat’ isn’t exactly a Cadbury Cream Egg! For all the other unashamed health freaks like me, I thought I’d list 10 healthy Easter swaps I love, in descending nerdiness from the simplest swaps at the top of the list, to the uber nerdy biohacking fun at the bottom… the only question is, how low on the list will you go?
Banjo Bear/Bunny products by The Carob Kitchen
If you’re looking for a healthy swap but are just not a fan of dark chocolate, The Carob Kitchen products are a good starting point. Gluten and caffeine-free with no added sugar and high in fibre, they also come in fun shapes – bears, eggs, mini eggs and bars – and are super addictive!
Pumpy Jackson Super Chocolate
With less sugar per bar than a carrot and no fake sugars or sugar alcohols either, this vegan friendly choccy block is also high in natural fibre, prebiotics and fats, as well as low allergen and, well, it’s SUPER yummy too! My favourites are Amber Orange and Rocky Pink Salt.
Pana Chocolate
Ready to step things up a notch? Time to join the RAW chocolate revolution with the delish Pana Chocolate. The texture is a little different, almost cake-like, the healthy fats and promises of no refined sugar, gluten, soy or dairy are seriously tempting but the best bit? This lush choccy comes in not one but TWELVE unique flavours, from sour cherry & vanilla, to coconut & goji, mint, nuts, or straight-up raw cacao, they’re all a little slice of heaven.
Food to Nourish Wow Cacao Bliss Ball or Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
Choose from individually wrapped bliss balls worthy of an egg hunt, or a scoopable spread with wholefood cred. Both are nutrient dense, organic and free from added flavours, artificial sweeteners and preservatives. If you’re all choc’d out, there are plenty of other flavours to explore too.
Peak Chocolate
Fitness addicts, this one’s for you! It’s 80% dark choccy engineered to increase energy, improve focus and accelerate muscle growth with the addition of creatine, BCAAs, caffeine and a pinch of Himalayan pink crystal salt. Peak was created by athletes and made to be enjoyed about 30 minutes before your workout, or any time throughout the day for a pick-me-up. Peak’s appetite suppressing qualities may even help with avoiding the rest of the Easter treats ;)
Cave Foods Protein Bar in Chocolate (whey base)
A lot of protein bars are full of artificial colours, flavours and thickeners but not this one! Cave Foods bars have minimal ingredients and are full of chocolatey goodness, unless of course you prefer to coffee or vanilla flavours ;)
Bulletproof Chocolate Fudge Collagen Protein Bites
OK things are starting to get pretty nerdy now. These mini bars are the perfect Easter snack for low-carb, high-fat loving health junkies and taste like buttery, chocolatey shortbread. But here’s the crazy part; they’re made with Bulletrpoof Collagen protein from grass-fed cows, rich in the same amino acids found in bone broth! They’ll keep your bones, skin and hair healthy and are also topped up with Bulletrpoof Brain Octane and XCT oil to keep your energy steady and your brain fired up.
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Hot Cocoa
Apparently hot cacao drinks are traditional ways to ingest “medicines” such as the remedial mushrooms and herbs found in Four Sigmatic products. Who knew!? Choose from relaxing Reishi, designed to melt away stress, or energising Cordyceps to pep you up. The perfect cuppa to sip on while the kids (or your mates) are enjoying their Cadbury fix.
Chocolate protein powder from Promise Nutrition (whey) or Passion Projects (vegan)
Get your recipe right and protein smoothies can taste just like a Maccas thick shake! I like to drink mine with water or unsweetened almond milk and thicken it with ice, a teaspoon of coconut oil and half a frozen banana or a handful of frozen berries.
Pruvit KETO OS in Chocolate Swirl flavor
The most passionate biohackers out there might be waking up to a hit of choccy flavoured therapeutic ketones, designed to increase focus, boost energy and supercharge athletic performance. Note: make sure you get your super nerd on and do your research before trying these, they’re a little extreme and you need all the facts!
Get more great tips from Libby and the Buf Girls at www.bufgirls.com