<![CDATA[welcome to Abundance foods!

<![CDATA[welcome to Abundance foods! - BLOG]]>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:56:11 +0000Weebly<![CDATA[Want to Raise Your Vibration? Try My Top 12 Foods!]]>Mon, 26 Aug 2024 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.abundancefoods.co/blog/want-to-raise-your-vibration-try-my-top-12-foods

Anyone that knows me knows how important I think vibrations are!

Whether it's the vibes you give off or the vibes you are drawn towards or repelled by, vibrations affect everything we are. We're like two-way radios, receiving and interpreting vibrations from around us, and we're also creating and sending vibrations out into the world.

High Frequency Foods and Mood
Even though Einstein proved it, I'm not really surprised at the lack of empirical research into the vibrational frequency of foods! There is research supporting the effects of food and mood, and there is evidence-based research out there that shows the relationship between eating more plant-based foods, fruits and vegetables and their positive affect on mental health. So I suppose, when you know, you know and you don't need science to prove it to you!

How does this relate to the frequency of foods?
There are also all kinds of studies showing that people who eat more fruits and vegetables reported a higher state of mental well-being. Also, in 2017, there was a study that supported the relationship between the mood levels of satisfaction and happiness and the amount of fruits and vegetables eaten during the week - like I said, that dopamine party for your cells!

On the flip side, the evidence of the harmful effects to our health linked to ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is growing. One study even shows that eating high amounts of UPFs - particularly those with artificial sweeteners-may increase the risk of developing depression and other serious conditions! Source

So many people are now realising that when they eat nutrient-poor, unbalanced, processed food, their energetic vibration is just off. So it makes sense to me that when you instead feed your body with more nutrient-dense, colourful, fresh foods and wholesome foods, your body’s cells just go crazy with joy! I think they go “Ooh Monsieur, with these wholesome foods you are spoiling us - the kind of foods I need to live my best life!" I personally think they celebrate and throw a bit of a party! It’s a high vibrating dopamine party for the cells, and your mind and your soul are invited too. And that's why you feel joy right down to a cellular level, in your mood in your thinking and of course in your vibrational frequency!

These are my Top 12 foods for getting your food party started, as well as some some suggestions for alternative ways to get them into you.

1. Green Leafy Veggies, especially the dark ones

Lettuces, kale, cavolo-nero, rocket, cabbage, broccoli, chard, spinach, sprouts etc., are bursting with high vibration energy. Because they literally “grow toward the sun" you’re literally eating the energy-giving life force of the sun. Greens are such a great way to increase your body’s vibrations as their energy is “almost pure sunlight.” So, you know how the sun likes to hide from us in the UK, whatever the season! Well, in the winter, especially eating your greens gives your body that boost of vitamins C and A.

If you really can't bear leafy veggies, a great alternative for you is to fill up on other dark green powerhouse foods like super green powders and adaptogens (adaptogens are plants and mushrooms that help your body respond to stress, anxiety, fatigue and overall wellbeing).

You can buy these are powder blends at health shops or online. They're basically dried and concentrated green veggies like I've listed above, but with added bonuses like moringa, green tea, spirulina, chlorella etc. Many brands are also organic, free from gluten, dairy, artificial sweeteners and anything else that shouldn't be there.

2. Fresh Berries

Blueberries, Strawberries, Blackcurrants, Goji berries, cranberries etc. are also full of good vibes, and nature's candy - natural sweetness. All fresh fruits are fabulous and will boost your vibration, but berries are at the top of my list for a few reasons. They’re low in sugar which is great for people struggling with unbalanced blood sugar. They’re also super high in antioxidants, which have lots of benefits, including helping to boost your immune system and reduce inflammation.

Fresh berries can often be more expensive, and also come sprayed with chemicals. Opt for organic and you're paying even more. But just like with the dark green leafies, you can get the many benefits of berries in powder form. Try to choose a brand that is organic, and free of anything else that shouldn't be there. This is often a less expensive way to get the benefits of organic berries without the usual price tag. Although, you don't get the much-needed fibrous parts of the fruits, single or multi-berry juices are also a great way to get their benefits.

3. Sprouts

Did you know you can sprout almost any seed, bean or grain. It’s easy to do and as you don’t need hectares of space, you can do them right in your kitchen! You can find loads of inexpensive sprouting kits online. I use one like in the image above that I bought online. Sprouts are super high in protein (up to 35% of a sprout is protein) and rich in enzymes which help your body do all of the amazing stuff your body does. They’re also full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Sprouting also gives beans, seeds and grains an extra health boost by neutralizing the phytic acid in these foods. Phytic acid is an element that binds with nutrients so that your body can’t access them! So basically, the seed is Clark Kent and the sprouted seed is Superman – I love that analogy!

4. Fresh Herbs

Herbs are some of my favourite high vibrational foods! Not only do fresh herbs make our food taste fantastic which boosts your enjoyment and energetic vibration while you eat anyway, but many of them have powerful healing properties. Many of these benefits have been proven by science, and I think that you can feel them when you tune in to mindfully eating your food!

For example, coriander or cilantro as it’s known in the Americas, is an excellent detoxifier while rosemary has lots of great antioxidants. And one of my favourite Italian herbs, oregano has a natural oil that supports health with its antimicrobials, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.

5. Spices

Jamaicans and spice - go together like a horse and carriage! Growing up in a Afro-Caribbean household means you're never far from a spice - anywhere in the house! For thousands of years people have been using spices as a delicious way to raise the energetic vibration of food. Turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, black pepper and cayenne are just a few spices that are full of powerful healing properties, and they can help with everything from digestion to blood sugar balance and even arthritis!
Many spices are also very rich in colour, which means they make great natural colourings. I use tumeric for example to naturally add a deep yellow colour to my Vegan Lemon Curd Cheesecake.

I also love the many ancient and current ways in which spices have been used outside of the kitchen too. From embalming, to insomnia cures to insect repellants, spices are the masters of Mamma Nature's larder!

6. Beans & Legumes

Beans and legumes are great sources of plant-based protein, making them a great addition to a high-vibrational diet. They're full of fibre and folate, and research shows they can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Plus, there's such a wide variety of ways you can eat them.

For some hearty, plant-based protein, I love adding beans to my many favorite soups or stews. Then there's the classic hummus - can never get enough of that! I love the four-beans mixed salads you can get in tins from the supermarket. I add some sweetcorn, chopped peppers and/or onions, herbs, spices and a tablespoon of flaxseed or other plant-oil and I've got me a colourful, protein-rich lunch! I often swap out rice and pasta for quinoa and large cous cous too. It fills you up same way, but without the carbs and you get the added nutrients and fibre.

You can even use the canned water that chickpeas come in. Know as aquafaba, can use it to lighten desserts and mousses and make plant-based meringues.

7. Nuts & Seeds

Raw, unsalted nuts and seeds also make the list of high vibration foods for plenty of reasons. Not only are they a great source of protein and fibre, but they also contain healthy fats like omega 3s that your body (and especially your brain) need to function properly. There's a reason why nuts feature heavily in things like my cheesecake fillings and bases and my No-bake energy Balls.

There's an abundance of really easy recipes online for making your own raw nuts and seeds bars too. They're a great, healthy mid-morning or afternoon snack for adults and children, which with all their protein and fibre, should keep your cravings for doo doo at bay. This is one of the reasons why I love adding an omega seed mix to my Fully Loaded Flapjacks.

8. Blue Green Algae

Yes, I’m suggesting you eat algae...but don’t be afraid! Blue green algae’s like moringa, green tea, spirulina, macha and chlorella are among the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet which make them super high vibration!

You can buy them as a dried multi-blend online, or in tea bags at your health food shop or all the major supermarkets sell them. Add them to smoothies, or your juices, sprinkle over your salads, or (if you can’t handle the taste) you can get them in tablet form. Just like spices, blue green algaes are great for naturally colouring desserts. I use organic macha powder to colour my Luscious Lime Cheesecake.

9. Fermented foods

When I say ‘fermented foods’, I'm referring to those that preserve the "gut friendly" bacteria from the fermentation process which can be used by our bodies to improve our gut health. Foods like sauerkraut, apple cider vinegar, organic miso, kimchi and kombucha. This is different from pickling by the way, which relies on heat - fermentation involves no heat, so the good bacteria aren’t killed.

There's no denying the importance of gut health to our overall health and well-being. In fact, a large part of our immune system is related to gut health. Our gut (digestive system) is home to a whole ecosystem of bacteria. Some are “good” and help your body stay healthy and others are “bad” and – if allowed to overgrow – can contribute to many poor health conditions like allergies, eczema, joint pain, fibromyalgia, depression and even cancer.

The great news is that you can easily eat your way to improved gut immunity by getting naturally fermented foods into your diet! A spoonful of apple cider vinegar at breakfast (organic and with the mother), some sauerkraut with your sandwich at lunch, and a cup of miso tea before dinner are just some of the ways you can start slowing without it seeming like too much effort. You can also very easily make your own sauerkraut like I do with just a large clip lid jar from Ikea and one organic cabbage.

10. Teas

I took me a while to get here, but now I love teas! Growing up we were served up the big brand ones or the bush tea a relative would bring back from Jamaica, neither of which I enjoyed to be honest.

These days I love teas! I think they're loaded with powerful antioxidants, natural healing and health-promoting properties that make them one of the best very high vibration foods! Green and white teas are full of powerful anti-oxidants to support your immune system and fight inflammation. Herbal teas like chamomile, valerian and passionflower are calming and can help you relax and sleep better. Some other teas like lemon balm, passionflower, and tulsi can help to calm you, which ends up protecting your energetic field. Teas like licquorice, neem and slimline teas are also great for cleansing.

Teas are one of the easiest ways of improving your vibration and health in my opinion. You know you're supposed to drink a target amount of water every day, right! So, just swap out some of your cups of water for cups of teas - simples!

11. Beetroot

The humble beetroot, which when I was growing up I only ever ate pickled in vinegar in jars! It's recently been given the plant power limelight by the late Dr. Michael Mosley, who on his Channel 4 show, raved about it's many of benefits.

According to Dr. Mosley, these red jewels benefits extend beyond the kitchen. Rich in nitrates, the vegetable when ingested, is converted into nitric oxide, a compound that improves blood flow and reduces the risk of heart attacks or strokes. The doctor's claims are not unfounded. Multiple clinical trials have shown that beetroot can indeed reduce blood pressure and enhance athletic performance. The increased blood flow facilitated by beetroot, Dr. Mosley suggests, could also help keep the brain younger.

Apart from the juice, other beetroot products such as beetroot hummus and jarred beetroot have also seen a spike in sales. As I've re-discovered it in it's more natural form, I love to roast organic beetroot with my other root vegetables and add it to my smoothies. I even use a tiny amount as a natural colouring in my Dark Chocolate covered Rose & Pistachio Dates. I love juicing it too. As the colour is so deep, I make it into a "Ribena substitute" by mixing it with pineapple juice for natural sweetness and topping it up with spring or sparkling mineral water.

12. The Sweet Potato

Growing up in a Jamaican household, I find it quite amusing that It’s so common place now to be offered oven-baked, skinny sweet potatoes as an alternative to friesh - have you also noticed that? Lucky for me I've always know that because they’re grown in the ground, sweet potatoes, just like beetroots, offer grounding energy while raising your vibration!

Did you know that just one sweet potato gives you 102% of the vitamin A you need each day?! This helps keep your eyes healthy as well as your immune system, your body's defense against viruses and germs! It's also good for your reproductive system and organs like your heart and kidneys. Research has also found that the dietary fiber in sweet potatoes is good for gut health. One study found that the dietary fiber in sweet potatoes can even act as a prebiotic. Sweet potatoes are also high in beta-carotene and are one of the only plant foods that supply biotin. Your body needs biotin to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids, the building blocks of protein.

Good news - sweet potatoes are another easy food to include in your diet. I often sub white potatoes for them in things like fries, wedges, roasties and mashed potato. I also add them to my soups to naturally thicken them, add them roasted and cubed to buddha bowls, and one of my fave recipes is a mushroom and sweet potato risotto!

Remember – sometimes It’s not just about the food!

Let me leave you with this thought - food can actually be the easy part!

The hard part about raising your vibrationn can be the emotional and mental stuff that gets in the way! You know how we can be manipulated into voting certain ways, or looking at the world in certain ways, by the fear-based main stream media, and social media algorithms. Have you ever thought about why they’re called that? Look at the second part of that word; rhythms, i.e. vibrations!

All this kind of noise which can in turn set up unhealthy patterns and habits for us around food and the way we look at the world around us and ourselves. For example, eating when we’re stressed, bored, tired, emotional, anxious or just having cravings for things that aren't great for us.

In my opinion we can’t just change your diet without changing ourselves! To work towards being truly happier and healthier we need to nourish our mind, body AND soul. That can mean looking at our wok/life balance, the amount of stress we let into our life, getting enough exercise and plenty of relaxation etc. So, whatever journey you go on to make that change, I salute you for taking that first step and I wish you an abundance of joy and resiliance on your travels!

Please Note: Some of these foods can interact negatively with certain medications. So always make sure to speak to your GP before adding more of them into your diet.

]]><![CDATA[My Signature By M range makes it's public debut - An Evening at the Chef's Table!]]>Wed, 27 Apr 2022 10:13:37 GMThttps://www.abundancefoods.co/blog/my-signature-by-m-range-makes-its-public-debut-an-evening-at-the-chefs-table

You know when you start your business and you dream about where it might end up going?

Well, when I started making my range of desserts I used to look at those exquisite looking desserts online and on Instagram and think, "One day I'd like one of them to be mine" - well that day has finally arrived! A version of my Signature By M Chocolate Orange Dessert has been featured as a course of a delicious eight course plant-based tasting menu and immerse sound bath at The Tetley - #Grateful! Organic Chocolate ganache, with a layer of chocolate orange mousse on a biscuit base, infused with orange zest, cacao and orange oil!

When I started Abundance Foods all those years ago I never would have imagined that one day I would finally get to present one my desserts in this way...but dreams have a way of manifesting like that! So this is my review of:

An Evening at the Chef's Table, at The Tetley, Leeds.

Set in their art gallery, 'An evening at the Chef's Table' was billed as a delicious eight course tasting menu and immerse sound bath, prepared by their new Head Chef, Jade Crawley, and it really was a very special evening! Ordinarily as a caterer you would just supply products for an event, but as it'd been ages since I went to a tasting menu, this proved to be the perfect opportunity to give it another go. Being totally truthful, it was also an opportunity for me to meet and chat with people who are following a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle, or who are just curious about it, which nearly always proves to be a great source of inspiration and ideas for me.

On arrival we were warmly welcomed by Lizzie with a lovely complimentary drink, and a chance to mingle and soak in the beautiful art space and embrace the immersive sound experience. If you've never experienced an immersive sound experience, you could describe it as a deeply-immersive, full-body listening experience, that intentionally uses sound to see how it reacts with our perception of flavour. The event was held in their gallery on the first floor. A stunning space with lots of little rooms off it, full of period features, furnishings and artists' work. Watch the videos below to get a taste of what I'm on about.

Then the courses arrived. Every course was announced by the lovely Faye, and we were given a little info about the inspiration behind it and what to expect. You were also offered the option of six alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink pairings, carefully crafted by the bar team in collaboration with the head Chef for an extra cost, £35 for alcoholic, and £20 for non-alcoholic. We chose not to this time, but afterwards said when we do our next tasting menu, we will.

Course 1: Baby gem lettuce kimchi

The smallest 'course' I've ever had! Really fresh flavours, especially the herbs, many of which hit you later - really delicious...A case of less is more!

Course 2: Lemon, Almond Edamame steamed bun

A bit more substantial, and nice and doughy, which is how I like my steamed buns. Very, delicious and I particularly loved the edamame flavour and the way it balanced the acidity of the lemon.

Course 3: Edamame, Housemade tofu, Mint oil salad

This course particularly blew me away because I don't normally eat soya, but the tofu was cooked and seasoned to perfection!

There was a real explosion of flavours, and it worked with the mint.

Course 4: Dashi teapots, Dumpling, Aubergine rounds, fresh herbs

I really enjoyed this combo, and the beautiful way it was presented. It arrived without the broth, then the servers poured the broth into the plate from these little teapots - it was a pleasure to watch (see video below)!

The broth was really delicious and I loved the explosion of flavours from all the different textures. The stand out taste for me was the broth - really flavourful!

Course 5: Simmered mooli radish, Carrot & miso puree, MSG roasted carrot

I thought all the different textures of this course paired together really well in my mouth! The radish (or daikon) can be eaten raw or cooked, and I'd say the texture was somewhere in between. I really enjoyed the flavour of it though, especially when eaten with the other textures. The MSG roasted carrot was a very delicious surprise, and as Faye said in it's introduction, MSG can have a bit of a "bad food" rap. Used sparingly like this, it added a really tasty kick to the carrot. The carrot and miso puree was silky smooth and really tasty.

Course 6: Broccoli, Hazelnut Praline, pickled cherry tomato

I loved all the courses, but this was another huge favourite! That hazelnut praline - Oh My Days. It was just like a piece of silk had melted in your mouth, and was so delicious combined with the texture of the broccoli and the soft tomato.

Course 7: Forbidden rice, Housemade kidney bean miso, Coconut

Really loved this forbidden rice! So called because in Ancient China, black rice was reserved for the aristocracy. It had a really nutty flavour and wasn't what I expected at all. I loved how it was complimented by the crispy coconut. Carrot, beetroot, pomegranate seeds and a flurry of greens all just came together to create a really delicious taste explosion!

Course 8: Yuzu & grapefruit pre-dessert

This sorbet was another melt-in-the-mouth experience! It was so light and airy, and really refreshing - it was the perfect palate cleaner! The addition of some microgreen coriander leaf was a stroke of genius. Not a combo you would think would work, but it did - deliciously!

Course 9: Marcia's Chocolate Orange Dessert with Organic Orange syrup

The pièce de résistance in my opinion - not that I'm very biased, lol! I've tasted it myself so many times, I couldn't actually finish it, would you believe! I didn't tell the other guests that I'd made this dessert, and I wasn't planning to until after the meal ended. But the staff very kindly introduced my dessert and then me, and we were warmly invited over to one of the tables to sit with some of the other guests.

Thankfully, they really enjoyed it and there were no empty plates left, which is what I like to see. One of the guest was in fact a Chef, so what a compliment, eh! I even saw one guest running his finger over his plate - the ultimate compliment!

Flowering Jasmine Tea
As if all that wasn't enough, we were also treated to some delicious flowering Jasmine & green tea dragon pearls!

They start out looking like the picture on the left, then as they steep in water, they slowly expand almost like little sea urchins. The longer they're left the better, then the lovely flavour of aromatic jasmine flowers and green tea just dance around your mouth - A delicious post-meal digestif!

The venue - I've never eaten a meal surrounded by such interesting art!

The venue - A very interesting mix of arts and sculpture.

Course 4: The broth being poured into your bowl

The flowering jasmine tea - It's fascinating watching it blossom

Meet The Team - Faye, Lizzie and Head Chef, Jade Crawley

Empty plates - A sight that every food creator loves!

As a special dining out experience, I would highly recommend An evening at the Chef's Table! The beautiful and interesting venue, the immersive sound, the plant-based food, and the great company, it all came together to create a really memorable evening!

If you're thinking about adopting a plant-based/vegan/vegetarian lifestyle, then I think you would really enjoy it as a way to introducing you to this style of food. Many people are afraid of trying food without meat, fish, poultry etc. because they think it will be bland and not very filling. I can promise you that is not the case!

The clearly very talented Head Chef, Jade Crawley used her brilliant skill and experience to put on a feast that surprisingly wasn't heavy at all. We left feeling satisfied and like we'd been well fed, but not overfed. At £60 per head plus drinks, we felt it was incredibly good value for money, and can't wait to do it again. This event was the first of it's kind down at The Tetley, as is the appointment of a female Head Chef - you should watch out for Jade, I think she's definitely going places!

]]><![CDATA[Let's Talk Nutrition!]]>Mon, 21 Oct 2019 16:19:41 GMThttps://www.abundancefoods.co/blog/lets-talk-nutrition

When I started Abundance Foods, it was never just about creating a product that people love and selling it...!

For me it was about more than that. I'm a big believer that good nutrition is the foundation on which you build a healthy life! Without good nutrition your body simply can't function at its best. An unhealthy diet not only deprives you of the nutrients you need for energy and vitality, it also introduces unhealthy substances such as trans fat, as well as high levels of bad fats and over processed sugar. The combination of the two and lack of regular exercise can contribute to obesity, chronic diseases and believe it or not, poor mental health.

Poor mental health is also a more serious issue these days, especially amongst children and young adults. Keep well and being well don't have to be hard work or expensive either, when you know how! In my interview with the lovely Suzannah Butcher of Calmpreneur, we had a fantastic chat about how you can be well, without breaking the bank and committing to running marathons! It's jam-packed with things like * How Abundance foods started
* The impact of eating junk food
* Mental health
* Probiotics
* Self-love and eating healthily
*My top 5 foods for a brain boost
* Chocolate (of course)!
* Paleo eating
Have a watch and let me know what you think ~ hope you enjoy and gained so great tips!

]]><![CDATA[Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world!]]>Tue, 30 Jul 2019 16:30:58 GMThttps://www.abundancefoods.co/blog/small-acts-when-multiplied-by-millions-of-people-can-transform-the-world

but from the time I first heard this quote by social activist, Howard Zinn, it transformed my attitude to many things, and looking after our planet better is one of them!

I always said that if I ever had a business that meant I could make a difference to the world, I would try my hardest to carry my personal values into it too. So in the spirit of that, I want to share with you my "small acts" that allow me to do my bit for Mother Earth.

Living an Abundant Life
As you know, I'm really passionate about the kind of ingredients I use in your products. Of course these days there's so much more to consider than just the content of the product itself, and with sustainability close to my heart, I've gone to great lengths to try to be mindful of my impact on the planet.

I personally think we are custodians of this beautiful planet, which gives us all we need to survive and prosper. So we need to treat the earth with respect and consideration. You probably know what I'm going to say next ~ the plastic issue!

I don't have an issue with plastic per se as so much of our lives have been moulded around using it, and some of it is sadly a necessary evil. For example, food waste is one of the biggest contributing factors to climate change, but in some instances a bit of plastic is the difference between your fruit & veg arriving mouldy and it arriving crisp and fresh, and happily lasting a few more days. It's also great at quarantining food so it doesn't harbour any nasty bugs, which is a no-brainer, especially when it comes to vulnerable people. Biodegradable alternatives are currently either too expensive and/or not quite robust enough to work for our mass food markets yet, but that will most definitely change.

Those circumstances aside, what I do think is that we can all think a bit more carefully about how much we demand it, use it and dispose of it. So this is how I'm taking steps to be my own little centre for change.

Truffle Packaging
It took me a while, but eventually I found the right packaging for my truffles boxes that were either made from recycled materials, could be recycled or composted, or could be re-used or re-purposed, and ideally all of the above, and I've nearly done it!

So, unlike most truffle packaging, I don't use wasteful cushion pads, petit four cases and plastic tray inserts in your truffle boxes. Instead I use a grid insert system, made from sustainable sourced recyclable materials, along with recycled glassine paper (for the 12 box of truffles). There's one piece of plastic in the 6 truffle boxes, which is made from recycled plastics.

Other Packaging

Dessert pots & lids
The image on the left are of my existing cheesecake pots. They are made from recycled plastic and can be recycled again in your green bin. You can also wash them out and use them around the kitchen for storing things like left over foods and herbs.

The images in the middle and on the right are of my new cheesecake pots. Made by vegware, they are non-toxic and completely compostable, and made from plant-based PLA (PolyLactic Acid) or recycled sugarcane. PLA is a plant-based compostable bioplastic, and an environmentally friendly alternative to petrochemical originated plastic polymers, and can be used to make a wide range of eco-disposable products.

I didn't know this but compostable is much better than biodegradable! Biodegradable materials break down naturally over time, but 'compostable' means it all happens much quicker - between 8 and 12 weeks in the right conditions. This does mean that these pots are more sensitive to heat, so forget the dishwasher! Hand washed, they're fine to use and re-use again and again.

Granola bar wrappers
The image on the left is of my current packaging, which are made from recycled greaseproof paper, and can be recycled in your green bin. I started out using paper due to my obsession with not wrapping my products in plastic, like I see so many other on the go snacks packaged in. I'm excited to share that when my stock of greaseproof paper finishes, I will be switching to plastic bags!

These bags look like plastic, but they're made in the UK from cellophane film that has been accredited biodegradable & compostable, which means that they break down to CO2, H20 and biomass which can then be reused in the eco system to make new plants. They will break down either in home or commercial composting. The film has also been tested to ensure that once composted there are no adverse effects on the plant growth.

Organza Ribbon & Bows
Made from nylon and metallic yarn, these ribbons can be recycled in your green bin.

Glass Jars
These can easily be recycled along with your other bottles at your local bottle bank.

Seagrass Hamper Baskets
These baskets are made from sweet grass, pine needles, bull rush and palms. Totally natural ingredients for totally natural foods.

Postal packaging
Even here I can do more, so all the cardboard packaging I use is made from recycled materials that can be re-used or recycled in your green bin. I mostly use packaging I've bought myself, but where I can I reuse packaging I've received myself, such as postal boxes and packaging padding like bubble wrap. I think it's one of the easiest, economical and eco-friendly ways I can do my bit with packaging.

I've even recently come across plastic free, recyclable and biodegradable, brown paper sticky tape made in the UK - I never knew there was such a thing! It's also tamper proof (as it can only be torn), making it safe and eco, both at the same time. So this is now my sticky tape of choice. I got mine from fellow small biz Naturally Wrapt, so I get to support another small biz owner too - win, win!

The gel packs that I use to keep your products cool in transit are non-toxic, reusable and 100% recyclable! The contents are not harmful to the environment, and the outer film is also recyclable.

Festivals & Fairs
I do my best here too. The napkins, cutlery and paper bags I give out with my products are all made from recycled natural materials, and are compostable - absolutely no plastic here!

I ask my customers to help me too!
On my home page I'm transparent about my eco efforts, and give my visitors and customers tips on how they can recycle, re-use or upcycle all of my packaging. I also include this info with every order too.

So that's how I'm doing my bit to give back, and minimise my destructive impact on Mama Nature. I'm not there yet, as I know there are other things I could do, and when finances and knowledge allow, I'm sure I will do much more. Let me know your thoughts, and share any eco ideas you have on how I we can all do our bit.

One last thing I'd like to share! Plastic bottles are still with us for the next few years at least, and it's difficult to avoid them, but that doesn't mean you can't put them to some use. I came across this article, 23 Creative Ways To Recycle Old Plastic Bottles Into DIY Crafts. It's got some amazing ideas in it on how you can re-purpose those pesky things and keep them out of the eco food chain a little longer.

]]><![CDATA[My First Cheesecake Tasting Event]]>Wed, 10 Jul 2019 15:53:02 GMThttps://www.abundancefoods.co/blog/my-first-cheesecake-tasting-event

Last week I finally got out of my own way and put on my very first Cheesecake Tasting event ~ here's a rundown of how it went!

I can't begin to tell you what took me so long to do it really! Probably a mixture of fear, not knowing what I'm doing, and worry. I was also going to put on the event with the help of someone who made out they were great at this sort of thing. Once I realised that they were about as useful as a chocolate teapot (!), it actually became the thing that put a rocket up me, and made me realise that "Marcia, you've got this!" So thank you DCJ!

The other thing I realised was that for me fear, worry or doubt can be good in terms of making you want to maintain high standards and put on a great event for your guests, but that's the only real value they serve. Once you've got your idea, sprinkle it with copious amounts of determination, commitment and passion, and you've got a great recipe for success. Passion in particular carries you a long way, always shines through, and people can always feel it; it adds to your authenticity ~ in spades!

The other thing I didn't realise as well was that despite all the prep I'd done, I still needed someone to help me bring out the cheesecakes and take pictures, while I was attending to my guests. I was blessed with that help from two amazing women, Nicola, hostess with the mostess, and Ayesha, photographer & Videographer extraordinaire ~ Thank You!!

The Pictures

I always wanted to make this a regular event, so I was so blessed to receive great feedback from my guests, and will take away lessons learnt to make the next one even better! A short poll of my guests helped me decide whether my next event was going to be another Cheesecake Taster with different cheesecakes, or a Truffle Tasting event. The Truffle Tasting won hands down. So, that's a whole new set of skills for me to learn to make that one great too, but isn't that part of your life's journey?!

I haven't set a date yet for the next one, but when I do if you want to be one of the first to get an invite, you can either sign up to my newsletter at the bottom of the page, or drop me an email at greetings@abundancefoods.co.

The Videos

Andy Murray's number 1 fan fails to guess the first treat: Strawberry Cheesecake

The Strawberry Cheesecake is served, and to my delight, there are plenty of "oohs" and "aahs"!

The second Cheesecake, Chocolate Orange Torte is now served!

A little background to my version of key lime, The Luscious Lime Cheesecake.

The Things We Do For Love...

The wooden platters that the cheesecakes are served on became a labour of love for me, but I did get rewarded!

I saw the idea on an episode of The Great British Menu whilst channel flicking, and I became obsessed with the idea of having them at my event. I immediately got on the internet and started searching for some, never imagining that they'd be so hard to find. Well, they were! I started out ordering some from eBay. I don't know if I got my measurements wrong (very likely for a not great with measurements woman like myself), or they seller described them wrong, but as you can see what arrived wasn't quite the size I needed for proper platters.

They arrived in time for my first Cheesecake Tester though. My Cheesecake Tester was an idea I had when an opportunity came up to collaborate with some lovely women I'd "met" in my go to wellbeing Facebook group. The idea was that we all come together to provide a free taster of our wellbeing services and find out more about our passion for our businesses. This is a great way to actually experience a service and get to know the person behind the brand. You're then in a much better place to know, like and trust them, and recommend them to others.

I really had a fantastic time, putting names to faces, and tasting things like reiki healing and hypnotherapy. I used the opportunity to float my Cheesecake Tasting event idea, and as you can see from the empty plates, it went down well, despite my teeny, tiny wood platters!

Back to the odyssey of finding my ideal wood platters! After much fruitless searching I got in touch with a contact who put me onto someone else who was able to fashion these for me. I little bigger than I'd visualised, but hey when you're working with nature! Made from ash, horse chestnut and sycamore, I was able to get them sliced, but that was going to be it. If I wanted them sanded and varnished in time for my event, I'd have to do them myself. Never being afraid of turning my hand to whatever's necessary to get the result I need, I got stuck in!

Wood platters in their raw state

Wood platters after much sanding, repair and varnishing

I found a great work space just down the road from me, called Leeds Hackspace, a space for people that like making things, full of really helpful peeps who help you on your making journey! To begin with I wouldn't say "I liked" having to finish these platters off. As I got know more about working with wood, I found out that they hadn't been cut very well to begin with, making sanding much harder and longer than it needed to be. Also, because of the wet weather, some of them had also split, so I had to learn how to repair them with a new slice of wood (the image on the right). This mishap did turn out to give me some great ideas though!

The Universe works in mysterious ways, and all this aggravation was clearly it's way of teaching me something. I couldn't see it at the time, but the experience has given me some great ideas for how I can make the platters a key part of my business, with some great branding and bespoke ideas - so watch this space. Ultimately, by the time of my event, I'd actually enjoyed the whole experience, and I've added some more creative talents to my list of skills.

Below is a video of just the tiny amount of the sanding I had to do to get my platters ready - just a tiny amount! I was rewarded by nothing but praise and positive feedback, reminding me that some things are worth putting in all that effort for!

So that was my very first of many Cheesecake Tasting event! It had the desired effect of giving my brand some great exposure, and beyond that I've met some great people along the way, got to be a great host to some lovely guests, and learned some new skills - I can't ask for any more than that!

Watch this space for news of my next event, a Truffle Tasting, or email me at greetings@abundancefoods.co to be the first to find out when it's launched.

]]><![CDATA[Chocolate Is NOT your enemy, it actually loves you...!]]>Sat, 25 May 2019 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.abundancefoods.co/blog/chocolate-is-not-your-enemy-it-actually-loves-you

Image Credit: Photo by Jasmine Waheed on Unsplash

Well, the right kind of chocolate does! Everybody loves chocolate; it's delicious, and comforting! When you're happy you want it, when you're sad or stressed out, you really want it! But because of that, you're going to consume calories, fat and carbs - full stop! But even though so many people would have you believe it's your enemy, you'll be pleased to know that it does in fact really lurve you!

First things first...you can stop worrying about chocolate because not all chocolate and it's ingredients is created equal! As a society, we're given a dozen new things to worry about each day, so why put yourself under that pressure? Granted, some things do need worrying about, like the obesity epidemic for one, and as part of that many would have you believe that chocolate is one of the biggest contributors, which to be fair it can be. But when you eat the right kind of chocolate, that's simply not the case!

Chocolate Can be HEALTHY!

There's a reason the ancient Mayans referred to chocolate as the food of the Gods! When you choose a dark chocolate with a high cacao content, especially if it's raw, the healthier it is for you. Cacao itself to me is one of what I call "The food of the Gods", and it's so good for you, which is why it makes it way into most of my products one way or another. Rich in magnesium, which takes part in more than 300 processes in your body, it's credentials are wicked!

Sadly chocolate (which is one of the many products made from cacao) has been polluted with unnecessary and toxic additions. I'm talking things like refined sugars, corn syrups, bad fats, and all manner of artificial things. I am so glad to see that a lot of the world is waking up now to the fact that ingredients left closest to their natural state are the best for us, and that's what they're demanding!

To get the best benefit from your indulgent treat, and often the best taste, choose a chocolate with as few ingredients as possible. As well as that, those with an ingredients list that reads like a chemistry lesson are unlikely to leave you feeling great either! If cacao, or even good quality cocoa is listed, make sure it's listed at the top, and has a high percentage count. 70% and above is a good guide. Another rule I live by is that you shouldn't need a Nuclear Physicist to help you pronounce the ingredients!

All sugar is not created equal

Most chocolate will contain some kind of sugar, which in itself is not a bad thing, but not all sugars are created equal. Most mass-produced chocolate contains various types of "sugar". I say "sugar" because that's often what it says on the label, but what is "sugar" to you? To me, it's a bit like calling a curry a "meat" curry! Meat is a collective word that often means the flesh of something - but what something? In other words it's a meaningless word because it doesn't specify the type and nature of sugar, and therefore it's harder for you to know what it does to your body. Most mass-produced chocolate is sweetened with "sugar", which gives you very little transparency about what it really is.

The couverture chocolate that I use is sweetened with coconut blossom sugar, an unrefined sugar. You can go look it up online and read how it affects your body. With something described as "sugar" you can't do that. I only use unrefined sugars in all of my products, and that's because the way they are harvested or processed means that they often have at least some trace amounts of nutrients, minerals, antioxidants etc. left in them, that add at least some health benefits to your indulgent treat. Whereas white sugar, on the other hand, tends to have been stripped of any health benefits in the heating and refining process.

Now to why Chocolate actually loves you & makes you happy!

A handful of foods made from cocoa beans contain a chemical compound called phenylethylamine (PEA), which is the same chemical released by our brains when you fall in love. PEA stimulates the nervous system, increases the heart rate and blood pressure, and triggers the release of hormones like dopamine that create feelings of euphoria, making you feel happy and loving - yum! When you are in full-blown PMS, your dopamine and serotonin levels drop. "Your body says No" and knows when to call for help. So, there is a genuine reason why we crave chocolate at that time of the month or when we just need a mood boost!

One of the many reasons I like to keep my ingredients as ‘raw’ as possible (i.e. by minimising the amount of heat I apply to them) is because heat destroys many of the minerals, antioxidants and natural chemicals in it. I use raw cacao in all my chocolate products, which is made by cold-pressing unroasted cacao beans. The process keeps the living enzymes in the cacao, meaning you get more of the good stuff, and feel great.

Does this mean I can now describe my cacao containing products as a ‘Love Drug’?!

Oh, and by the way the connection of the image; it's a chocolate coloured Labrador, and puppies also make us happy!!

Chocolate contains the "Good Chemicals & Fats"

Often in my marketing messages I love to bang on about how my products don't contain any chemicals. But now I need to put the record straight, and say that it does contain some chemicals - the good ones!

Organic cacao butter is as pure as you can get, it’s the natural fat from the cocoa bean. Cacao butter is high in Oelic Acid (otherwise known as Omega 9 found in avocado’s and extra virgin olive oil) – and you know they’re good for you right? This 100% vegan fat is a great addition for those who are on a plant-based diet or who are trying to get more healthy, saturated fats in their diet.

Cacao is packed with nutrients. The amount of magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorous, chromium and different nutrients is in astronomical amounts for a food. The amount of magnesium alone it gives you is a great reason to enjoy cacao. Magnesium increases energy, calms your nerves, relaxes your muscles and it prevents migraine headaches, apparently.

Blueberries are known for their high levels of antioxidants. But did you know that cacao has 40 times the antioxidants of blueberries! What are antioxidants good for? You’ve probably heard of them in those expensive face cream adverts! When you bite into an apple leave it for a while it browns – that’s oxidizing. Antioxidants help with aging and absorb the free radicals in your body. Free radicals are toxins and pollutants we come in contact with all the time. So, eating more antioxidants is great for your body.

Chocolate [made with cacao] is one of the best foods on the planet! There are so many massive benefits, and they shape why we crave it. But we often think we're craving chocolate, when in fact our highly intelligent body is really craving many of it's benefits. So, if like me, you're in to wellness and wellbeing, you'll know that it's really important to listen to your body. It literally "speaks" to you all the time, telling you what it needs - good stuff!

So, find the good stuff and feel free to indulge! Like I said, [good quality] chocolate loves you, so don’t hold back on loving it back, and enjoy it's benefits that can make you feel better, live a happier life and have better hormones. It tastes good and it has massive healthy benefits - who wouldn't want to fall in love with something like that!

Marcia X

]]><![CDATA[My Deliciously Parisian Inspiration]]>Tue, 09 Apr 2019 14:31:25 GMThttps://www.abundancefoods.co/blog/my-deliciously-parisian-inspiration

It's not until you realise you might just be a creative person that you realise how much inspiration you're surrounded by - that's becoming my experience anyway!

Inspiration
On a recent trip to Paris I was struck by how much this city loves it's desserts, treats and fancies. Having been on my healthy eating journey for so long, I would normally look the other way at them. Not because they're not exquisite to look at, because they are. No, usually these days it's because I find them so sweet, my teeth start to rattle!

But, as they say, a girl can still look - especially when it's certain kinds of eye candy! ;)
Here's some pictures of the desserts that inspired me the most.

I love how perfectly exquisite these desserts are! The detailing on them is second to none, and of course they've made them look like the ultimate in indulgent treats. As it was Paris, the ingredients were all in French, but I didn't need to know French to know it would have been full of the usual stuff that I avoid.

"Mission Obsession"
So, my next "mission obsession" then became how do I create something this exquisite looking, that's free of most allergens and chemicals but still tastes as good as it looks? After many hours of obsessive searching, I found the little cardboard discs the desserts are sitting on online, but I still couldn't figure out how to get those perfectly straight edges.

After more hours of obsessive searching, I found out how pastry chefs create them. It's by using something called acetate collars or sheets. These are strips of acetate used by top pastry chefs and bakers to give baked or crafted goods a perfectly straight edge.

There are lots of suppliers of them, but few are good, many are bad, and some are downright ugly! That's where reading reviews if they're available is a must. This will really help me up my game when it comes to my catering service. They will also become an essential piece of kit when making my large cheesecakes too (picture on the right), allowing me to work without worrying about how the filling is going to behave.

As you probably know by now, for me Abundance Foods it's not just about creating products. I have to try to create them not only in a safe way, but in a sustainable way too. So I was also looking for a high standard of quality too, and the one this company makes fits the bill.

Sadly, they're not made from recycled acetate, but one of the qualities they don't mention is the other use of the acetate sheets when you've troughed your cheesecake. Because they're quite thick, you can wash them (or licking would be better), then use them for crafting projects like stencilling!

Much of my time in Paris was spent dreaming about my Abundance Foods dessert parlour! This is the place that currently only exists on my vision board...but - "Believing Is Seeing"! It will be completely plant-based of course, and will stock my fresh desserts just like in the images above, truffles and treats and you'll also be able to get them to takeaway too, of course too! The currently worsening retail situation for bricks and mortar premises is just a minor hurdle - I've put it out there to The Universe, so it will happen, one way or another!

Fluid Art
I did get in a fair bit of site seeing as well in Paris though, and as well as the usual spaces, I for the first time attended the Atelier des Lumieres, Paris's first digital art centre. The idea is that rather than just looking at static art, you immerse yourself in it's fluid form (well that's what it means to me anyway). Click on the video to see what I mean. This piece very much reminded me of my Tree of Life logo, and how it's inspired my unfolding creativity, and the music of course inspires peace in me.

]]><![CDATA[5 Simple Ways To Get More Cacao Into Your Diet]]>Tue, 21 Aug 2018 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.abundancefoods.co/blog/5-simple-ways-to-get-more-cacao-into-your-diet

Those of you that know me and love my products, know that I'm a big lover of cacao! Check out my 'Your Food' page to read about why it's so good for you.

But did you know that as well as boosting both your mind and body, a daily dose of cacao in it's various forms has many other health benefits?

It’s easier than you think to be creative with cacao. It can be added to everyday meals to supercharge them, or you can make sweet treats with it, such as this Superfood Power Protein Bars recipe at the end of this blog post.

Whatever takes your fancy, I'd love to inspire you with five quick and easy ideas for a nutrition-filled treat or snack.
Here are five simple ways to use cacao in your diet:

#1 Make yourself a lovely bedtime drink with cacao
Add almond or any other plant-based milk to a saucepan and heat gently. Once it's warm, add a tablespoon of unsweetened cacao, and a sweetener of your choice (agave nectar or coconut sugar are great), and stir until everything's incorporated. Pour into your favourite mug and enjoy!

Just because you're trying to stay healthy, it doesn't mean you have to make it boring either! You can dress this beauty up with dairy-free spray cream, and vegetarian/vegan marshmallows, both readily available at health food shops and some supermarkets. Because of it's mood-enhancers and blood pressure-lowering qualities, this little baby will help you sleep - literally like a baby!

#2 Treat yourself to a chocolate and banana post-workout smoothie
After a workout, your body needs to replace the nutrients, protein, and electrolytes lost in your sweat session. That’s where a tasty post-workout smoothie can help you get those get nutrients back in your body. Smoothies are a natural pairing for high quality cacao powder, as the sweetness of the smoothie masks the sometimes bitter flavour of the cacao.

Bananas are incredible in smoothies! They add a sweet flavour while also delivering potassium to your cells. Along with nut butters, they're full of protein, which is essential for muscle growth, and adding post-workout protein is important to help repair and rebuild your muscle tissue. Cacao is abundant in magnesium and antioxidants, which also gives your post-workout shake high antioxidant levels, helping speed muscle recovery.

Try blending a frozen banana (their frosty creaminess is downright indulgent), nut butter (almond or peanut), plant-based milk, and your favourite fruit juice together. Add 1 tablespoon of cacao powder for a rich, chocolatey burst of flavour! Enjoy!

#3 Kick start your day with some healthy chocolate porridge
Chocolate for breakfast, who could say no to that? Many of the popular pre-packed cereals are notoriously full of the kind of rubbish you don't want to prime your body with for a great start to the day. One solution is to make your own variation on them, adding what you love and leaving out the unnecessary.

Chocolate for breakfast, who could say no to that? Add a teaspoon of cacao to your favourite unsweetened cereal, and to sweeten add a ripe mashed banana. Cereals and grains such as oats have their fare share of protein already, but you can also sprinkle in some of your favourite protein powder for a boost and to help you stay fuller for longer. With potassium from your banana, antioxidants and magnesium from the cacao, and protein from your grains, you'll be unstoppable for the day!

#4 Make rich cacao brownies
Who doesn't love a brownie! The brownies you buy pre-packaged will have nothing on this natural cacao powder version though! Just swap raw cacao powder for the cocoa powder in your favourite brownie recipe. Be mindful that you may have to adjust the sugar or add a sugar alternative to counter the intensity of the chocolatey cacao powder. These rich "better for you" brownies will be the ultimate treat for chocoholics who need a healthy kick!

#5 Bake your own healthier treats with cacao powder!
A great way to get more cacao powder into your diet is to sub it for cocoa whenever you can. So, all your favourite cookies, brownies, granola bars, anywhere you would normally use cocoa powder, opt for cacao instead. So, now's the perfect time to have a go at making a cacao powder version of your favourite chocolate dessert!
Here's a link to one of my favourite recipes that uses cacao, in my blog post "Sugar Free Doesn't Have To Be Taste Free."

So there you go, five easy ways to satisfy your love of chocolate, and get it into your diet in a healthier way, without the unnecessary nasties. Most of the major supermarkets now stock cacao, and even the discount supermarkets are in on the act. So there's no reason why you can't indulge on your next shopping trip. If you end up falling in love with it, like I have and you're going to be using a big quantity of it, you'd be better buying it from bulk discounters like Costco or Amazon.

You're welcome & enjoy!
Marcia X

]]><![CDATA[I've Always Loved Dragons, and Now I've Met One!]]>Wed, 21 Mar 2018 12:49:55 GMThttps://www.abundancefoods.co/blog/ive-always-loved-dragons-and-now-ive-met-one

If you've been following my blog, you might remember my post from last year about winning the small business competition set up by former Dragon's Den investor Theo Paphitis, My Joy at winning the Theo Paphitis Small Business Award. Last month I finally got to meet him at the annual Small Business Sunday (SBS) event.

Here I am collecting my certificate at the event. Theo really is a lovely man, full of smiles, warmth and enthusiasm, and he really does care about us small business owners.

The event itself was a day packed full of learning, talks and networking, and came with a wicked goodie bag, which for once was full of good quality, really useful stuff! It was fantastic to finally put some faces to names of some of the dozens of people who I interact with on Twitter. I always love catching up with the lovely Christie from Christie's Crafts.

One of the highlights of the event was Theo's fireside chat with John Roberts, founder of domestic appliance co, AO. When it comes to providing high standards of customer service, he and I are most definitely on the same page, and so refreshing to hear from the founder of a company who's still in touch with their core values!

It was a great event, and I really enjoyed mingling with so many other small business owners, and it gets you out of the kitchen! ;)

]]><![CDATA[Why Dark Chocolate Is So Good For You & Some Healthy Ways To Eat It]]>Tue, 13 Feb 2018 13:58:45 GMThttps://www.abundancefoods.co/blog/why-dark-chocolate-is-so-good-for-you-some-healthy-ways-to-eat-it

I hope your love of dark chocolate bought you here! As you would expect, I'm also a huge fan. Not only do I love it as a professional (naturally), but I love its health benefits too. In this blog I share with you dark chocolate's great benefits and some delectable ways that you can enjoy it too, without over indulging.

It's too sad a fact to me that when you mention the word "chocolate", people often think of the unhealthy kind or the type with milk and all manner of other things in it. So if you're trying to eat a more healthy or plant-based lifestyle, dark chocolate is often considered as one of the "cheat" foods that you have to give up.

In reality, pure dark chocolate (I mean the heart-healthy kind that isn't full of unnecessary additives) is one of the best sources of antioxidants on the planet, which can improve your health and lower the risk of heart disease.

I personally think that a daily dose of dark chocolate should be one of your 5 a day! Really, you're probably thinking?! But there's reasoning behind what seems like my chocolate-addled madness!

Here are 10 great reasons I think you can have "sweet tooth justification" and indulge in your love of the stuff every day (in moderation of course though):

Compared to milk chocolate eaters, those who prefer dark chocolate ate 15% fewer calories without even trying and reported fewer cravings for sweet, salty and fatty foods. In fact, research has even shown that milk decreases absorption of the heart-healthy flavonoids found in chocolate.
Dark chocolate contains natural substances, including some that produce a feeling of euphoria. A similar feeling to being in love - maybe that's why you love it!
Relative to a lot of other foods, dark chocolate is high in magnesium. As one of the most abundant minerals in your body, magnesium can help alleviate PMS symptoms, help your muscles and nerves to function correctly and regulate your mood.
Chocolate contains the same type of antioxidants found in red wine and tea, which have been shown to boost brain activity.
Dark chocolate has been shown to help regulate your levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Surges in stress hormones have been linked to obesity.
Dark chocolate contains more cocoa solids than other types of chocolate, so it has a higher caffeine content than milk or white chocolate. One ounce of 70% dark contains about 40 mg of caffeine, compared to 200 mg in 8 ounces of brewed coffee and 120 mg in strong black tea. As it's a stimulant, check with you Doctor or Nutritionist if you have concerns about it's impact on you.
The antioxidants in cocoa trigger the walls of your blood vessels to relax, lowering blood pressure and improving circulation. This helps to give you more energy!
Dark Chocolate’s host of benefits for your heart include lower blood pressure, lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and a lower risk of heart disease. One of the reasons dark chocolate is especially heart-healthy is its inflammation-fighting properties, which reduce cardiovascular risk. Heart-attack survivors who ate chocolate just twice a week over a two-year period cut their risk of dying from heart disease threefold.
The type of saturated fat in dark chocolate isn’t the same as the artery-clogging saturated fat in a red meat or butter for example. It’s a unique variety called stearic acid, much of which gets converted in the body to oleic acid, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acid.
Believe it or not, dark chocolate can help you lose weight - really! A small square of good quality dark chocolate melted on the tongue 20 minutes before a meal triggers the hormones in the brain that say “I’m full”, cutting the amount of food you eat. Finishing a meal with the same small trigger could also reduce snacking and sugar spikes.

Cocoa v Cacao

I just want to add a little bit here about how you can boost your healthy brownie points by eating dark chocolate made with cacao rather than cocoa, and especially the raw variety.

Raw cacao powder is made by cold-pressing unroasted cocoa beans. This process keeps the enzymes in the cocoa and removes the fat (cacao butter). Cocoa looks the same but it’s not. Cocoa powder is raw cacao that’s been roasted at high temperatures. Sadly, roasting changes the molecular structure of the cocoa bean, reducing the enzyme content and lowering the overall nutritional value.

As well as in powder form, you can buy cacao-based chocolate in bars, nibs, butter and drinking chocolate.

Healthy ways to eat more dark chocolate

Sadly, as with many things these days, moderation is a must! But what if you find that a treat of one or two individually wrapped squares quickly turns into a half the bar? Why don't you try adding small amounts of dark chocolate into meals and snacks instead? Here's some ideas:

Blend it into your smoothie
Add it to your cereal
Add it into your baked goods, like muffins and brownies (nibs are great for this)
Dip your fruit in it (this works really well with children!)
Add it to your yoghurt (eat a plant-based or naturally low fat version for healthy brownie points)

As you probably know, cacao is a staple in almost all of my products, and my chocolate is made from from it. The growing range shows that there's lots of ways that you can enjoy dark chocolate, and still feel great about it, and that's why I love the idea that I can help you to "Treat Yourself Healthy"!

Be Blessed
Marcia X

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