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Coffee Without All The Junk

healthy cold brew coffee

My coffee has evolved over the years. I use to brew my coffee, sweeten it with sugar or sometimes artificial sweeteners (I know, yikes!) then add french vanilla creamer to it.

Then I couple of years ago I decided to try a different route. I started making my own cold brew. I would blend that with a couple of dates, a tbsp of coconut oil, and coconut milk. This was high maintenance as it required a blender. I also wasn’t happy with consuming all the sugars from the dates so early in the morning.

So for the last year I have been drinking my coffee like this: my cold brew, coconut water (I like to use a high quality one like Harmless Harvest), and my homemade coconut milk. I never measure it out. I just pour some coconut water in, then coconut milk and then fill up the rest of my glass with cold brew. It’s completely customizable and delicious. The coconut water adds sweetness, the milk makes it creamy and the cold brew is smooth and strong. It’s dairy free, gluten free, soy free and sugar free. It’s how I start every day!

Cheers!

How to Naturally Sweeten Your Cold Brew Coffee

It is possible to sweeten your coffee without using dairy, sugar, and gross additives. This is better than any creamer that I have ever used and if you would have asked me a year ago if I would be saying this I would not believe you. I loved french vanilla creamer so much you would have thought I had stock in the company. Your coffee will be deliciously sweet and you will be healthier for it. These ingredients also happen to be Paleo, and Vegan! 

Cold Brew Coffee

These 3 ingredients have changed the way I drink coffee. 

Dates: 

Dates have become my best friend, especially during this elimination diet where I have taken away alot of the foods I usually eat. Dates are naturally sweet and really help with the digestive process. They are a good source of vitamins and minerals and also give you a boost of energy. They contain essential minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc. They also contain thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin A, and vitamin K. So basically nature’s candy is a powerhouse! 

So as you can imagine dates offer alot of health benefits. I’ll list just a few of them below.

strengthen your bones

relieve constipation

they are a great supplement for people who suffer from anemia

help to relieve seasonal allergies

a great energy booster because of the natural sugar they contain

reduce levels of LDL cholesterol

Coconut Oil:

Over the last 6 months or so I have come to love coconut oil. I probably go through a jar every week or so. I always buy organic unrefined. If you are going to be consuming alot of something you want to make sure it is of high quality. My practitioner told me I need to be consuming at least 2 tbsp of coconut oil each day. After reading some of the incredible health benefits you might want to as well.

More than 90% of coconut oil consists of saturated fat. Most of them are medium chain triglycerides, which has been shown to have many health benefits.  It is important to note that not all saturated fat behaves the same in the body. Due to its high lauric acid content it is actually beneficial to the body. Lauric acid makes up 40% of the total. Lauric acid is helpful in dealing with viruses and diseases. It can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It can help boost your metabolism and thyroid function. It has also been shown to help reduce candida and yeast in the body.

Coconut Milk:

Coconut milk is a wonderful alternative to using dairy. Like coconut oil, coconut milk contains lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that’s easily absorbed and used by the body for energy. It also improves cholesterol and blood pressure. Coconut milk also provides important minerals needed to maintain blood volume, regulate heart health, and prevent dehydration.  Coconut milk is very filling helping you to feel full and satisfied.

Coffee Sweetener
An easy way to sweeten your coffee that is all natural and healthy. I promise you will not miss the sugar!
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Ingredients
  1. 1-2 Medjool dates (pitted)
  2. 1-2 tbsp coconut oil
  3. 1/3 -1/2 cup of coconut milk
Instructions
  1. Put all the ingredients into a blender along with your cold brew coffee and blend until all the ingredients are combined. I usually blend mine in a Vitamix for 30 seconds. Your cold brew will be frothy and delicious! Enjoy!
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References: Organic Facts, Wellness Mama, Dr. Axe

 

No Bake Chewy Date Bars

No Bake Chewy Date Bars

I knew when I went on this elimination diet that I was going to have to come up with some good alternatives for that something sweet that I love to have at night. These date bars were just that. It’s funny that up until about a year ago I have never even tasted a date and now I buy them in bulk and use them almost daily. They are nature’s candy and just perfect. 

These bars are sweet, but have no added sugar and they have a slightly salty crunchy top and bottom with a soft chewy center. You can store them in the refrigerator or the freezer but I prefer the freezer, they are more firm that way. I love grabbing one for a quick breakfast or snack. It is so important for me to have some healthy options around for when a craving hits so that I won’t open the pantry and eat all the chocolate. 🙂 No seriously, it has happened! 

No Bake Chewy Date Bars

If you are looking for a healthy dessert that does not contain gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, or eggs and only takes about 10 minutes to make then do your self a favor and make these today! 

No Bake Chewy Date Bars
Yields 10
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Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
5 min
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
5 min
For the crust/crumble
  1. 1 1/2 cups Gluten Free Rolled Oats
  2. 1 1/2 cups Organic Brown Rice Crisps
  3. 8 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
  4. 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
  5. 1/2 tsp salt
For the filling
  1. 2 cups of Medjool dates, pitted
  2. 1/2 cup water
  3. 1/2 tsp vanilla
  4. 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
  1. Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper or foil.
  2. Using a food processor pulse the oats and brown rice crisps together until finely ground.
  3. Add in the chopped dates, coconut oil and salt and process until a dough is formed.
  4. Set aside 1 cup of the dough to use as the topping.
  5. Line the baking dish with the rest of the dough, using your fingers to gently press the dough down into the bottom of the pan.
  6. For the filling, combine all of the ingredients into the food processor and process until everything is broken down.
  7. Spread the filling over the crust evenly, then crumble the rest of the topping on the date filling using your fingers to gently press down.
  8. Then cover and place the bars in the freezer for an hour and then enjoy! Store the bars in the freezer.
Adapted from http://detoxinista.com
Adapted from http://detoxinista.com
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